Out of Alcatraz - by Christopher Cantwell (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Born from one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the 20th century, Eisner Award-nominated writer Christopher Cantwell (Plastic Man No More, Briar) and Eisner Award-nominated illustrator Tyler Crook (Harrow County, The Lonesome Hunters) present the year's most taut and breathtaking graphic novel event . . .

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 . . .

Review Quotes

"Cantwell did his homework on the inmates, as his portrayal of them here seems authentic. Credit his storytelling abilities and Crook's illustrative details to make Out of Alcatraz a compelling story."-- "Pop Culture Podium"

"Chronicling the adventures/misadventures of a pair of inmates as they escape from the infamous prison in the 1960s, there's hints of something bigger and darker going on, making it more than just a straightforward crime drama."-- "Comics XF"

"A fantastic exercise of historical fiction, concerned about depicting the U.S. precisely as it was in the 1960s. That includes the racial tensions bubbling below the surface of a civilized country and the unfortunate objectification of women. These strokes of social analysis are perfectly intertwined with the plot, making the story all the more believable without deviating the focus from the main characters. It's a phenomenal work of comic book storytelling, complete with an impressionist artwork that adds texture to what could be a bland realistic setting. Every reader interested in crime thriller and historical fiction will be well-served with Out of Alcatraz."-- "Comicbook.com"

"Showstopping...An escape from Alcatraz becomes a highway to Hell. Cantwell takes the two leads into deep levels with the writing. Crook's art sets the stage with the painful repercussions of their actions. This story is one readers won't want to escape from anytime soon."-- "Nerd Initiative"

"This book uses a real life incident in which convicts escaped from Alcatraz (and were never found) as a starting point for a new crime-suspense comic. The premise is great, but the execution of this series is absolutely perfect, from the art to the characterization to the plot twists."-- "Comics Beat"

"Cantwell and Crook craft a crime thriller steeped in paranoia that keeps the men trapped even though they've left their prison cells behind. .... The time and place are exquisitely captured by Crook, a versatile artist who is equally adept at thrilling action and more subtle character interactions, and he tracks the fraught emotional journey of these characters with crystal-clear specificity." -- "AV Club"

"An exhilarating tale where history and fiction collide... Christopher Cantwell and Tyler Crook craft a cinematic [story] hooking me from the very first panel. Cantwell's writing shines through in his characterization of Frank Morris and Clarence Anglin... Tyler Crook's artwork elevates this outstanding tale further into something truly extraordinary... Out of Alcatraz serves as both an homage to historical events while simultaneously offering something entirely new. With its blend of suspenseful storytelling and stunning artwork, Out of Alcatraz is a beautiful and outstanding historical fiction comic."-- "Capes and Tights"

"An intriguing and plausible tale that explores what might have happened after the escape... Populating the panels with energy and a water-colored palette that made the narrative jump from the page, Crook captures the pent-up frustration, fear and anger of the convicts in every close-up of their faces... A must read."-- "Geek Vibes Nation"

"Cantwell fills out unrelated fictional nuances skillfully... Crook capitalizes on every capricious whiplash, jovial to jeering, loquacious to lethal."

-- "Comics Beat"

"This is noir at its best."-- "Freak Sugar"

About the Author

Christopher Cantwell is an American writer, producer, and director who has worked in television, film, and comic books. He is best known as one of the two co-creators of the TV series Halt and Catch Fire, for which he also served as a producer, showrunner, screenwriter, and director.