Both take a stand against tyrants, both successfully defend themselves against overwhelming odds, and both eventually fall to a Rain of Arrows. It does seem, however, that the two hundred years or so he spent in the Underworld before reincarnating has mellowed Leonidas somewhat, which is why the hero doesn't ever scream, "This! Is! CHINA!!!" * The one calligraphist assassin might have gotten some of Leonidas' attitude, even if he shows it in the more "civilized" form of writing giant letters in the sand. * The hero in Hero is also a pussy when it comes to Tyranny. That's BAD mellowing.