Review: Xerxes: The Fall of The House of Darius and The Rise of Alexander #2

May 16, 2018

By Ben Snyder

Despite the disappointment I felt last month after reading Xerxes #1, I couldn’t help but feel hopeful for the follow up issue Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and The Rise of Alexander #2. Unfortunately, I am left feeling as thought his series is entirely unnecessary and disappointing. Frank Miller’s script continues to be a slog due to his overused narration and reliance on Greek prayers and feels half finished. Miller’s art however takes it to another level, an extremely poor one. It all collides to create a feeling that this entire endeavor was rushed and unfinished.

Review: Xerxes: The Fall of The House of Darius and The Rise of Alexander #1

April 12, 2018

By Ben Snyder

After years upon years of fruitless waiting, Frank Miller finally released his companion to 300. Unfortunately Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander #1 doesn’t reach anywhere near the same lofty heights as its predecessor. Miller delivers a surprisingly predictable and seemingly unnecessary companion to his original masterpiece. But it also continues a trend of Miller returning to his earlier works with noticeable less success, as he did with the Dark Knight III. Similarly to the Dark Knight III, Xerxes just doesn’t seem to add much to the landmark graphic novel.

Frank Miller Signs Five-Project Deal With DC

March 23, 2018

Press Release

Industry icon Frank Miller continues his long-standing relationship with DC as a five-project deal is announced today by DC Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee.

Amongst the planned releases from the legendary writer/artist is a forthcoming graphic novel starring Carrie Kelley, whom Miller created for the genre-defining series BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. Marking Miller’s first-ever foray into storytelling for young readers, the new graphic novel will feature illustrations by artist Ben Caldwell (PREZ).

Dark Horse Proud to Release “Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander” in April 2018

January 16, 2018

Press Release

Dark Horse is proud to reveal art from Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander, the highly anticipated companion to Frank Miller’s award-winning series 300. Comics legend Frank Miller, creator of Sin City and 300, writes and draws this sprawling historical epic, twenty years in the making. Alex Sinclair, the colorist for Miller's Dark Knight III: The Master Race, provides his stunning colors to Miller’s latest comics conquest.

Review: Hard Boiled (Second Edition)

September 13, 2017

By Daniel Vlasaty

This is the second edition of Hard Boiled. It's written by Frank Miller, drawn by Geof Darrow, and colored by Dave Stewart. It originally came out in 1990, but I didn’t read it back then. Most probably because I was only five years old at the time. This is the first time I've ever read it actually, although I was aware that it was a thing that existed in the world before. Just never got around to reading it. I guess.

Dark Horse and Frank Miller Present: Xerxes

July 7, 2017

Press Release

To celebrate the triumphant return of Frank Miller’s seminal work, Dark Horse is excited to reveal gorgeous art from his upcoming comics series Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander. Additionally, as a special “thank you” to fans, Dark Horse is offering attendees the opportunity to meet comics legend Frank Miller at San Diego Comic-Con! On Friday, July 21from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m., Dark Horse will welcome Miller for a special signing at booth #2615 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Review: Dark Knight III: The Master Race #9

June 7, 2017

By Jonathan Edwards

Holy god, this shitheap of mediocrity is finally over. You really have to wonder what the creative team was doing during those extra months between issues. Because, they sure as hell didn't use that time to create a superior book. Seriously, a year and a half to get out nine issues averages about one every two months (remember, this was supposed to be a monthly title), and they've all been bland at best. It's even worse when you juxtapose it with what DC is doing with a fair amount of their Rebirth titles. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Nightwing, and The Flash, to name a few, have been shipping semimonthly since June of last year, and they've all been a far cry better than DK3. Whereas here we've been subjected the awfulness that is contemporary Frank Miller filtered through Brian Azzarello, who only succeeds in stripping away the lion's share of poor taste that would likely be there otherwise. Other than the, y'know, barely masked Islamophobia and support for police brutality in the name of "justice," that is. So, I welcome this end. And funnily enough, this might be the best, or at least close to it, this series has been. But, again, that's not saying a lot.

Review: Dark Knight III: The Master Race #8

March 31, 2017

By Jonathan Edwards

I don't like Frank Miller. Not just because he's a shitty person, nor because his writing's gotten definitively worse over the last decade or so. With maybe one or two exceptions, I've never liked his work. Brian Azzarello is a lot more middle of the road. From what I've read, he tends to be decent at the very least (Moonshine, for one, has been pretty good so far, though definitely not the best thing coming out from Image right now). However, I'm pretty sure Azzarello is the only thing keeping this book from taking a straight nosedive into pure awfulness. It's long been presumed that he was taking on the brunt of the writing with this series, and some of Miller's own comments, explaining his writing of a fourth entry in the Dark Knight series, more or less confirms that. It's too bad that he can only do so much here, and it really isn't enough. Despite attempts to veil the rampant Islamophobia Miller threw around in Holy Terror, it still ends up about as subtle as a truck. Well, if you want to call portraying the Kadorians as blatant and over the top religious zealots utilizing suicide bombers "veiled." And if that weren't enough, issue #7 of this shit show advocates for police brutality. Way to go. Yet, can this penultimate issue turn it all around and make this a worthwhile book? Nope, not in the slightest.