The potential for historical fiction in comics is vast, as is evident with Out of Alcatraz. The first two issues postulated what could have happened to the men who escaped Alcatraz, and it’s not the happy ending they were hoping for. Essentially prisoners of their situation, a civilian realized they could be used to his ends or be found out by the cops. In Out of Alcatraz #3, things get more dangerous, the U.S. Marshals get closer to finding the prisoners, and tough choices must be made.
Out of Alcatraz #3 opens with the U.S. Marshals interviewing the man beaten by Frank in the last issue. They want to identify Frank, but it seems racism and pride get in the way. Meanwhile, Frank, the handler, and Clarence are being blackmailed, and we find out what for. The noose is tightening as danger is around every corner, especially with Clarence’s killer brother closing in.
The U.S. Marshals do some good detective work in this issue, but things get really interesting when the question of why comes up. Why keep hunting the inmates when it could bring attention to them as two gay men? Tyler Crook draws a beautiful scene where one realizes they could just run away together, but is it even feasible? One can see they’re just as bad off as the Alcatraz inmates, unable to live life as they wish.
Credit: Oni Press
There’s a trail for the Marshals to find, thanks to bodies piling up. The cliffhanger sets up yet another, but with Clarence’s brother John entering the mix, one can see the once quiet operation really blowing off the hinges.
Enough can’t be said about Crook’s art, which is downright gorgeous throughout. From the warm greens and yellows surrounding a body with red marks on its neck, to the use of darkness in a nighttime scene, there’s so much to take in. There’s a richness to the art that makes the characters come alive. Crook is very good at making you hate the connivers or feel for those trapped, like the U.S. Marshals.
This is an engrossing story about how there are no happy endings when you start out in an unhappy one. Out of Alcatraz #3 deepens its gripping tale of fugitives, secrets, and survival with a tension-filled script and masterful art by Tyler Crook. The stakes are rising fast, both emotionally and physically, as the story veers toward inevitable tragedy. With haunting character work and lush visuals, this series continues to prove that historical fiction in comics can be just as emotionally resonant as it is suspenseful.
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