One of the more unique, and detached from the main DCU, books DC is currently publishing is “Star-Spangled War Stories,” a book that splits the difference between a military and a horror comic. Featuring stunning covers by Darwyn Cooke and interiors by Scott Hampton, the book is one of the more visually arresting books on the shelves, and looks very, very different from the standard superhero comic.
We briefly spoke with co-writer Jimmy Palmiotti about the series, as well as received an exclusive preview of this Wednesday’s issue #4 from our pals at DC Comics, which can be found beneath the interview.
The series is named “Star-Spangled War Stories,” but unlike the retro-sounding name, the book is very much in the modern warfare techniques of anti-terrorism, espionage, etc. How important to you is it that the book feel of this time, rather than the era reflected in the title?
Jimmy Palmiotti: In my mind, the title of the book is G.I. Zombie and until the book features another character, that’s what the book is about. Justin and I are writing a story that could take place today , involves politics and subject matter that has an actual impact on our lives and something the government spends a lot of money investigating. The book also has some bizarre elements to it that make it like nothing anyone has seen in comics. The main story is about Jared, A soldier that has been alive for many wars, and his partner Carmen King as they go undercover, trying to infiltrate these anti government groups. Along the way we have a small town hit by a missile that is carrying a virus that threatens the entire country. After that we follow the trail west as our two heroes face an operation functioning right under the governments nose that might just turn out to be something out of their control. Our main focus is to set up some major world building and get to know these two characters well enough to get behind them and hope they can get the mission done. This series is not your typical one and the technology in a lot of it is real, which gives it a more realistic edge. Read one issue and we will have you hooked.
The word “zombie” is such a common part of our lexicon today, and yet Jared is nothing like any zombie we’ve really ever seen in comics before. What was your inspiration for the character? Why does the word “zombie” still belong on such a refined gentlemen?
JP: Jared’s history is still a mystery, but what we learn is that he has been alive for a very long time and has an appetite that strikes him every few days that can get quite messy. When we pitched the series we thought about how someone that has been in so many wars and alive for so long would know a lot about a lot of things and as we started digging into the series we are having a ball playing with some of these very elements. Justin and I wrote what I consider the mother of all Zombie graphic novels called Last Resort and did not want to go back to what people instantly think a zombie was, so with G.I.Zombie, we just turned a different corner and thought it would be a lot more fun if the hero of the book was the Zombie and his “ appetite” was something we would find amusing and with keeping with the character we introduced. The biggest compliment we get on the book is everyone saying they never read something like this and we are happy to hear that.
You co-write the book with Justin Gray, and you also co-write “Harley Quinn” with your main squeeze, Amanda Conner. What are some of the benefits of collaborating with a fellow writer? How do you feel your relationship with Justin has changed this book?
JP: Amanda is my only squeeze, not just the main one. Justin gets a hug once in a while when I see him, but it goes no further than that. When you co-write anything, it means you are finding an idea from two voices and both people are giving up a little something in their storytelling. A good collaboration can also create something completely new between the two people and with Amanda and Justin; I feel we always get something a bit more over the top because we challenge each other’s ideas. It’s also good to get another voice on an idea. I am the first to admit that not everything I create is good, but with some work with someone you trust and respect, you can really create a gem once in a while. On G.I.Zombie, working with Justin on this is a natural since we both bounced this idea around so much in the beginning. It became what it is now because we kept upping each other’s insanity.
Scott Hampton is doing some absolutely beautiful work here, keeping the tone of the book gritty and realistic, but allowing for the more incredible aspects of the story to play out in a way that feels both true to the world and also strange enough to merit suspicion. What has Scott brought to the book that you most appreciate?
JP: I have always loved Scott’s work. When I co-created Marvel Knights years ago, he was one of the first guys we called when doing the Black Widow series and I have always wanted to work with him again. Scott’s work is perfect for this book because the last thing I wanted the series to resemble is a superhero book in the D.C. line. The tone and look is too far apart from that cape and spandex crowd and we needed an illustrator that understood for the reader to buy the concept, it had to be rooted more in the real world. His sense of storytelling, lighting and figure work makes the book seem like we are watching a very stylized film and that’s perfect. The best thing about Scott is you are also seeing him grow each and every issue and for a guy that’s been in the field for so long, that’s something rare to see.
War books and zombie books are both relatively niche corners of the comics landscape – give our readers a few reasons to check out this book, which may not at all resemble the rest of their pull list?
JP: Well, this is a cross between a horror comics and a war book that features the walking dead, sexy women, Bond-like villains and more violence than you will find in any other book on the market. As well, issue 4 just came out, so you should have a pretty easy time finding the book and past issues and catching up to what we are doing Last, you need to pick up this book, mainly because in order for a company to try new things, they have to see the audience support it, so pass a book where the hero is dying once again for the 5th time and try something new. We know you will not regret it.
Thanks again to Jimmy and the folks at DC, and make sure to look for this issue on stands 11/26.
Star-Spangled War Stories Featuring G.I. Zombie #4
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Illustrated by Scott HamptonFrenzy in a small town! How can G.I. Zombie protect the world from a city infected with a zombie virus – when the whole place has turned on him?
