300

Frank Miller’s 300, published by Dark Horse in 1999, is a single-issue graphic novel that reimagines the Battle of Thermopylae with his signature stark, expressionistic art and hard-boiled storytelling. Written and illustrated entirely by Miller, this standalone work strips the ancient conflict to its brutal essence, focusing on King Leonidas and his Spartans as they stand against the Persian army. Its visceral, painted visual style and uncompromising tone made it a defining modern epic, later inspiring a major film adaptation, and it remains a benchmark for how comics can elevate historical legend into visceral, mythic art.