Wow! Just wow! What a ride. This is a great noir/crime graphic novel based on the unsolved mystery of the fugitives from Alcatraz. Sort of a "what if?" story. I also like the watercolor/paint artwork that compliments this noir story. Enjoyed the twist at the end. Be warned though, on the mature content (violence, explicit curses and homosexual romance).

The notorious tale of the escape Alcatraz has intrigued me for years, wondering about the fate of convicts and the utter mystery surrounding it. In Out of Alcatraz by Christopher Cantwell and illustrator Tyler Crook we go on exhilarating journey where history and fiction collide.

Convicts Frank Morris and Clarence Anglin have washed ashore in San Francisco after surviving their infamous escape from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in June 1962. They soon meet their gruff and disappointed handler, a mysterious young woman who’s also running from something, and hope to quickly get their way north to the border – if they can even make it out of Modesto alive. As a dogged federal manhunt and chance encounters threaten the desperate convicts, everyone involved is about to discover the same bloodstained truth: life on the run is an even more hellish prison than Alcatraz could have ever been.

Christopher Cantwell and Tyler Crook have crafted a cinematic series that hooked me from the very first panel. Cantwell's writing ability shines through telling a story that seems like it will go one way then with a twist goes a different direction. What we think this story is about not exactly what it may seem. Christoper's characterizations are fantastic. From our escaped prisoners, a set of individuals driven by desperation and hope, to their handler and beyond. The dialogue between these characters is sharp and realistic, truly capturing the tension and suspense of being on the run.

Having read the debut issue of Out of Alcatraz prior to reading the entire collected edition, I had no idea this book would go where it went. I had an idea that we would focus on the pair of fugitives and their handler, but Cantwell throws us for a loop and gives us a complete story that is better than even expected.

Tyler Crook's artwork elevates this outstanding story further into something truly stunning. His attention to detail and his unique style of art has each panel standing on their own, whether in the foggy bay or even at a dive bar. Crook captures each character with a unique eye making it easy to follow each characters expressions and motivations. The pairing of Cantwell's script and Crook's artwork works so well for this type of historical fiction tale. After seeing the opening panels, I couldn't imagine another artist taking this story to the level Crook has taken it.

Out of Alcatraz serves as both an homage to historical events while simultaneously offering something entirely fresh. What Christopher Cantwell and Tyler Crook have put together is a truly outstanding comic miniseries that takes the blend of fiction and non-fiction to new heights. With its suspenseful storytelling and stunning artwork, Out of Alcatraz is a beautiful and outstanding historical fiction series.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this graphic novel.

Nearly everyone who grew up in northern California, especially the bay area has heard of the legend of the three men that escaped Alcatraz in 1962. Also, I'm pretty sure that most of those people want to believe that those guys got away.

There has always been so much mystery and history surrounding Alcatraz, and whenever you're in the area, it's impossible to not look at the now vacant prison sitting atop a hill on an island in the bay. The city offers tours, which I highly recommend if you have a day to set aside.


The guys who hatched a brilliant escape plan, utilizing the seemingly innocus supplies at their disposal. Hair scraps from the hair salon, paint, and paper mache from the crafts room, and an astounding 50 raincoats from the supply room.
They found a secret tunnel where they could work on their raft and dummy heads to stick in their beds.

Anyways, on to the graphic novel!
This story follows two of the guys, Clarence and Frank. You're with them after they make their successful escape and are trying to lay low while being on the run.
They fortunately have some help, but trust is fragile and tensions run high.

The two of them are also constantly reminded of how they're free, but not really. It's so tantalizingly close. After several years of solitude, and restrictions, wouldn't you want to be able to go to a store and buy your favorite candy?
Or have a cold beer at the bar?

To keep it brief, the guys could not be more different, and they don't necessarily get along, but with their plan in place, they're stuck with each other for the foreseeable future.

The author treats you to the POV of the law enforcement searching to find them. They are hot on their heels, finding a trail of witnesses and evidence washing up on the shore.

The two guys following up with the case are determined to find them and are racing against the clock, but it grows more complicated with the increasing amount of attention from the press.
With more press attention comes more scrutiny from their bosses, which is exactly what they too were trying to avoid.

There is so much pressure and tension in this story coming from several angles. I thought it was entertaining and the read went by quickly. I also would love to read more!

Christopher Cantwell's Out of Alcatraz is a comic that was way better than expected. This historical fiction thriller takes the legendary 1962 Alcatraz escape and explores a what if scenario, following two of the convicts, the hardened Frank Morris and the slower-witted Clarence Anglin, as they navigate life on the run.

The story excels by presenting a dual narrative that makes the themes feel incredibly natural. On one side, you have the escaped convicts trying to survive, with some of them not nearly as bad as you expect. Their newfound freedom is not what they imagined; it becomes a different kind of prison as they are forced to confront their worst instincts. On the other side, you have the detectives hunting them, an FBI agent and a U.S. Marshal, figuring out their own complicated relationship. The dual perspective allows the book to explore freedom and being who you are from both sides of the law, making those themes feel like the organic backbone of the story.

This is not a simple tale of good versus evil. It’s a nuanced look at identity and consequences, set against the backdrop of 1962 America. Just prepare for some fucked up moments, as it does involve criminals on the run, and the story doesn't shy away from the brutality and darkness that come with that life. Ultimately, Out of Alcatraz is a compelling and deeply human story that uses a famous historical event to explore complex and relevant themes.

Release date: 21st October 2025

Thanks to NetGalley & Christopher Cantwell, I was fortunate to gain early access to this one – and as someone obsessed with Alcatraz, I was beyond excited. I’ve read multiple accounts from former inmates who were “On the Rock,” and even added Alcatraz to my honeymoon itinerary just to walk its eerie cellblocks myself. So when I saw this graphic novel, I couldn’t wait to dive in – even though graphic novels aren’t usually my usual thriller style.

The illustrations by Tyler Crook are phenomenal – gritty, atmospheric, and perfectly matched to the story. They pull you straight into the tension, the 1960s setting, and the desperation of life on the run.

Out of Alcatraz focuses on the prison’s greatest mystery: the infamous June 1962 escape of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers. This tale follows their journey after the breakout, imagining what happens if they made it across the Bay alive. It becomes a tense exploration of life on the run and how freedom isn’t always what the escapees envisioned, all while law enforcement relentlessly hunts them.

Beyond the escape itself, the story addresses key social issues of the time, including the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within law enforcement and systemic injustices faced by people of colour. These historical details add depth and context to the narrative, highlighting just how much the world Morris and the Anglins navigated differed from today.

It’s a gripping combination of historical fact, “what if” speculation, and 1960s life, told in a contemporary, compelling way. Whether you’re a true crime fan, history buff, or graphic novel lover, this one is a must-read. For me, it scratched a very particular Alcatraz itch I didn’t even know could exist in comic form.

My thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for an advance copy of this graphic novel that is both a noir tale and a work of speculation, trying to answer a mystery that has befuddled the authorities, what happened the night three people escaped an inescapable prison, and what followed.

For a country that is so quick to scream what about the children, and surrender civil rights all in the want of being safe, we a are a country that loves the bad guy. We sing songs, watch movies, read books, all about bad people doing bad things. Many even vote for them. We love being bad. And rooting for people being bad. A story about a group of criminals, even low rent criminals escaping the Rock, the nickname for Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary is one that has been told numerous times. Movies, books. even reality shows like Mythbusters have tried to see if it was possible. What happened that night? Where could they have gone? Did they all drown, did one live to tell the tale. This graphic novel tells their story, what might have gone down, and where it all went wrong. Out of Alcatraz is written by Christopher Cantwell and illustrated by Tyler Crook, and tells about an escape, their dogged pursuers, a world in many places worse than prison, and strangely enough love.

June 1962, three men out of a planned four, Frank Morris and the two Anglin brothers, fooled guards with fake heads about being in their cell at Alcatraz, nicknamed the Rock for its appearance and the inability for prisoners to escape from it. These men using prison made life vests, and a raft, floated into legend. The authorities declared them dead, but never closed the case. This graphic novel pick up where the truth might have left off. Only two men Morris and one Anglin are still together, the other brother claimed by the sea. One stolen car later and the the fugitives are heading north, where their plan to escape runs into a few hitches. Pursuing them are two federal agents a marshal and an FBI agents with plans of their own. The fugitives and their contact, a woman with reasons of their own, find that the outside world is in many ways worse than prison, and far more dangerous.

A nasty little piece of noir storytelling, which also serves as a mirror to the world in which this story takes place. An America where women, minorities and and people who loved in different ways were discriminated or driven out of their jobs. Like America today. The book is violent, but well done. The parallel narratives fugitive, and pursuers is done well, with nice little clues that payoff. The story hits from the first panel and does not let up, even the quiet moments have a hint of something about to go wrong, or bad, or just ugly. Plus there is a bit of romance, that I quite enjoyed, one I didn't expect. The art is really good, again violent when needed, but simple moments, looking at the world and not from behind a fence or bars. The cars, the city, really great art that adds to the storytelling, and giving a really good sense of place.

A good crime story, one that ends on an interesting note I did not see coming, and one that really fits. I'd like to see more projects by these two creators, their skills really mesh well in this tale.

Take a great artist (Tyler Crook) and throw in a great prison break story, and you get a great comic. Excited to see more in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I distinctly remember watching the Clint Eastwood movie Escape from Alcatraz when I was very young (probably too young), so I was familiar with the story. Three men escaped the famed island prison in 1962, never to be seen again. Most people concluded that the men drowned when trying to make it to the mainland, but this book posits that two of the men made it to safety.

Well, that’s not exactly true. Safe is not the word the men would use. They’re free, but not really free because they have to stay in hiding; their faces adorn every post office and TV and newspaper. So, they need help, which they have from a woman who helped arrange their escape. Clarence and Frank don’t trust her, and she doesn’t trust them, either.

Frank and Clarence are very different people. They don’t necessarily like each other, but they have to get along enough to survive. The story shows not only their point-of-view, but also the POV of the authorities, who are investigating the matter as if all three men made it to the Bay area. Soon, evidence starts turning up that convinces the lawmen that at least two of the three men did in fact escape. But, they investigate in secrecy so the escaped prisoners do not know they’re being followed.

This grim 1960s manhunt graphic novel has some excellent artwork. Through the panels, the reader is reminded that life on the run is an even more hellish prison than Alcatraz. This definitely was an out-of-my-comfort zone read, but I really did enjoy the speculative fiction. I’ll be checking out Volume 2 to see how the story proceeds.