Comic Background

     The graphic novel 300 is based on the Battle of Thermopylae (480 B.C.) in Greece. This is a heroic tale of 300 Spartan soldiers making their last stand against the colossal Persian army. What makes this comic stand out most are the double-paged spreads in striking artwork. This graphic novel was written and illustrated by Frank Miller and painted by Lynn Varley, the artwork contains dark, firm lines, washed out colors with a prominence of a dull yellow, and the characteristic of Spartan red which fits the searing and difficult summers of the warring Greece perfectly.

      In the comic, Leonidas is depicted as a hard king, who commonly addresses his soldiers as “children” and is quick to hand out discipline. Leonidas is a Spartan warrior who fights fearlessly out of duty, and for honor and glory rather than freedom and family. 

     The comic contains many historical inaccuracies mainly to tell a more captivating, over-the-top story. For example, Spartan society was cruel and merciless, not freedom-loving and governed by logic. This is a clear contradiction that Miller puts into in the comic in order to make his story more captivating.

      The story of the 300 Spartan soldiers who would not surrender against all odds is highly glorified by Miller which, makes for a really entrancing story. In the comic Miller practically romanticizes the devastating, but anticipated, downfall of the Spartans through illustrations and text. This is what makes Frank Miller's 300 one of the most popular comics of all time.