In the vein of the Clint Eastwood classic Escape from Alcatraz comes new comic series Out of Alcatraz, where Christopher Cantwell and Tyler Crook take the prison escape forward. The double-sized, 48-page debut issue is out in March, but with an advance copy in hand, I couldn’t help but share my delight in how exciting this series is. It’s a story about two fugitives on the run but tied up in a deal with a mysterious benefactor that helped them escape; the escape survivors from Alcatraz have more to worry about than just the FBI and local police.
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If you’re familiar with Tyler Crook’s art, you’ll know how dynamic and deeply human it can be. The first issue opens with the prisoners escaping the rough waters around Alcatraz, putting their lives in danger. The escape had a movie and now a comic spinning out from it, thanks in part to how dangerous it was to enter the waters in the San Francisco Bay, let alone survive them. You get how dangerous it can be in this excellent opening sequence.
While this story is fiction, the actual escape is true, and it’s compelling to see how Cantwell imagined a possible extension of what happened to these prisoners. Set in 1962, the time and place are captured well via the visuals, but also the racial tensions present with a woman acting as the go-between for the prisoners and their benefactor. As historical fiction goes, there’s a visual uniqueness that’s hard to resist.
An intense opening scene.
Credit: Oni Press
As crime stories go, this first issue has it all, only improved by the Alcatraz starting point. Our characters are criminals, but they aren’t killers or evil, per se. They’re trying to make do with what they have, and now, out of jail, we see how each deals with the pressures of escaping differently. There’s a complexity and dynamic between the characters that are always present, always hovering, adding to the tension in the story.
Speaking of tension, there’s a lot of it in this issue. Again, no spoilers, but there’s outright violence, gun-toting situations, and an FBI force ready to find them. There’s a real cinematic quality to the entire production, not unlike a David Fincher film. I’m not saying Sean Phillips and Ed Brubaker need to watch their back when it comes to crime comics, but this first issue is more than enough proof Cantwell and Crook are hitting their high bar.
It’s worth noting the cover art is exceptional, with an old-school movie feel straight out of a Hitchcock picture. Given the subject matter and the time it is set, the cover adds to the allure of the story.
Out of Alcatraz is a thrilling debut that blends the grit of crime storytelling with the intrigue of historical fiction. Cantwell and Crook deliver a cinematic, high-stakes narrative that hooks readers with its intense action, rich character dynamics, and visually striking artistry. A must-read for fans of crime comics and historical thrillers.
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