300 is a 1998 comic book limited series written and illustrated by Frank Miller with painted colors by Lynn Varley. The series was published by Dark Horse Comics and consists of five issues. It is a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, where King Leonidas and 300 Spartan warriors made a legendary last stand against the massive invading Persian army led by King Xerxes.
The comic is renowned for its distinctive visual style, with Miller's heavily inked, widescreen panels and Varley's painterly, atmospheric colors creating a mythic, hyper-stylized aesthetic. The story is framed as a tale told by the Spartan soldier Dilios, an unreliable narrator who embellishes the events with fantastical elements, including monstrous creatures and superhuman feats, elevating the historical battle into epic legend.
Miller drew inspiration from the 1962 film The 300 Spartans, which he had seen as a child, and sought to capture the visceral intensity and heroic sacrifice of the Spartans. The comic was a critical and commercial success, winning three Eisner Awards in 1999 for Best Limited Series, Best Writer/Artist, and Best Colorist. Its striking visual approach and visceral storytelling made it a landmark work in modern comics and laid the groundwork for its later cinematic adaptation.
