G.I. Joe’s Newest Recruit: World War Z’s Max Brooks

?Max Brooks, author of World War Z and son of Mel (for some reason, that never stops surprising me), is going to write a new G.I. Joe comic for IDW. It’ll be a five-issue miniseries called Hearts and Minds, and it won’t be about zombies (I’m reasonably sure). Now, I’ve enjoyed Brooks’ books, and I bet his G.I. Joe comics are going to be swell. But read this press release from IDW and tell me that they don’t make it sound like the worst thing ever:

The critically-acclaimed and bestselling author of World War Z, the Zombie Survival Guide and The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks brings his unique and acclaimed style to G.I. JOE comics with a five-issue miniseries: G.I. JOE: Hearts & Minds, coming in May under license from Hasbro. The award-winning Max Brooks crafts a G.I. JOE series for an America at war, starkly contrasting intensely brutal portrayals of the dark side of the human condition with the light of hope in the most unlikely places.

“I tried to write a series as harsh and complicated as the times we’re living in,” said Brooks.

Exploring the effects of real-world war on the individual, every issue of G.I. JOE: Hearts & Minds features two chapters, each spotlighting a different G.I. JOE or COBRA character. Brooks pulls no punches from the very beginning, starting the series with chapters on MAJOR BLUDD and SPIRIT.

“This is the G.I. JOE book that isn’t about action figures. It’s about people like you and me,” said IDW G.I. JOE editor Andy Schmidt. “And that makes it even more chilling than any zombie novel could be, because this one isn’t about a plague–this one is about us.”

Oh no! It’s about us?! How terrifying! Truly, Major Bludd and Spirit — two characters from a popular toyline and cartoon series — are scarier than a zombie apocalypse could ever be! Because they’re real people! Except not! In these harsh times, I don’t know if I can handle a comic as harsh as these harsh times! I better not read it, just to be safe! Bleh.