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When I say the movie trailer I began to look for this comic, when I got it I found a really well written story with really interesting characters, typical Miller/Varley drawings and a real based history, what else can I say this is the comic that initiated me into Miller's world and I'm glad I started here. The movie a great comica adaptation.
Well done Frank Miller, well done indeed.I would also recommend Clarence Cage's novel Ashes Divide: Ashes Divide (Epic sequel to 300) it expands upon Frank Miller's 300 and the Battle of Thermopylae. The book does a good job retelling the Battle of Thermopylae.
It was amazing to see the pure intensity of the film, but it also shows the depth of the novel. Comparing the two side-by-side you notice most of the contents of the novel are in the film.
I first read Frank Miller's 300 prior to the film's release.and then I re read it after the film. Frank Miller has reached the summit of the graphic novel using incredibly detailed art to emphasis his bold story telling.
The film really only adds to the subplots of the book.and expands upon the scenes. The art direction is brilliant.
I say good because there is more than a hint of fiction scattered amongst the nonfiction, but that makes the story come alive. Another book I'd recommend is Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle by Steven Pressfield: Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae Both these novels are epic and both expand the story of 300.
Overall, I found it to be entertaining, but I definitely would not choose this medium over a traditional novel of the same story or subject matter. The art work is very different from comic book art that I am accustomed to. Since it's a graphic novel, this was a fairly quick read. It was a nice change of pace though, and I'm glad that I got the feel of the graphic novel aspect before seeing the movie and having my perception skewed by it. A muted color scheme really helps to set the tone for the book and great use of action move the story along without the need for a ton of dialog. Frank Miller definitely has his own style, a couple of times he lost me in what was going on, but after turning back a few pages and rereading, I figured out what he was trying to do with the story. I also think that it's one of those types of things that I'll enjoy even more on a second reading. I'm sure that the second time through, I'll naturally take more time to appreciate the art work instead of mainly concentrating on moving through the story.
The quality of the book is great, vivid colors with inks faithfully reproduced and the oversized layout all make for a great read. That being said, the unfamiliar reader should definitely get familiar with this book, and the other works of Frank Miller as well. The story is one you're probably familiar with, and of the recent graphic novels turned movies, I'd say this one sticks closest in terms of plot so there won't be too many surprises if you're seen the film. It's also a much quicker read than most, feeling more like a comic than a novel. He's a great storyteller and while his art is rough and sketched, it often adds to the gritty themes. Personally, I think Frank Miller is at his best working in black and white high-contrast (like he does throughout the Sin City series) but he still does some great layout work in 300 and keeps it visually interesting.
THE ART;Personally, I've never been a big fan of Frank Miller's art, just his stories. Loved it. As is the case with most novel-inspired films, the motion picture always tends to fall short of its narrative equivalent. Sure the pages are wide & extensive, but this hardly translated to more reading. I also seriously doubt you would be reading it again in a few months. Zack Snyder's `300' was one of the most awe inspiring films ever made- & I was sold. Regrettably, you haven't missed out on much.I, more than anyone, wanted this book to be the epic it promised to be.
I wish I could say the same for the book. I was surprised to find the graphic novel both shallow & rushed, with the author doing very little to add value to the tale. So you watched the movie. The handsome hardcover & over-sized pages will undeniably & literally `stand out' in your bookcase.THE STORY;Miller throws you into the fray, right from the beginning & it climaxes & ends even before you know it. 300 makes for very superficial reading; it's as black & white as it comes, so don't expect a deep & philosophical story.88 pages seem hardly enough to narrate the harrowing tale of the 300. dialog was few & far apart (& was, at times, both uninteresting & tedious) & you could probably finish the book from cover to cover at your first sitting. A very basic presentation of a fine theme that, in my opinion, could have been better staged. Varney's colours were just as simplistic, with blacks, reds & yellow/oranges being used from cover to cover, with little or no variety.THE VERDICT;Not all that it is hyped up to be.
Want to read the graphic novel that inspired it. and if you are someone (like me) who loves to pour over pages of detailed & intricate artwork, this book will bore you to tears. However, this is hardly the case with 300; the movie seems to have far outshone its graphic novel counterpart, by surpassing & enriching the plot conjured up by Miller. I would recommend this book to collectors &/or fans, not to those who are looking for a more exhilarating ride than the movie.THE BOOK;The dimensions of the book & the overall quality of `300; the graphic novel' are the only real positives I can think of. The art was shabby & petty with very little attention paid to detail. Sorry Frank, but no cigar.
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