First, let's start with the visual element. The visual element in this graphic novel is excellent. Great art and color. You can see why this work won the awards it did. The book is a nice, large, oversized book. The story? Well, Frank Miller does take some artistic liberties here and there, but it is still a compelling story. If you are reading this after seeing the movie, you will notice that they added a lot to the movie. The whole plot of Leonidas' wife in the town and the back plotting of the council while the king was at war is not found here. However, it is very clear the movie took the visuals of the book as much as possible. I also think it may encourage some readers to seek out histories of this battle. Overall, I think this is a good example of Miller's work and Varney's coloring adds nicely to the work.