Out of Alcatraz

In June of 1962, convicts Frank Morris, Clarence Algin, and John Algin did the impossible:  They escaped from Alcatraz.  What happened to them next is lost to history, but in this story only Frank and Clarence made it back to the mainland.  Their plan was to meet up with their contact and then go to a work farm in British Columbia where they’d spend the next  few years and emerge with new identities and new lives.  Society, however, has other plans for them as it seems that whatever can go wrong for them does just that.  Whether it’s due to their own temperament, the long arm of the law, the self-interest or regular citizens, or the simple vindictiveness of one man who thought he was left behind.

Coming from writer Christopher Cantwell, you might expect this story to include lots of oddball touches and general quirkiness.  That’s not the case here as “Out of Alcatraz” finds the writer in a more subdued, but no less effective form.  Even though there are times when it feels like Frank and Clarence’s story tends towards dark comedy, it maintains a gripping seriousness as it’s never quite clear what’s going to happen to them next.  This is also true regarding the closeted marshal and FBI agent who are tailing our protagonists and dealing with their own issues of entrapment as well.

Tyler Crook illustrates the story and does a marvelous job of it.  His depiction of rural Northern California in the early 60’s feels appropriately lush and lived-in, with some truly impressive vistas.  More importantly, Crook is great with depicting the emotions of his cast as the screws are put to them.  While there is a general feeling that THE REAL PRISON IS SOCIETY is the message being shouted here, it never overwhelms the human story being told.  Whether or not that’s enough to plunk down $30 for this hardcover, well… I felt it was right (after a discount).