An excerpt:

NRAMA: With your work on Planet Hulk and World War Hulk, you’ve become associated with the epic story, the larger than life setting an action. Are you heading that way with War Machine, or are you looking at a “smaller” story in a sense with Rhodey?
GP: We may be approaching epic in terms of scope and emotion and even mythic scale. But one difference between the Hulk/Skaar stories and War Machine is that War Machine is very much set in the real world. Or at least, the Marvel Universe analogue to the real world. If you strip away some of the superhero trappings, almost every story we’re telling has an antecedent in real world conflicts and atrocities. We’re not using the names of actual countries — mainly because I don’t want to pretend a superhero can or has resolved the horrific conflicts from which actual human beings are suffering around the globe. But Rhodey’s new global mandate means we have a shot at investing his stories with a level of immediacy, realism, and relevance that’s deeply compelling to me both as a writer and a fan.

Click here to read the whole thing.
“War Machine” #1 hits comic book stores on December 17. Ask your local store to preorder a copy for you today. And check out the 8 page preview story for free at Marvel.com!

A brand new “War Machine” comic book series written by Greg Pak with art by Leonardo Manco debuts in December — but you can get a sneak peek at what’s coming right now at Marvel.com!
Pak and Manco have created a special eight page “War Machine” story that’s available exclusively at Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited. Right now the story is viewable only by members; on October 20 it will be available free to the public.
Click here to learn more and click here to check out the story!

This December marks the launch of a new ongoing Marvel comic book series focussing on Jim Rhodes, aka War Machine, the character played by Terrence Howard in the “Iron Man” movie. The book will be written by Greg Pak with art by Leonardo Manco. Here’s an excerpt from Brett White’s WizardWorld interview with Pak about the series:

Since War Machine is going to start acting globally, have you used real life global conflicts and political events to inform the series’ tone or stories?
PAK: You bet. For the most part, we’re avoiding the use of actual countries because we don’t want to create a fake history in which a superhero solves the problems of real world conflicts that continue to this day. But there’s a real world precedent for almost every outrage and atrocity we’re showing. If you’ve ever opened up the newspaper and shook your head with dumbfounded amazement at the horrific stories that the whole world seems to be doing its best to ignore, War Machine might just be the comic book for you.
You’ve gone from creating the epic “Planet Hulk” storyline to this new, globally conscious “War Machine” series. What attracts you to the bigger storylines and how do you balance character work with explosions and high-action?
PAK: When you’re telling a giant story, concentrating on the characters is pretty much the only way to make it work. We’ve all been to spectacular action movies with the most mind-blowing action sequences imaginable…that were totally boring because there was nothing there to make us care about the characters. So I’ve always loved stories that combine those big genre hijinks with genuine emotional stories. “Seven Samurai” is probably my favorite movie of all time, both for its ridiculously entertaining epic scope and for its utterly human and humane depiction of every character. As far as I can figure, the trick is to make certain that every big action piece reflects and furthers the emotional conflicts at the core of the story. So in every issue of War Machine, we’re aiming to blow your mind viscerally and emotionally.

Click here to read the whole interview. And ask your local retailer to preorder “War Machine” #1 for you today!

Newsarama and Comic Book Resources have posted new interviews with writer Greg Pak and editor Bill Rosemann about the new “War Machine” comic book series, which debuts in December with pencils by Leonardo Manco.
From the CBR article:

“Remember that awesome scene in the Iron Man movie where Tony rocketed to that small village and took out all the thugs that were threatening the innocent families? That’s the tone we’re aiming for,” Rosemann said. “It’s like when you’re watching the evening news and see a story about Darfur or Chechnya or Myanmar and you want to reach through your TV screen and smack some dictator upside the head. ‘Why isn’t anyone doing something about this?’ you ask. Well, War Machine is! (If only he existed in our world.)”
Pak had always been a fan of James Rhodes, so when Rosemann offered him the new ongoing “War Machine” series the writer eagerly accepted. “This new hook fits right in with his past history while taking him to the next level,” the writer remarked. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it from the minute I heard Bill’s pitch.”

From the Newsarama article:

With the first issue not set to debut until December, the team is loathe to discuss what’s coming up in specifics, but hey, this is comics, and the tease is this industry’s bread and butter. So what will people going to be saying after reading the first issue?
Rosemann: “Hopefully you’ll be talking about how much Greg and Leonardo ‘get’ James Rhodes as a character – and how crazy the twists and turns his life is once again taking. It’s time to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Rhodey’s first appearance…with a big blow-out!”
Pak: “Holy Hannah… I can’t believe they actually let them do that!”