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 The Warrior King Ideal in Vivid ColorFeb 06, 2010
"300" is the Eisner-award-winning story of the battle of 300 Spartans against the barbarian hordes of Xerxes. When Xerxes demands submission, Leonidas leads a brave band of Spartan soldiers to impossible war, to defend the way of life of the free men of Greece.
This amazing book is huge, with super wide pages which creates a cinematic effect. You are drawn into the full color paintings, full of ink, watercolors and vivid colors. The individual pages are not comics in the ordinary sense, but rather a series of artworks that create a coherent, cinematic story.
While telling the tale of these soldiers, Miller explores the uneasy balance of society between Sparta and Athens. Some of his dialogue is poetic; every word is carefully chosen (Spartan?). One of my favorites: "there's never been a holy man who lacked for the love of gold." Another: "Only the hard and strong may call themselves Spartans".
Many years ago, the Commandant of West Point, was asked why the Military Academy would not remove mandatory boxing from the 4-year regimen even though a cadet had died during training. He said "we are Sparta, not Athens." Those words inspired and stirred the hearts of cadets at the time - if you read "300", you may understand why.
Miller illustrates vividly the pure ideal of the warrior king, who denies himself his own pleasures and comforts. There is much here for the citizens that enjoy their protections to ponder. And for the modern day soldier - "Spartans! Prepare for glory!"
Review of Miller's 300Dec 31, 2009
It's really hard to resist Miller's 300. As a fan of graphic novels and the classical Greek world, this book seems made for me. It's fun to pick out the historical inaccuracies, but unless your an uptight scholar, they do nothing to diminish the powerful vision this work presents. It is every bit as beautiful and thrilling as the movie based upon it. If anything, its more tolerable than the movie, because it lacks the storyline about the Spartan queen fighthing political corruption. One complaint: the book isn't easily transported. It would be nice to see a softcover edition, though I don't see how it could be rearranged from its horizontal hubris.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Bloody Well Done...Jul 13, 2009
300 is similar to Sin City in tone, violence, and characters. If you liked Sin City or enjoy Frank Miller's other work, this does not disappoint.
The book is a relatively quick read, but the artwork will have you stuck viewing page-a-day. At $20, its an inexpensive way to boost your art, comic & literature collections.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Finest Frank Miller's storiesMay 19, 2009
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.
30 of 38 found the following review helpful:
An epic tale.May 01, 2009
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.
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based on 240 reviews
