As someone who grew up immersed in the endlessly inspiring pages of comic books, my journey began with the provocative pages of Heavy Metal, an anthology that opened my eyes to the limitless potential of illustrated storytelling.

Heavy Metal was a revelation. It showed me that comics could go beyond superheroes and children’s tales, delving into truly adult themes like sexuality, violence, and morality. What stood out to me was the work of many European artists and writers who brought different, more mature perspectives — ones rooted in a distinctly European morality, especially regarding sex and graphic illustration. This shift in perspective changed how I saw illustrated storytelling. I began to understand that comics could explore complex, raw, and uncomfortable themes in ways that felt both mythological and artistic.

From there, I delved into the seminal works of Frank Miller’s Ronin and The Dark Knight Returns. These iconic narratives reshaped my understanding of comic books, revealing them as profound reflections of our society.

One of the most transformative moments for me was in The Dark Knight Returns, with the line, “The rain on my chest is a baptism… I’m born again.” This moment transformed Batman into something larger than life, a mythic figure whose struggles were not just physical but deeply emotional. Yet, at the same time, Miller made him profoundly human. He wasn’t just a superhero defying pain, he was a man confronting the very real toll of time and struggle, determined to rise above it and find his own relevance in the world.

As we turn the pages of our favorite comics, I invite you to appreciate them not just as entertainment, but as an often profound commentary on our shared human experience. In the vivid interplay of word and image, we find a mirror reflecting the triumphs, tribulations, and transformative movements of the 20th Century and beyond. Let’s continue to explore, question, and celebrate the depth and diversity of this remarkable art form.

In 2006, two trailblazing artists joined forces to bring one of the most inventive comics ever made to the silver screen. The result was 300, which transformed Frank Miller’s epic retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae into a cinematic spectacle and cemented its director, Zack Snyder, as a force to be reckoned with.

Now, almost two decades later, Snyder and Miller reunite for a wide-ranging conversation about the nature of superheroes, comics, and art itself as part of Inverse’s 2024 Superhero Issue, guest edited by Zack Snyder.