Product Description: The armies of Persia--a vast horde greater than any the world has ever known--are poised to crush Greece, an island of reason and freedom in a sea of madness and tyranny. Standing between Greece and this tidal wave of destruction are a tiny detachment of but three hundred warriors. Frank Miller`s epic retelling of history`s supreme moment of battlefield valor is finally collected in a glorious hardcover volume in its intended format-- each two-page spread from the original comics is presented as a single undivided page.
Amazon.com Review: An emperor amasses an army of hundreds of thousands, drawn from two continents, to invade a third continent and conquer a tiny, divided nation. Only a few hundred warriors stand against them. Yet the tiny nation is saved. It sounds like the plot of a preposterous fantasy novel. It is historical fact. In 481-480 B.C., King Xerxes of Persia raised forces in Asia and Africa and invaded Greece with an army so huge that it "drank rivers dry." Then they entered the mountain pass of Thermopylae and encountered 300 determined soldiers from Sparta....
Writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley retell the battle of Thermopylae in the exciting and moving graphic novel 300. They focus on King Leonidas, the young foot soldier Stelios, and the storyteller Dilios to highlight the Spartans' awe-inspiring toughness and valor. Miller and Varley's art is terrific, as always; the combat scenes are especially powerful. And Miller's writing is his best in years. Read it.
Do not, however, read 300 expecting a strictly accurate history. The Phocians did not "scatter," as Miller describes. His Spartans are mildly homophobic, which is goofy in such a gay society. Miller doesn't say how many Greeks remained for the climactic battle--you'd think 300 Spartans and maybe a dozen others, when there were between 700 and 1,100 Greeks. Herodotus's Histories does not identify the traitor Ephialtes as ugly and hunchbacked, or even as Spartan. 300 establishes a believable connection between Ephialtes's affliction and behavior, but his monstrous appearance, King Xerxes's effeminacy, and the Persians' inexplicable pierced-GenX-African looks make for an eyebrow-raising choice of villain imagery. Nonetheless, 300 is a brilliant dramatization.
For the full story of the failed invasion, read Herodotus's Histories or, for a concise, graphic-novel retelling, Larry Gonick's great Cartoon History of the Universe: Volumes 1-7, From the Big Bang to Alexander the Great. For a lighthearted look at post-invasion Athens and a very young Alexander the Great, check out William Messner-Loebs and Sam Kieth's witty and gorgeous graphic novels, Epicurus the Sage Vol. I and Vol. II. --Cynthia Ward
Finest Frank Miller's stories When I say the movie trailer I began to look for this comic, when I got it I found a really well written story with really interesting characters, typical Miller/Varley drawings and a real based history, what else can I say this is the comic that initiated me into Miller's world and I'm glad I started here. The movie a great comica adaptation.
An epic tale. I first read Frank Miller's 300 prior to the film's release...and then I re read it after the film. It was amazing to see the pure intensity of the film, but it also shows the depth of the novel. Comparing the two side-by-side you notice most of the contents of the novel are in the film. The film really only adds to the subplots of the book...and expands upon the scenes. The art direction is brilliant. Frank Miller has reached the summit of the graphic novel using incredibly detailed art to emphasis his bold story telling. The book does a good job retelling the Battle of Thermopylae. I say good because there is more than a hint of fiction scattered amongst the nonfiction, but that makes the story come alive. Well done Frank Miller, well done indeed.......I would also recommend Clarence Cage's novel Ashes Divide: Ashes Divide (Epic sequel to 300) it expands upon Frank Miller's 300 and the Battle of Thermopylae. Another book I'd recommend is Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle by Steven Pressfield: Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae Both these novels are epic and both expand the story of 300.
I guess I'm not quite the graphic novel type...yet! Since it's a graphic novel, this was a fairly quick read. The art work is very different from comic book art that I am accustomed to. A muted color scheme really helps to set the tone for the book and great use of action move the story along without the need for a ton of dialog. Frank Miller definitely has his own style, a couple of times he lost me in what was going on, but after turning back a few pages and rereading, I figured out what he was trying to do with the story. Overall, I found it to be entertaining, but I definitely would not choose this medium over a traditional novel of the same story or subject matter. It was a nice change of pace though, and I'm glad that I got the feel of the graphic novel aspect before seeing the movie and having my perception skewed by it. I also think that it's one of those types of things that I'll enjoy even more on a second reading. I'm sure that the second time through, I'll naturally take more time to appreciate the art work instead of mainly concentrating on moving through the story.
A great story, but not Millers best artwork The quality of the book is great, vivid colors with inks faithfully reproduced and the oversized layout all make for a great read. The story is one you're probably familiar with, and of the recent graphic novels turned movies, I'd say this one sticks closest in terms of plot so there won't be too many surprises if you're seen the film. It's also a much quicker read than most, feeling more like a comic than a novel. That being said, the unfamiliar reader should definitely get familiar with this book, and the other works of Frank Miller as well. He's a great storyteller and while his art is rough and sketched, it often adds to the gritty themes. Personally, I think Frank Miller is at his best working in black and white high-contrast (like he does throughout the Sin City series) but he still does some great layout work in 300 and keeps it visually interesting.
"Fine Theme...Poor Execution..." So you watched the movie? Loved it? Want to read the graphic novel that inspired it? Regrettably, you haven't missed out on much...
I, more than anyone, wanted this book to be the epic it promised to be. Zack Snyder's `300' was one of the most awe inspiring films ever made- & I was sold. I wish I could say the same for the book. I was surprised to find the graphic novel both shallow & rushed, with the author doing very little to add value to the tale.
As is the case with most novel-inspired films, the motion picture always tends to fall short of its narrative equivalent. However, this is hardly the case with 300; the movie seems to have far outshone its graphic novel counterpart, by surpassing & enriching the plot conjured up by Miller. I would recommend this book to collectors &/or fans, not to those who are looking for a more exhilarating ride than the movie.
THE BOOK; The dimensions of the book & the overall quality of `300; the graphic novel' are the only real positives I can think of. The handsome hardcover & over-sized pages will undeniably & literally `stand out' in your bookcase.
THE STORY; Miller throws you into the fray, right from the beginning & it climaxes & ends even before you know it. 300 makes for very superficial reading; it's as black & white as it comes, so don't expect a deep & philosophical story.
88 pages seem hardly enough to narrate the harrowing tale of the 300. Sure the pages are wide & extensive, but this hardly translated to more reading... dialog was few & far apart (& was, at times, both uninteresting & tedious) & you could probably finish the book from cover to cover at your first sitting. I also seriously doubt you would be reading it again in a few months.
THE ART; Personally, I've never been a big fan of Frank Miller's art, just his stories... and if you are someone (like me) who loves to pour over pages of detailed & intricate artwork, this book will bore you to tears... The art was shabby & petty with very little attention paid to detail. Varney's colours were just as simplistic, with blacks, reds & yellow/oranges being used from cover to cover, with little or no variety.
THE VERDICT; Not all that it is hyped up to be. A very basic presentation of a fine theme that, in my opinion, could have been better staged. Sorry Frank, but no cigar.
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Trevor
Megaton Man
