Out Of Alcatraz Is A Crime Comedian Straight Out Of A Hitchcock Movie [Exclusive Preview]

Alcatraz has now been a museum for longer than it was ever a jail, but it surely stays essentially the most well-known jail in popular culture. The very identify “Alcatraz” connotes an inescapable jail — besides three males did escape in 1962, a 12 months earlier than the jail closed.

These had been Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin, who tried to row to freedom on the shore. (A fourth prisoner, Allen West, was a part of the breakout plan however failed to flee his cell in time.) Authorities finally concluded that the escapees’ raft by no means made it to land and so they drowned, however with no our bodies, imaginations have run wild about their fates. The brand new comedian “Out Of Alcatraz” by author Christopher Cantwell and artist Tyler Criminal will run with the premise that the lads did make it to land, however did they ever discover freedom? Oni Press has shared an unique preview of “Out of Alcatraz” #1 with /Movie (by way of Superfan Promo), together with three beforehand unseen pages. These may assist shed some mild on that query.

Cantwell is finest recognized to TV followers for co-creating “Halt and Catch Hearth,” a “Mad Males” model 4 season drama in regards to the early days of the Silicon Valley laptop revolution. Nevertheless, he has additionally constructed up a prolific comedian writing profession; his work contains a 10-issue “Physician Doom” solo collection at Marvel and “Briar,” a darkish fantasy reimagining of “Sleeping Magnificence” at Growth! Studios.

Criminal is usually recognized for drawing horror comics; he got here to fame working on the “Hellboy” spin-off “B.P.R.D.” He has since drawn the horror collection “Harrow County” (written by Cullen Bunn) in addition to writing and drawing the monster hunter collection “The Lonesome Hunters.” His expertise drawing darkish shadows, bloody violence, and haunted faces serves “Out of Alcatraz” completely.

Criminal’s cowl for “Out of Alcatraz” #1 is a piece of magnificence, mixing detailed illustration and minimalist graphics whereas binding type and narrative (i.e. the jail highlight serving because the dividing traces). The orange color-and-black shade scheme, shadow determine cut-outs, and uneven lettering are completed within the model of Saul Bass’ well-known posters for “Vertigo” and “Anatomy of a Homicide” — pretty and interval correct!

Oni Press

The 1962 Alcatraz escape was beforehand dramatized within the 1979 Clint Eastwood image, succinctly titled “Escape From Alcatraz,” the place Eastwood performed Morris. Directed by Eastwood’s earlier “Soiled Harry” director Don Siegel, “Escape” is usually thought to be among the best prison-set films. “Out of Alcatraz,” although, skips over the incarceration and follows the imagined aftermath of the escape. Criminal has beforehand stated he considers the comedian akin to a “traditional ’60s crime/street film.”

The opening pages of “Out of Alcatraz” #1 (beforehand launched in previous previews) present the escape itself. The primary web page opens with a large shot of the island jail, with panels descending down the web page displaying the stormy tides; there aren’t any onomatopoeia sound results lettered in however you’ll be able to hear the roaring of the waves from only a look on the artwork. Because the imagery units the scene, the narration explains the true historical past of the case; the ultimate panel, captioned “no our bodies had been ever found” includes a close-up of Frank’s face as he swims.

In Cantwell and Criminal’s model, it seems that one of many prisoners did certainly drown whereas swimming to shore: John Anglin. Clarence tries to swim again to avoid wasting his brother however Frank pulls him to shore, the place they don’t have any time to mourn.

Oni Press

Oni Press

Oni Press

Oni Press

As soon as on dry land, the pair make it to Modesto. There they meet their contact and the mini-series third lead; an unnamed girl who Frank and Clarence are paying to shepherd them throughout the border to Canada. In a quote to /Movie, Cantwell defined she is a cornerstone of the collection and its themes:

“A vital character of this collection is one constructed out of entire dramatic material. Sure, the fugitives are on the middle of the story, however I researched profitable jail escapes in historical past, and sometimes they work finest when there’s somebody serving to from the skin. Enter our thriller character, who our fugitives should meet up with as soon as they get off the Rock. In a narrative sense, this provides the fugitive an actual vector, one thing to go in direction of and never simply run away from. It provides them a plan. However our character on the skin is difficult. She is working herself. And what may compel somebody to assist males escape from Alcatraz? The reply may be very American — cash. However there’s extra to it than that and it is a thriller even the fugitives themselves will probably be unpacking for a while.”

The primary concern of “Out of Alcatraz” stays obscure about who this girl is, however she appears to have a historical past with Frank. In three pages shared for unique preview by /Movie, Frank and the girl focus on plans exterior their protected home, from there being two fewer prisoners than anticipated as to whether Clarence is price protecting round.

Oni Press

Oni Press

Oni Press

The actual destiny of Frank Morris and Clarence Anglin could by no means be really solved, however “Out of Alcatraz” is poised to supply a compelling reply.

“Out of Alcatraz” #1 is scheduled for print and digital publication on March 19, 2025.