300
Frank Miller
I'm sure that this work has been analyzed to death, so I'm not going to try to do anyone better. I'm not sure how people feel about the work, or if it's any different of an experience having read the graphic novel before or after seeing the film, but I like to look at this as a graphic novel without comparing it to the movie, despite the echoes of catch phrases that have been done to death in trailers and advertisements. And anyway, I think it works much better as a graphic novel where it doesn't fall into such obvious monotony. But that all being said, the graphic novel is good. The stand of the three hundred Spartans against Xerxes and his new world order is a fascinating tale, as told by Frank Miller, and his art does the bloody battle and harsh world justice, with captivating scenes of violence and resilience. Miller says all he needs to say about Sparta, about the wives and families left behind, to make the reader feel for what he's leaving behind without overkilling it or demeaning it with unnecessary scenes. He stays consistent and true to the characters in actions, dialogue and thoughts, particularly when it comes to the Spartan King Leonidas. Now, I'm sorry to say that I haven't read too much Frank Miller, and it's a shame since what I have read has been excellent. Even one of his other collaborations with Lynn Varley, the legendary The Dark Knight, glares at me from my bookshelf as I write this post, daring me to indulge in its sure-to-be-awesome pages. And I will get to it, especially with how embarrassed I am to admit that I haven't read it... But Miller's Daredevil run is what made me a fan, and remain some of the best superhero comics that I've yet read. Another collaboration with Lynn Varley on Elektra Lives Again left me a little disappointed, particularly in wake of the utterly fantastic Elektra: Assassin with Bill Sienkiewicz, but it's something that I plan to revisit in the near future after reading more of Miller's works. 300 stands as a testament to the skill of a master of the medium. And despite my favoritism of spandex over loincloths, it goes down as a classic. A
I'm sure that this work has been analyzed to death, so I'm not going to try to do anyone better. I'm not sure how people feel about the work, or if it's any different of an experience having read the graphic novel before or after seeing the film, but I like to look at this as a graphic novel without comparing it to the movie, despite the echoes of catch phrases that have been done to death in trailers and advertisements. And anyway, I think it works much better as a graphic novel where it doesn't fall into such obvious monotony. But that all being said, the graphic novel is good. The stand of the three hundred Spartans against Xerxes and his new world order is a fascinating tale, as told by Frank Miller, and his art does the bloody battle and harsh world justice, with captivating scenes of violence and resilience. Miller says all he needs to say about Sparta, about the wives and families left behind, to make the reader feel for what he's leaving behind without overkilling it or demeaning it with unnecessary scenes. He stays consistent and true to the characters in actions, dialogue and thoughts, particularly when it comes to the Spartan King Leonidas. Now, I'm sorry to say that I haven't read too much Frank Miller, and it's a shame since what I have read has been excellent. Even one of his other collaborations with Lynn Varley, the legendary The Dark Knight, glares at me from my bookshelf as I write this post, daring me to indulge in its sure-to-be-awesome pages. And I will get to it, especially with how embarrassed I am to admit that I haven't read it... But Miller's Daredevil run is what made me a fan, and remain some of the best superhero comics that I've yet read. Another collaboration with Lynn Varley on Elektra Lives Again left me a little disappointed, particularly in wake of the utterly fantastic Elektra: Assassin with Bill Sienkiewicz, but it's something that I plan to revisit in the near future after reading more of Miller's works. 300 stands as a testament to the skill of a master of the medium. And despite my favoritism of spandex over loincloths, it goes down as a classic. A
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