“When the boy was born…like all Spartans, he was inspected. If he’d been small or puny or sickly or misshapen… he would have been discarded.”
So begins one of my favorite movies:
“300”
The guy who wrote the comic (Frank Miller) is a genius.
One of the best storytellers ever to grace us comic book fanboys with his scribbling excellence. In fact, he was the man who practically single handedly saved the entire Batman comic book franchise (from what I understand).
Here’s what happened;
Sales for Batman had gotten so low DC Comic almost canceled it.
Then, Frank came on the scene.
Swooped in with his (figurative) cape and cowl.
And, saved the day.
How?
By writing the most BALLSY story possible:
“The Dark Knight Returns”
It was basically the first “adult” themed comic.
(Certainly for a mainstream super hero.)
Very dark.
Very violent.
And, very entertaining.
One of the reasons why is, it’s about an aging (55 years old) Batman who’s been on the couch for 10 years, out of shape and can’t resist getting back into the game when some of his old enemies (and a really nasty new enemy) emerge. Anyway, it mixes up the dark with humor and a script so well written you can turn to ANY page and be “wowed” with how cool it is.
(The part where he kicks Superman’s ass is pure jeenius.)
The point of telling you this?
The RAW power of storytelling.
That one story raised Batman from the dead.
And, in a way, was responsible for all the Batman comics and movies, etc that have come since… we’re talking billions of smackeroos.
All from a story.
Wild, isn’t it?
Well, guess what?
Storytelling can put lots of extra dineros in YOUR hot little pocket too.
Enter tomorrow’s Ben Settle Show podcast.
It’s all about using stories to sell.
Including the 5 ways I use.
Why they work so well.
And, why they’ll work for you, too.
In the meantime, download past episodes here:
Ben Settle
P.S. Producer Jonathan said while recording tomorrow’s show that it was so valuable, we should package it and sell it, not give it away free.
And, we probably will.
But it’ll be free tomorrow.
Watch for my signal, Commissioner…
