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| 300: The Graphic
Novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley Dark Horse Comics  as reviewed by John Mundazio with additional writing by Bridget Petrella |
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| 300: The Graphic
Novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley Dark Horse Comics as reviewed by John Mundazio with additional writing by Bridget Petrella |
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In
his rather ambitious graphic novel, 300, Frank Miller cleverly takes
us all through the events of the Historical Battle of Thermopylae.
The battle itself was short but the campaign on either side was a
lengthy one, resulting in the later repulsion of the Persian forces at
the battle of Salamis. This tale is often presented by Western
historians as a triumph of democracy over slavery won in the face of
overwhelming odds and treachery. It's not difficult to extrapolate a
whole bunch of racist undertones in this. There are a few problems with
this concept. The Greeks themselves in those days were enthusiastic
practitioners of slavery, rapine and other forms of barbarism. They had
monarchies as well. They had a harsh culture, especially in Sparta,
where babies not worthy of becoming soldiers were killed at birth.
Persian culture was fairly diverse and rich, although no one is
suggesting that it was superior or less bloody and cruel in any way to
that existing in Greece and its neighboring states. Sure, the map of
civilization in the western world would have looked very different if
Xerxes had expanded his empire by consuming the states of Greece. And
the beginning of the slow decline of the vast Persian Empire can be
synchronized back in time to their unsuccessful attempt to subjugate
Greece. The significance of Thermopylae can be grasped easily but as we
all know, the winners get to write history. Or as in this case, the
losers get to lionize their own because of better PR. 
Heroic
profiles and silhouettes are used to depict the true pride of the
Spartans. Stories abound of how Spartans bred their men to be the
ultimate warriors and their women to be mothers and wives to these men.
When Leonidas heads out to the battle from which he will not return, his
queen evokes an oft-used phrase in Sparta— "Come back with your shield
or on it"— implying that you either returned victorious or as a corpse.
These themes of ancient masculinity also course freely through the book.
When depicting the devastating force of the battle itself, Miller's
drawings take on a haunting and unkempt look. They are forceful in their
effectiveness. 300 is worth reading if you are a fan of comics or
history on either the western or eastern side of the world. Frank Miller
is perhaps one of the most innovative writer artists in recent times.
His name is synonymous with the words "genius" and "legend" or even
"legendary genius." He has an unparalleled ability to take his
influences in movies and Eastern art and literature and the books
(mostly thrillers) he devoured as a youth, and transform it into a
gritty style that becomes uniquely, well, Miller. Movies were also a
great influence. The works of Akira Kurosawa combined with Kazuo Koike
and Goseki Kojima's Lone Wolf and Cub influenced his critically
acclaimed Ronin.
