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     The movie 300 was originally released in 2006 and it caused quite a stir. Many people were impressed with the visuals and the movie is an entertaining testosterone-fueled adventure set in an artificial-historical ancient world. But the movie also has a patriotic undertone and portrays the Persian Empire as a disposal of cruelty and depravity. The movie was based on the comic book 300 by graphic artist Frank Miller, known especially for Sin City. Miller based the book on a movie he saw as a child, The 300 Spartans (1962).  Frank Miller gives the story of Leonidas and the Battle of Thermopylae a mythical treatment in his graphic novel 300. His Spartans are depicted in a very comic superhero way. They are fearless, seemingly invincible men who need no armor; only weapons, a scarlet cape and a leather thong but, all containing deep angst that is resolved only through conflict with an equally invincible foe. While the 2006 movie really emphasizes these aspects as the Spartans are indeed shown as superheroes of some sort. The actors are physically buff men whom are fighting in battle with balletic movement in a seemingly magical yet realistic world. The movie and the graphic novel are very comparable to each other but, they do in fact have some contrasting features.