The first issue of this Image Comics miniseries made a nice twist on the 300 legend, putting the oppressed slave order of the Helots center stage. Now matters are escalating, involving the rulers of Sparta and some pretty impossible odds.
Written by Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by Ryan KellyThree slaughter survivors race towards the free city of Messene. Pursuing them are 300 Spartans. Why? What makes Sparta think that unleashing this isn’t massive overkill? What makes a Spartan king agree to lead them? And what secrets do the Helot workers hold that changes everything…
Following the slaughter of a houseful of Spartans by three Helots, the son of a slain Ephor is left to report the news and establish a plan of action – one that involves the “massive overkill” mentioned in the solicit. That’s right: the Spartans recognize the threat of the Helots in a big way, and won’t stop until they’ve eradicated that threat.
The retaliatory action of the Helots takes up the first half of the issue, making this part of the chapter read similarly to what we’ve encountered so far. There’s a good deal of wordless action and plenty of bloodshed, and we’ve learned enough about the history that this part needs no further contextualization. It’s when Arimnestos, the son of the Ephor, takes his account home that things slow down a good deal, and it’s time for a little more history.
Gillen manages to explore the political landscape of Sparta without getting too weighed down, conveying most of it by means of a conversation between the king, Kleomenes II, and a close subject. The shifting philosophy behind the Spartan way of life is major underlying theme; that these men have seen the world change before their eyes seems to add to their desire to quell the Helot rebellion. Along the way, a metaphor about two hounds winds up feeling a bit protracted, but so far as stage-setting moments go, this one is pulled off confidently, and we’re carried without a hitch to the cliffhanger.
As mentioned, there are fewer action scenes here than in the first issue, and so Ryan Kelly is given the rather challenging task of making lots of conversations between Spartan politicians look interesting. Thanks to the character work, the going is solid; even though we’ve come to see Spartans in a negative light, the individuals still come across with nuance as they set about their work.
The sense of place and time, meanwhile, is strong and consistent: there are so many little details, in both the costumes and backgrounds, that are unnecessary for storytelling purposes but which add so much in terms of atmosphere and texture. In many ways, this ancient world feel strikingly alien, with Kelly getting plenty of effect out of the giant statues that punctuate the streets of Sparta. This immersive quality, combined with new angle on history that we’re getting, is the main selling point of the series so far; “Three” feels like the successful recovery of a story we don’t hear very often.
Jordie Bellaire’s colours aren’t as exuberant we’re used to, erring more on the side of realism, with your expected golds and reds and browns. That’s nothing to complain about, of course, but it would have been interesting to see the interiors coloured in the same bold way as the covers. As they stand, things have a bit of a pulpy vibe, with a lot of yellow in the backgrounds and some Ben-Day dots for good measure. This style lends itself well to the action scenes, immersing us even further in a terrifying world.
“Three” is definitely getting where it’s going, parsing out some interesting history lessons along the way. And while this isn’t the fastest-moving issue, Ryan Kelly’s art makes it a memorable and smooth read. If you were a fan of the first issue, this second one won’t disappoint; and if want to hang around Sparta a bit, “Three” will keep taking you there.
Final Verdict: 8.0 – Buy
