'''300''' is a 1998 [[comic book]] limited series written and [[illustrated]] by [[Frank Miller]], with painted colors by [[Lynn Varley]]. It is a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, as recounted through the perspective of Leonidas, the King of Sparta. Inspired by the 1962 film ''The 300 Spartans'', Miller crafted a highly stylized narrative blending historical elements with creative liberties. The series was later adapted into a 2007 film directed by Zack Snyder, which brought widespread attention to the comic.
{{redirect|The 300|the mythical/historical contingent of Spartans|300 Spartans|other uses|300 (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox comic book title| <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| title = 300
| image = 300 comic.jpg
| caption = Book cover.
| schedule = Monthly
| format =
| limited = y
| publisher = [[Dark Horse Comics]]
| date = May – September [[1998 in comics|1998]]
| issues = 5
| main_char_team =
| writers = [[Frank Miller]]
| artists = Frank Miller
| pencillers =
| inkers =
| colorists = [[Lynn Varley]]
| creative_team_month =
| TPB = Hardcover
| ISBN = 1-56971-402-9
| subcat = Dark Horse Comics
| sort = 300 (comics)
}}
'''''300''''' is a [[1998 in comics|1998]] [[comic book]] [[Limited series (comics)|limited series]] written and illustrated by [[Frank Miller]] with painted colors by [[Lynn Varley]].
The comic is a fictional retelling of the [[Battle of Thermopylae]] and the events leading up to it from the perspective of [[Leonidas|Leonidas of Sparta]]. ''300'' was particularly inspired by the 1962 film ''[[The 300 Spartans]]'', a film Miller watched as a young boy.<ref name="spartanfilm">[[Frank Miller]], ''300'' #3 (July 1998),"Slings & Arrows" letters page, [[Dark Horse Comics]]</ref> The work was adapted in 2006 to a [[300 (film)|film of the same name]] directed by [[Zack Snyder]].<ref name="NYT">{{cite book|author=Waldraff|first=Benjamin|date=2014|title=Differences Between Movie and Graphic Novel. The Adaptation of "300" by Frank Miller|url=https://www.grin.com/document/308912|work=Grin}}</ref>
== Plot Summary ==
Set in 480 BC, the story chronicles King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors as they prepare to confront the massive Persian army led by King Xerxes at the narrow pass of Thermopylae, also known as the "Hot Gates." The Spartans, vastly outnumbered, employ the terrain to their advantage in a tactical stand against the invaders.
In [[2018 in comics|2018]], Dark Horse published ''[[Xerxes (graphic novel)|Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander]]'', also written and drawn by Miller, acting as a prequel and sequel to the events of ''300'', depicting [[Xerxes I]]'s rise to the throne, and the subsequent destruction of the Persian Empire under his descendant [[Darius III]], by [[Alexander the Great]].
* '''Ephialtes' Betrayal''': Ephialtes, a deformed Spartan who wishes to fight alongside Leonidas, is rejected due to his inability to maintain the phalanx formation. Overcome with despair, he betrays the Spartans, revealing a hidden pass to the Persians.
* '''Defiance and Sacrifice''': Despite knowing the betrayal spells certain doom, Leonidas and his men resolve to fight to the end, demonstrating extraordinary courage and defiance. Leonidas refuses Xerxes' offers of wealth and power in exchange for submission. Before the final stand, Leonidas sends one Spartan, Dilios, back to Greece to recount their heroic tale.
* '''Climactic Battle''': The Spartans are surrounded on the third day of battle. Leonidas tricks Xerxes into believing he is surrendering but instead launches a surprise attack that wounds the "God-King." The Spartans ultimately perish under a storm of Persian arrows, their sacrifice inspiring Greek unity.
* '''Legacy''': The story ends with Dilios narrating the Spartans’ sacrifice to Greek troops, rallying them before the Battle of Plataea, which marks a decisive victory against the Persian invasion.
==Publication and awards==
== Art and Style ==
Each page of the novel is illustrated as a double-page spread. When the series was gathered into hardcover form, the individual pages were twice as wide as a normal comic. Miller's art style for this project was similar to his ''[[Sin City]]'' work, although the addition of consistent color is an obvious difference.
[[File:Frank Miller - Lucca Comics & Games 2016.jpg|alt=Frank Miller|thumb|[[Frank Miller]]]]
Each page of ''300'' is presented as a double-page spread, making the series visually distinctive. When collected in hardcover form, the pages were twice as wide as standard comic pages. Miller’s art style, influenced by his work on ''Sin City'', combines stark lines with dramatic composition, while Lynn Varley’s painted colors add depth and intensity. The red-and-gold palette evokes the blood and valor central to the narrative.
''300'' was initially published as a monthly five-issue [[comic book]] [[Limited series (comics)|limited series]] by [[Dark Horse Comics]], the first issue published in May [[1998 in comics|1998]]. The issues were titled ''Honor'', ''Duty'', ''Glory'', ''Combat'' and ''Victory''. The series won three [[Eisner Awards]] in 1999: "Best Limited Series", "Best Writer/Artist" for Frank Miller and "Best Colorist" for Lynn Varley. The work was collected as a hardcover [[trade paperback (comics)|volume]] in [[1999 in comics|1999]].
== Publication and Reception ==
The popularity of the film has boosted sales of the [[Trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]] edition. The 10th printing had an announced print run of 40,000 copies, with an 11th printing to follow. This is in addition to the 88,000 copies already sold since the initial [[trade paperback (comics)|volume]] was released in 1999.<ref>{{cite web
* ''300'' was originally published as a five-issue limited series by Dark Horse Comics between May and September 1998. The issues were titled ''Honor'', ''Duty'', ''Glory'', ''Combat'', and ''Victory''.
* The hardcover collected edition was released in 1999, and subsequent printings saw significant sales, particularly after the success of the film adaptation. By its 11th printing, over 88,000 copies had been sold.
|archive-date = 2008-11-22
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>
==Synopsis==
== Historical Accuracy and Criticism ==
In 480 BC, King [[Leonidas]] of [[Sparta]] gathers 300 of his best men to fight the upcoming [[Achaemenid Empire|Persia]]n invasion. In what is likely a suicide mission, they and their allies plan to stop King [[Xerxes I|Xerxes]]' invasion of [[Greece]] at the narrow cliffs of the "Hot Gates" ([[Thermopylae]]). The terrain prevented the Greeks from being overwhelmed by Xerxes' superior numbers (a military tactic usually called "[[defeat in detail]]").
''300'' has faced criticism for its historical inaccuracies and portrayal of Spartans and Persians:
Before the battle starts, [[Ephialtes of Trachis|Ephialtes]], a deformed Spartan, begs Leonidas to let him fight but is rejected due to his hunchbacked form, which prevents him from lifting his shield high enough to be of use for the [[phalanx formation|phalanx]]. Ephialtes becomes despondent due to Leonidas' refusal and throws himself off a cliff.
# '''Homophobia and Spartan Values''': Alan Moore and others have criticized the series for its homophobic undertones, particularly through its derogatory references to Athenians as "boy-lovers," despite historical evidence of homosexuality within Spartan society itself.
# '''Depiction of Non-Spartans''': Writer David Brin challenged the portrayal of non-Spartan Greeks as ineffective, highlighting the crucial contributions of allies like the Athenians in battles such as Marathon and Salamis.
# '''Ephialtes' Characterization''': Ephialtes’ physical deformity and betrayal have been viewed as a departure from historical accounts, where he was a local seeking Persian favor.
# '''Exaggerated Heroism''': Critics like Kieron Gillen responded to ''300'' with works like ''Three'', which emphasized the role of the helots (Spartan slaves) and questioned the moral heroism attributed to the Spartans.
The Spartans and their allies successfully hold off the Persians for two days and nights. During a break in the fighting, Xerxes meets with Leonidas and offers wealth and power in exchange for his surrender. Leonidas declines, and the battle continues. Meanwhile, Ephialtes awakes from his suicide attempt and decides to betray the Greeks by telling the Persians about the existence of a small pass that allows Xerxes to attack them from behind.
== Influence and Legacy ==
Learning of the Persian maneuvers, the Greeks realized their position was indefensible, but the Spartans and a few others refused to retreat. Before engaging the Persians for the last time, Leonidas orders one Spartan (Dilios) to return home so that he might survive and tell their story.
=== Cultural References ===
On the third day, Xerxes has the Spartans surrounded, and their remaining allies ([[Thespiae|Thespians]]) are already dead. He gives Leonidas one final chance to surrender and kneel to him. After some hesitation, Leonidas finally complies, throws down his arms, and kneels. This, however, is a trick by Leonidas and signals Stelios, a loyal Spartan soldier, to jump from his back and kill a general. The Spartans fight. Leonidas throws his spear at Xerxes, intending to make the "God-King" bleed, and succeeds. The Spartans are killed to the last man by a storm of arrows.
* ''300'' influenced several of Miller’s other works, such as ''Sin City: The Big Fat Kill'', where tactical parallels are drawn to Thermopylae.
* The series inspired the "Jack and the Spartans" episode of ''Samurai Jack'', which reimagined the story in a fantastical setting.
The story then shifts about a year later and ends as now-Captain Dilios relates the heroic sacrifice of Leonidas and his Spartan comrades to his troops before the historic [[Battle of Plataea]].
=== Film Adaptation ===
The 2007 film ''300'', directed by Zack Snyder with Miller as executive producer, used greenscreen technology to faithfully recreate the comic’s visual style. It became a box office success and brought global recognition to the original comic. A sequel, ''300: Rise of an Empire'' (2014), was based on Miller’s follow-up series ''Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander''.
==Criticisms==
=== Video Game ===
Writer [[Alan Moore]] has criticized ''300'' as being historically inaccurate, with particular reference to the characters' attitudes towards homosexuality:
A video game adaptation of ''300'', based on both the comic and the film, was released in 2007.
{{cquote|text=There was just one particular line in it where one of the Spartan soldiers—I'll remind you, this is Spartans that we're talking about—one of them was talking disparagingly about the [[Athens|Athenians]], and said, ‘Those boy-lovers.' You know, I mean, read a book, Frank. The Spartans were famous for something other than holding the bridge at Thermopylae, they were quite famous for actually [[Pederasty in ancient Greece#Sparta|enforcing man-boy love]] amongst the ranks as a way of military bonding. That specific example probably says more about Frank's grasp of history than it does about his grasp of homosexuality, so I'm not impugning his moral situation there. I'm not saying it was [[homophobia|homophobic]]; just wasn't very well researched.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11201 |title=Homosexuality in Comics: Part IV |access-date=2007-07-20 |last=Furey |first=Emmett |date=2007-07-19 |work=[[Comic Book Resources]]| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070822172050/http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11201| archive-date= 22 August 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>}}
Miller, in the letters page of the series, replied to accusations of homophobia from a reader regarding the phrase "Those boy-lovers": {{cquote|text=If I allowed my characters to express only my own attitudes and beliefs, my work would be pretty darn boring. If I wrote to please grievance groups, my work would be propaganda.
== Legacy and Sales ==
For the record: being a warrior class, the Spartans almost certainly did practice homosexuality. There's also evidence they tended to lie about it. It's not a big leap to postulate that they ridiculed their hedonistic Athenian rivals for something they themselves did. "Hypocrisy" is, after all, a word we got from the Greeks.
The popularity of ''300'' has cemented its place as a cultural phenomenon. It remains a defining work in Miller’s career and a significant influence in the comic and film industries. While its historical and thematic choices remain subjects of debate, its impact on popular culture and visual storytelling is undeniable.
What's next? A letter claiming that, since the Spartans owned slaves and beat their young, I do the same?
The times we live in.<ref>Frank Miller, ''300'' #4 (August 1998), "Combat" letters page, Dark Horse Comics</ref>}}
Writer [[David Brin]] has also criticized ''300'' as being historically inaccurate, with particular reference to the bravery and efficacy of the non-Spartan Greeks:
{{cquote|text=That Athenian triumph deserves a movie! And believe me, it weighed heavily on the real life Leonidas, ten years later. ''300'' author Frank Miller portrays the Spartans' preening arrogance in the best possible light, as a kind of endearing tribal machismo. Miller never hints at the underlying reason for Leonidas's rant, a deep current of smoldering shame over how Sparta sat out [[Battle of Marathon|Marathon]], leaving it to Athenian amateurs, like the playwright [[Aeschylus]], to save all of Greece. The "shopkeepers" whom Leonidas outrageously and ungratefully despises in the film.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2011/11/move-over-frank-miller-or-why-occupy.html |title=Move over, Frank Miller: or why the Occupy Wall Street Kids are Better than the #$%! Spartans |access-date=2011-11-14 |last=Brin |first=David |date=2011-11-13}}</ref>}}
During the [[Battle of Marathon]], ten years previous to Thermopylae, the Spartans had been obligated to honor the [[Carneia]], a religious festival during which military engagements were forbidden.<ref>Holland, pp. 187–190</ref> Once the religious prohibition was lifted, the Spartan troops covered the 220 kilometers (140 mi) to Athens in a quick three days and arrived only one day after the battle had taken place. The Spartans toured the battlefield at Marathon, and agreed that the Athenians had won a great victory.<ref>Herodotus VI, 120</ref> Xerxes' invasion happened to coincide yet again with the celebration of the Carneia. This time, however, the Spartans chose not to hold back their entire army in deference to the festival, but instead sent an advance force of 300 men under Leonidas, who were to be reinforced by a full contingent of Spartan warriors after the festival concluded. It is impossible to know for certain whether this change in policy regarding the Carneia was based in shame about missing Marathon (as Brin suggests) or merely marked a reinterpretation of the military threat posed by the invading Persians. All Herodotus tells us is that the Spartan officials did not think that the engagement at Thermopylae would be decided so quickly and intended the main part of their force to arrive before the fighting broke out.<ref>Herodotus VII, 206</ref>
Writer [[Kieron Gillen]]'s series ''Three'' is a riposte to Miller's 300, while Gillen is explicit that he admires 300, his work is an attempt to restore the presence of the [[helots]] a slave tribe/caste absent from Miller's telling to the story of Sparta, and so question the heroism of the Spartans and their ownership of their victories, as well as challenge the discourse of freedom and its defence expressed by the Spartans, and by Miller.
==References in other works==
There are references to the Battle at Thermopylae in several of Frank Miller's other comic books. In ''[[Sin City]]: [[The Big Fat Kill]]'', [[Dwight McCarthy]] considers Leonidas' choice of "where to fight" and manages to loosely recreate the Spartan defense tactics by cornering the enemy gang in a tight alley; they then annihilate them with heavy gunfire and explosives. Also in ''[[Hell and Back (comics)|Hell and Back]]'' when [[Wallace (Sin City)|Wallace]] is drugged he sees his friend as Leonidas with a machine gun. In ''[[The Dark Knight Returns]]'' and ''[[The Dark Knight Strikes Again]]'', Miller's "omega" [[Batman]] stories, there are references to a character named "Hot Gates" (the literal translation of ''Thermopylae''), an [[adult film]] star who first makes a version of [[Snow White]], and then declares herself Dictator of [[Ohio]].
In the [[Emmy Award]]-winning episode "Jack and the Spartans" of the cartoon ''[[Samurai Jack]]'', Jack meets a group of Spartan warriors fighting Aku's minions. This episode was partially inspired by Miller's comics.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/samurai-jack/xxv-jack-and-the-spartans/episode/182593/summary.html#allusions |title=''Samurai Jack'': XXV: Jack And The Spartans – TV.com |access-date=2007-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930064339/http://www.tv.com/samurai-jack/xxv-jack-and-the-spartans/episode/182593/summary.html#allusions |archive-date=2007-09-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Film adaptation==
{{main|300 (film)}}
In 2007, Zack Snyder directed a film adaptation of 300 with Frank Miller serving as [[executive producer]] to adapt his work for film. It used [[Chroma key|greenscreen]] technology to capture the comic book feel; the film is in fact notable for remaining extremely faithful to its source material as a result. It was released in both conventional cinemas and [[IMAX]] in 2007. In 2014, a sequel, ''[[300: Rise of an Empire]]'', was made, which is based on Frank Miller's mini-series ''[[Xerxes (graphic novel)|Xerxes]]''.
==Video game adaptation==
{{main|300: March to Glory}}
A video game based on the movie and the graphic novel was released in 2007.
==Collected editions==
* {{ISBN|1-56971-402-9}} Hardcover, 88 pages, Dark Horse Comics
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Further reading==
In the [[afterword]] for ''300'', Frank Miller recommends the following books:
* ''[[Histories (Herodotus)|The Histories]]'', by [[Herodotus]]
* ''[[The Hot Gates]]'', by [[William Golding]]
* ''Thermopylae: The Battle for the West'', by [[Ernle Bradford]]
* ''The Western Way of War'' by [[Victor Davis Hanson]]
==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal|Ancient Greece|United States|Comics}}
* [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=48-339 Dark Horse Product Page]
* [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=48-339 Dark Horse Product Page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430022733/http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=48-339 |date=2008-04-30 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070807022233/http://sincity.kryspin.net/ Frank Miller`s Sin city & 300 & Spirit] – Database articles, images and other files about Frank Miller and his comics.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070807022233/http://sincity.kryspin.net/ Frank Miller`s Sin city & 300 & Spirit] – Database articles, images and other files about Frank Miller and his comics.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180726065150/http://www.factbehindfiction.com/index_files/300TheBattleatThermopylae.htm 300 at FactBehindFiction.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180726065150/http://www.factbehindfiction.com/index_files/300TheBattleatThermopylae.htm 300 at FactBehindFiction.com]
{{300}}
{{Frank Miller}}
[[Category:300 (comics)| ]]
[[Category:300 (comics)| ]]
Latest revision as of 18:15, 30 December 2024
300 is a 1998 comic book limited series written and illustrated by Frank Miller, with painted colors by Lynn Varley. It is a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, as recounted through the perspective of Leonidas, the King of Sparta. Inspired by the 1962 film The 300 Spartans, Miller crafted a highly stylized narrative blending historical elements with creative liberties. The series was later adapted into a 2007 film directed by Zack Snyder, which brought widespread attention to the comic.
Plot Summary
Set in 480 BC, the story chronicles King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors as they prepare to confront the massive Persian army led by King Xerxes at the narrow pass of Thermopylae, also known as the "Hot Gates." The Spartans, vastly outnumbered, employ the terrain to their advantage in a tactical stand against the invaders.
Ephialtes' Betrayal: Ephialtes, a deformed Spartan who wishes to fight alongside Leonidas, is rejected due to his inability to maintain the phalanx formation. Overcome with despair, he betrays the Spartans, revealing a hidden pass to the Persians.
Defiance and Sacrifice: Despite knowing the betrayal spells certain doom, Leonidas and his men resolve to fight to the end, demonstrating extraordinary courage and defiance. Leonidas refuses Xerxes' offers of wealth and power in exchange for submission. Before the final stand, Leonidas sends one Spartan, Dilios, back to Greece to recount their heroic tale.
Climactic Battle: The Spartans are surrounded on the third day of battle. Leonidas tricks Xerxes into believing he is surrendering but instead launches a surprise attack that wounds the "God-King." The Spartans ultimately perish under a storm of Persian arrows, their sacrifice inspiring Greek unity.
Legacy: The story ends with Dilios narrating the Spartans’ sacrifice to Greek troops, rallying them before the Battle of Plataea, which marks a decisive victory against the Persian invasion.
Each page of 300 is presented as a double-page spread, making the series visually distinctive. When collected in hardcover form, the pages were twice as wide as standard comic pages. Miller’s art style, influenced by his work on Sin City, combines stark lines with dramatic composition, while Lynn Varley’s painted colors add depth and intensity. The red-and-gold palette evokes the blood and valor central to the narrative.
Publication and Reception
300 was originally published as a five-issue limited series by Dark Horse Comics between May and September 1998. The issues were titled Honor, Duty, Glory, Combat, and Victory.
The series won three Eisner Awards in 1999:
Best Limited Series
Best Writer/Artist for Frank Miller
Best Colorist for Lynn Varley
The hardcover collected edition was released in 1999, and subsequent printings saw significant sales, particularly after the success of the film adaptation. By its 11th printing, over 88,000 copies had been sold.
Historical Accuracy and Criticism
300 has faced criticism for its historical inaccuracies and portrayal of Spartans and Persians:
Homophobia and Spartan Values: Alan Moore and others have criticized the series for its homophobic undertones, particularly through its derogatory references to Athenians as "boy-lovers," despite historical evidence of homosexuality within Spartan society itself.
Depiction of Non-Spartans: Writer David Brin challenged the portrayal of non-Spartan Greeks as ineffective, highlighting the crucial contributions of allies like the Athenians in battles such as Marathon and Salamis.
Ephialtes' Characterization: Ephialtes’ physical deformity and betrayal have been viewed as a departure from historical accounts, where he was a local seeking Persian favor.
Exaggerated Heroism: Critics like Kieron Gillen responded to 300 with works like Three, which emphasized the role of the helots (Spartan slaves) and questioned the moral heroism attributed to the Spartans.
Influence and Legacy
Cultural References
300 influenced several of Miller’s other works, such as Sin City: The Big Fat Kill, where tactical parallels are drawn to Thermopylae.
The series inspired the "Jack and the Spartans" episode of Samurai Jack, which reimagined the story in a fantastical setting.
Film Adaptation
The 2007 film 300, directed by Zack Snyder with Miller as executive producer, used greenscreen technology to faithfully recreate the comic’s visual style. It became a box office success and brought global recognition to the original comic. A sequel, 300: Rise of an Empire (2014), was based on Miller’s follow-up series Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander.
Video Game
A video game adaptation of 300, based on both the comic and the film, was released in 2007.
Legacy and Sales
The popularity of 300 has cemented its place as a cultural phenomenon. It remains a defining work in Miller’s career and a significant influence in the comic and film industries. While its historical and thematic choices remain subjects of debate, its impact on popular culture and visual storytelling is undeniable.
