Based on the book of the same name by Rolling Stone journalist Evan Wright, this seven-part series follows the US Marines at the ‘tip of the spear’ of the US invasion of Iraq – the first troops to enter the region. Focusing on the everyday minutiae of life in the recon battalion unit, the show takes an intimate look at the psyche of the mad bastards who sign up to kill or be killed. It’s basically The Wire in the desert – and based on the teaser episode we saw, and the buzz coming out the States, it looks set to blow everyone away.

As the show begins airing on FX, Maxim met up with co-creator Ed Burns to find out just how the hell you go about following up the Best Television Show In History™. Grab the March issue of Maxim to find out what he had to say.

Generation Kill is on FX from 25 January. The DVD is out on 9 March.