History Repeats Itself With Frank Miller's Xerxes

by Vince Brusio

For years, comic fans have patiently waited for Frank Miller's follow-up to his Dark Horse Comics series 300. Now the wait is finally over as Miller returns to the world of 300 with a new 5-issue limited series that kicks off with Xerxes: The Fall Of The House of Darius And The Rise of Alexander #1 (FEB180011).

Fans of the original series will not be disappointed, as the new book carries the same power and passion that made 300 a historical achievement in comics literature. "We made the official announcement about the Xerxes series at San Diego last summer," says Dark Horse Publisher Mike Richardson. "We received a substantial amount of press pick-up at that time, and it seemed to be one of the highlights of the show."

Richardson could not be more right in that once the industry learned that Frank Miller's follow-up to 300 was finally going to materialize, social media was on fire and a new excitement for all things 300 was again the center of many conversations at the comic shop. After all, the original series spawned two feature films. One could only guess how Miller would again move the needle, and exceed expectations.

"The story has it all," Miller explained to PREVIEWSworld. "The fate of civilization is at risk. Everything we have now was in jeopardy. The Greek forces were vastly outnumbered and the vision and genius of Alexander prevailed."

One may think that as King Leonidas originally squared off with Xerxes in 300 that the same kind of stand-off would pit Xerxes against Alexander in the new story. But that is not the case, Miller assured us. "The story of Xerxes and Alexander do not overlap," he says. "Alexander faces Xerxes' heir. The collision between Xerxes and Alexander is one of civilization not one of direct contact. They never met. But it is a collision of visions."

Vision, as we all know, is what made 300 such a standout at the comic shop. It's not often that historical fiction is something you get to grab off the shelf when you make the weekly trip to pick up your monthly favorite titles. But Miller again delivers the dusty goods, and this time, he explains, the circle is complete.

"Xerxes is a companion to 300 as the story of Xerxes surrounds 300," he concluded. "I don’t expect the reader to be rooting for Xerxes or Darius or Darius the 3^rd. The emergent hero of the series is Alexander."

Xerxes: The Fall Of The House of Darius And The Rise of Alexander #1 (FEB180011) is in comic shops April 4.

**********

Vince Brusio writes about comics, and writes comics. He is the long-serving Editor of PREVIEWSworld.com, the creator of PUSSYCATS, and encourages everyone to keep the faith...and keep reading comics.