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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4358 in Books
• Published on: 1999-12-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 88 pages

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

From Publishers Weekly
The Battle of Thermopylae ranks as one of the ancient world's most important events, where Spartan King Leonidas and his 300-man bodyguard met the massive army of Emperor Xerxes of Persia, who intended to add Greece to his empire. To no one's surprise, the Spartans were destroyed. While the battle bought the Greeks enough time to defeat the mighty Persians, it was more important for the metaphor it created: occasionally one has to lose to win. This is clearly the inspiration behind Miller's attempt to place this epic tale in the context of a graphic novel. A renowned comics artist and writer known for hard-boiled stories of almost operatic intensity and stylishly overwrought violence, Miller (Sin City) injects his own brand of graphic sensationalism into this ancient tale of national survival. Miller clearly isn't as interested in being a historian as he is in telling a story, but his portrayal of the ancient world is compelling. His drawings of the bearded Leonidas are pensive and starkly imperial. The Persian King Xerxes is represented as majestically African, his body covered in a gaudy and bejeweled network of meticulously rendered chains and bracelets. Form and content are ideally wedded: Miller's writing is stark, his drawings moody and dramatic, and intensified by Varley's grimly appropriate palette of earth and blood. The reader can see and feel the harshness of both the Grecian landscape and Sparta's battle-worshipping culture, as Miller presents the complex historical moment facing the 300. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Frank Miller is among the world's most popular comics creators. His work on the original series Sin City has garnered numerous awards, including two Harvey awards for Best Graphic Album of Original Work (1998) and Best Continuing Series (1996), and the series has earned Miller six Eisner Awards, including those for Best Writer/Artist, Best Graphic Novel Reprint, Best Cartoonist, Best Cover Artist, Best Limited Series, and Best Short Story. Similarly, books in his Martha Washington series have won Eisners for Best Finite Series, Best Coloring, and Best Penciller/Inker

Customer Reviews

Amazing artistic point of view of the battle.
Amazing artistic point of view of the battle.
The reality there is greatly represent in perfect lines and emotional quotes.
So much impressive skills makes Frank Miller the best in everything he does (with this book and the movies).
Worth EVERY CENT!

Genious
This is a beautifully done book and very unique in its genre. The writing and story are both excellent. Miller does a fantastic job of mixing an amazing bit of history with enough fiction for readers to really sink their teeth into. It is no wonder this was made into a film.

Graphic Novel on an EPIC SCALE!!!
Blood and Rain
Blood for the Masses

Originally published in SavageNight Ezine

300
Story and Art by
Frank Miller

Reviewed by
B.L.Morgan

5 Stars

Q: When can a graphic novel be elevated to the level of high art?
A: When truly beautiful and stylish artwork and resonating dialogue is used to illustrate a story of epic proportions that tell a tale of a heroic struggle against insurmountable odds.

At The Battle Of Thermopylae in 480BC 300 Spartan warriors delayed an invading Persian army of somewhere around 150,000 combat troops long enough so that the rest of the cities of Greece could raise armies and stop their country from being invaded. It was a suicide mission from the beginning.

The king of Sparta, Leonidas knew the odds were overwhelmingly in favor of the enemy. It didn't matter. To the last man, the 300 Spartans fought and died. None gave nor asked for mercy.

The artwork in 300 is moody, tense and in some places downright gross. Hand to hand combat with swords and spears is not a pretty sight. Frank Miller shows this kind of warfare in all its ugliness.

Do I recommend 300 by Frank Miller? You better believe I do! I've never read any story better than this in any medium.

The glorious stand of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae still echoes in history nearly 2500 years after it took place. Frank Miller's interpretation of this historic battle does it justice.