300 - The graphic novel by Frank Miller
Although this site will primarily feature ebooks of a historical nature, I will review here in brief one of my favorite graphic novels of all time, called '300', by Frank Miller.
For those unfamiliar with this title, the '300' in the title refers to those brave Spartan warriors who held tens of thousands of Persian warriors at a narrow pass near Thermopylae, known as the "Hot Gates" in 480 BC, preventing the early demise of Greek civilization as we know it. According to many scholars, this was the single most important battle and the modern world would be much different today, if it were not for this all important sacrifice, as each of the 300 died to the very last man, while the rest of the Greek city states still debated and discussed on how to combat this threat.
What drew me the most was the element of sacrifice, as each man knew that this battle would be his last and there would be no question of survival - none.
The most awe inspiring thing about this battle was not only the sacrifice element of this small band of Spartans, led by their great King Leonidas but also the implications if they hadn't volunteered their lives to hold off Xerxes and his Persian horde. Outnumbered a 100 to 1, they fought on bravely to the last man and there is almost unanimous consent from various scholars that if the Spartans had not held them off until the rest of the Greeks regrouped, buying them precious time, much of today's western civilization as we know it would not exist.
I could go on and on about this, but true to my promise, I will keep this brief and just say that if you haven't read this one yet, please do so. A word of caution is in order as the images are extremely graphic as regards the violence depicted and this is definitely not a book for young children or those who are queasy about seeing such images. I read somewhere that a movie is going to be produced soon, based on this graphic novel and it will be interesting to see how they make a film out of this. In any case, I can't wait to see the film if they make this, with a possible release date in 2006.
For those unfamiliar with this title, the '300' in the title refers to those brave Spartan warriors who held tens of thousands of Persian warriors at a narrow pass near Thermopylae, known as the "Hot Gates" in 480 BC, preventing the early demise of Greek civilization as we know it. According to many scholars, this was the single most important battle and the modern world would be much different today, if it were not for this all important sacrifice, as each of the 300 died to the very last man, while the rest of the Greek city states still debated and discussed on how to combat this threat.
What drew me the most was the element of sacrifice, as each man knew that this battle would be his last and there would be no question of survival - none.
The most awe inspiring thing about this battle was not only the sacrifice element of this small band of Spartans, led by their great King Leonidas but also the implications if they hadn't volunteered their lives to hold off Xerxes and his Persian horde. Outnumbered a 100 to 1, they fought on bravely to the last man and there is almost unanimous consent from various scholars that if the Spartans had not held them off until the rest of the Greeks regrouped, buying them precious time, much of today's western civilization as we know it would not exist.
I could go on and on about this, but true to my promise, I will keep this brief and just say that if you haven't read this one yet, please do so. A word of caution is in order as the images are extremely graphic as regards the violence depicted and this is definitely not a book for young children or those who are queasy about seeing such images. I read somewhere that a movie is going to be produced soon, based on this graphic novel and it will be interesting to see how they make a film out of this. In any case, I can't wait to see the film if they make this, with a possible release date in 2006.
posted by herakles at 5:14 PM
11 Comments:
Herakles, I think you're jumping the gun here a little bit... I appreciate the fact that you want reviews to appear here quickly. However, it takes time for the site to get noticed and while I would not mind if an occasional review gets posted here on a graphic novel set in ancient times, I think the primary focus should be on historical books.
The 'review' you posted doesn't cover certain aspects of Frank Miller's take on this key battle. For one thing, his book doesn't have any women in it, except in the first few pages I think and there is way too much emphasis on the fighting sequences with the last part becoming a positive gorefest. As a writer, I think I would have focused more on the training and introduced a love element somewhere in the book to make it more interesting. There is also the question of how well all of this will translate into a movie and I would definitely try and introduce some women and possibly sub plots to make this a little more cinematic.
However, all in all, it is a great book and definitely a must read for all fans of historical fiction.
You've got a great idea here, and your layout is clean, but it takes a while for sites to really sizzle. The best thing you can do is find a way to post at least three days a week, if not daily, which keeps you fresh on readers' blogrolls.
Good luck.
(Visiting via BlogExplosion)
I'm a huge fan of Frank Miller, also.
Is Frank Miller the dude who did Sin City?
Graphic Novel. Wha??
Is that a comic book for grown-ups?
Excellent. WHere can I find one?
I guess I can google.
Hi Herakles~
I enjoyed your blog about Frank Miller's '300' and am anxiously awaiting the release of the movie next year. If you haven't had a chance to read Steven Pressfield's 'Gates of Fire', please do so, since it is also about the battle of Thermopylae.
Incidentally, if you have a chance to check out my web log you might get a kick out of it since it is all about those heroic 300 Spartans that you so eloquently wrote about.
Cheers mate,
John
I love graphic novels...
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I have a **ebooks** site/blog. It pretty much covers ##ebooks## related stuff.
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Hey, you have a great blog here! I'm definitely going to bookmark you!
I have found free ebooks site/blog. It pretty much covers free ebooks related stuff.
go and get your free ebooks :-)
AMBROGIO BECCARRIA is another GREAT Historical, Graphic Novel! It's
quite enthralling!
Click here for a preview!
Thanx - 'a friend', of
Jonathan M. Prince
(the author & artist of 'Ambrogio Beccarria');
at illustrationISM
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