REVIEW: 'Out of Alcatraz' #3 by Christopher Cantwell and Tyler Crook

Out of Alcatraz #3

Writer: Christopher Cantwell

Artist: Tyler Crook

Publisher: Oni Press

Release Date: May 21, 2025

Cover Price: $4.99

NOTHING CAN PREPARE YOU FOR THE MUST-READ SERIES OF 2025! The shadows grow darker still as master storytellers Christopher Cantwell (Thanos, Cruel Universe) and Tyler Crook (Harrow County, Epitaphs from the Abyss) remind Alcatraz’s most notorious fugitives that true freedom comes with a terrible price . . . As the threat of discovery draws too close for comfort), the escaped convicts and their secretive handler are forced to pull an unplanned hit—or risk tipping off the Feds. Frank and Clarence are reluctant, while the mysterious woman orchestrating their escape is willing to do anything to preserve her own freedom . . . and even the best-laid plans begin to erupt into a smoldering inferno of blood and betrayal . . 

Score:

★★★★1/2 (4.5/5)

Out of Alcatraz #3 deepens its compelling alternate-history tale with rising stakes and emotional weight. As U.S. Marshals close in on the escaped prisoners, tough choices emerge—especially when secrets and identity come into play. Frank, Clarence, and their handler are blackmailed, while Clarence’s violent brother adds new danger to an already tense situation.

The issue also explores the emotional toll on the Marshals themselves, who face their own inner conflicts as the cost of their pursuit becomes clearer. Tyler Crook’s stunning art captures both the beauty and brutality of the story, using color and shadow to powerful effect. The story continues to reveal many layers among all the characters, and not just the main players. Cantwell adds depth that makes these kinds of stories all the more intriguing and absorbing. In modern terms, 'Out of Alcatraz' exemplifies the best in crime fiction, the type of "Western noir" made famous by Taylor Sheridan's 'Hell of High Water' and 'Sicario.' The characters dwell in gray areas, making life-changing decisions at a moment's notice for both their own survival and their own motivations. 

This is a gripping story about people trapped by circumstance, identity, and past choices. Out of Alcatraz builds on its historical remix with a superb crime thriller full of shocking turns. When the solicitation reads "must-read series of 2025," it's not hyperbole; it's a fact.