The Maxx: Four Broken People And A Bunny
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- A detailed overview of The Maxx, a thirty-five issue series published by Image Comics between 1993 and 1998. Written and illustrated by Sam Keith, with co-plotting and dialogue by William Messner-Loebs.
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#Comics #ImageComics #ModernAge #SamKeith #TheMaxx
I think one strongest memories from The Maxx is when Sara is talking to a block of clay later finding out it is her Dads severed head.
"It's just my... dad."
Really freaked me out back when that episode aired
Please don't let my spirit animal speak to me through a hypoglycemic poster. What a cruel world.
The animated series is the most perfect adaptation of anything, ever; with 2 very minor exceptions (the removal of Savage Dragon, and Pitt), it is a line-by-line, panel-by-panel EXACT recreation of the comic.
Wish I could say that about Song of Fire and Ice aka Game of Thrones. 😂
I liked Hammerhead though. And the detective.
@spacejockey pitt was a great character
@spacejockey yeah happened to Pitt anyways
What was the pitt about/like?
I still remember the last scene from the MTV version, where the trauma cycle is finally broken and everyone is freed to go on with life such as it is... and Maxx/Dave sheds the costume, returning to his true outback-- his garden where he uses small hand spades to plant flowers and other such things. I always thought the reason his Outback and Julie's connected and corrupted was due to their connection with nature.
I loved that series like no other, do you have any idea how hard it has been in the last what 30 years to not figure that show out and what it was actually representing, so I can continue to be fascinated by it's form. Good God I miss the Maxx
@@MatthewHolevinski can you tell me what is it about? A dont care to spoil the story
@@juanmanuelvallejo3987 well it's probably more prescient now than ever. Well it's about a lot of things bud. Loving things you can't, being powerless no matter how powerful you are, the simple things in life, the grass is always greener on the other side, contentment, solitude, righteousness, chivalry, discovery, enlightenment, mental illness, societal illness. It's a great story no matter the decade.
This broke my 10 year old self out of the the “read only marvel and dc” thing my young mind was focused on. It remains my favorite comic to this day. Thanks
It's def in my top 3, a brawl between The Maxx, Skydoll, and everything Sam and Max related.
For sure, The Maxx introduced me to what the comic medium could be.
Same. Whenever people ask if I prefer Marvel or DC, my answer has always been Image.
There was something magical about certain comics and cartoons in the 90's, The Maxx, Aeon Flux, even Spawn to a degree, they were weird and experimental and I feel like we don't get anything like that anymore. It was a very distinct style that lasted for a short time.
Truly..they got so good at animating that really isn't anything new they can do with the medium
Don't forget the evil ernie comics
"To be a writer(artist), you gotta have experience."
That line stuck with me ever since I read it as a child.
@Bobert Wiltshire I'd say it's true. If you never had real turmoil and experience you have no real reference for writing truly human characters.
You'd end up just making Modern Family instead of Shameless.
@@ZigealFaust I think you just need to attempt to understand and have empathy of the tormented mind, rather than being tormented yourself.
@@one_man_community One could argue there is not true understanding of something unless you experience it.
I can write cop dramas all day that are top tier, but I will know they will never really touch on 60% of what an actual officer could do.
It's why writers/directors hire people to tell them their own experiences.
Wait. Fuck.
That means you are right in you only need to be able to empathize with them.
Thanks for helping my outlook!
MAXX is such a strange bit of the 90s comics time capsule. Did you ever see the short lived (6 or 7 episodes) animated series adapted from it on MTV? I recall enjoying it as a kid, as well. Great video as always, my man.
You can also watch it for free with ads on Vimeo
Yeah, The Maxx for me will always be the animated series by Chung. I saw it on MTV as a young teen and it set me off not only in my own art style, but made me interested in Dark Horse comics at the time. Much like Aeon Flux, the series kind of reminded me of Heavy Metal in the way that it was adult in nature without becoming porn.
Good point, I'm surprised he didn't bring it up in the video!
I may do a follow-up focusing on the animated series.
@@StrangeBrainParts "I may do a follow-up focusing on the animated series."
I'd love to see that.
The Maxx was the first story that showed me that there could be depth to comics.
Suck on that Alan Moore. Nah, it wasn't *first*, but it was a rare example of that depth.
I loved this comic. Still have copies I picked up as a kid. MTV's adaptation got me into it. Very deep and dark.
Liquid television was the shit. People only remember eon flux from it.
I had very minute memories of that show when I was little, and was beginning to think it was nothing but a fever dream. Saw this thumbnail and finally found the name of that weird show I saw on cable one night.
still have mine. same reasons too
@@chefpunjab Liquid Television was where Aeon Flux was first on MTV, MTV Oddities came later with the Maxx and The Head
The Maxx was a bit too mature for me to understand back when the animation aired on MTV 25 years ago. I was simply mesmerized by the provocative visuals.
That's my relationship with Arkham asylum by Grant Morrison
Jeez I used to watch the cartoon show. It was in a line-up with "The Head" and "Aeon Flux".
Me too.Its really is a great cartoon show.
It holds up pretty well, too. I bought the DVD a while back. It was early in the Amazon Prime days, so I ended up getting the disc and also getting it digitally somehow. I like to rewatch it from time to time.
@@PaulDozierZZoMBiE13
What's the DVD lable, if you don't mind? I would love to watch those cartoons again. They were so ahead of their time.
Ahhh yes, "LIquid Television" on MTV!
@@revolutionday1 MTV Oddities!
When I re-read it these days, the Maxx comics do date themselves heavily in the 90's, but there's genuine writing there that separates it. In a time when people where being dark because dark was cool, the Maxx wanted to linger and analyse what dark was, and ask why we ever wanted it. Sara's introductory monologue is distinctly 90's but very personal. She honestly represents a person bereft of purpose, instead of using those qualities to appeal to the era's aesthetic.
The Maxx really did more for me than the "mainstream superhero" Image line of McFarlane, Liefeld, and Lee,
I really was addicted to that title and Kieth's art in general,
I really hope we'll see some new comics project from him at some point
My mint condition copies of the Maxx are among the pride of my collection, great to see it here.
The art is fantastic and the page layouts are anything but conventional.
I remember reading the first few issues and watching the animated series.
My teenage brain understood some of the themes and it certainly wasn't your average comic book fair.
The depth of the story stuck with me and your video bought back those memories of the comic and the show.
Thank you for that dark little trip down memory lane.
I’ve always loved The Maxx and Sam Kieth. I think you’re right that Br’er Lappin is a thinly veiled reference to Br’er Rabbit. It turns out that Lappin is an English/Irish surname and nickname for a timid person, and it derives from the French “lapin” which is the masculine for rabbit.
Very good video. My own interpretation of the comic was a study of characters with PTSD and the way they individually deal with it. I see we mostly agree.
PTSD...absolutely! Yes, I think we'd mostly agree.
Tried to find a costume maker at New York Costumes/Halloween Adventures to make a cosplay outfit of The Maxx for Halloween, but the store employee assigned never got back.
Settled for bunny ears.
"Very large man wearing a ridiculous outfit"
You just described me!!! 🤣
If I change a few words around it describes me: "A ridiculous man in a large outfit." Heh.
That was...wonderfully done. Editing and narration were great. I couldn't take my eyes off this video and trust me I get easily distracted.
Thank you very muchI I appreciate you taking the time to let me know you enjoyed the video. Thank you very much for watching and hopefully I'll have more in the future that's equally interesting.
Same
I watch the show on tv when i was young. The Maxx and Duckman raised me.
Fuck yeah! Duckman!
Man what a good analysis, Freud and Jung would be proud of this masterwork, such a delight! thank you for this!
This was deep. It wasn't even in my recommendations, yet I found it - maybe I've found my way to the Outback...or it found its' way to me.
The Maxx was one of Images rare mature reads. Not by visuals of blood soaked violence or sex for sex, or vulgar language. It was a story dealing with very subtle and nuanced ideas, that happened to feature a 300 pound Bunny avatar.
One of my all time favorite comics. Criminally underrated
I remember seeing this on the shelves back in the early 90's, when Jim Lee was on fire, but I never bothered to read it because the combination of cartoonish style with a deeply dark tone freaked me out as a kid. But I do have the Darker Image 1 comic from back then, now I appreciate it so much more. Thanks for this little history lesson and explanation of the story!
I picked up some issues as a kid and was entranced. I didn't understand what I was reading, but somehow I knew it was special and I should keep it, and keep it hidden. I wish I knew where those comics were.
I remember my older brother showing me all his comics from the 90s and he had one issue of the Maxx which I remember him saying he didnt like it cause it was "too out there" and I've always enjoyed those types of stories over the more traditional books, theres greater heart in the narrative
The Maxx is a series that deserves far more attention for the way it defied the conventions of its time and for how it still holds up as a great story to this day. While surreal with its setting and action from time to time, its characters feel grounded and human. Thanks for giving this series a spotlight, Overlord!
I agree. And thanks for watching!
This will always be my favorite 90's comic series.
Loved that Wolvie and Cyber fight back then, and The Maxx along with the Pitt was a staple for us and when the Maxx show hit liquid television it was a awesome treat.
I've always felt cyber was one of wolverines best nemesis
I remember as a teen loving the MTV show. Weird how I never knew this was a comic.
You know, I completely forgot to mention the animated series. It's even more obscure than the comic itself...which is a shame.
Cool beans. I'm a poor CZcamsr so that's a purchase that may have to wait.
I remember only knowing about the Maxx from seeing his action figure when I was kid. After watching this it really pushed me more into checking this series out. Those last lines in the video hit me really hard .. thank you .
Wow it looks like youtube recommendations might have brought something unique for a change.
Hah! I hope that's the case. For whatever reason, the legendary algorithm has skipped over any material from this channel. I don't know why, but it has. Hopefully that's changing?
i remember watching the the cartoon on mtv as a kid
Gone's backstory will always haunt me, not just what happened to him, but the way he tells the story was so visceral.
Hey someone other than sal from comic pop remembers the MAXX and good video
I love the animated adaptation of the Maxx so much. It's truly a work of genius. Same goes for the first half of the comic
The Maxx was born at a time when interest in comic industry was experiencing a boom, and a lot of comic companies were comfortable enough with their cash flow they were willing to take risks in their business model. That's when they started using higher quality paper and inks, and including more stylized art. they also started using the graphic comic book format for a different kind of storytelling besides the traditional super hero stories. I remember flipping through The Maxx's pages and admiring the work, but I didn't buy any. I was already collecting a lot of other titles: the new Sandman, Shade, Hellblazer titles from the DC Vertigo line as well as the older Marvel comics X-Men and the other X-mutant books.
Literally the best channel producing anything close to a bite sized yet still comprehensive comic exploration. You always seem to openly weigh the flaws with the fantastic each of these comic series or runs has fairly while openly admitting when something is fact, your opinion, or speculation. The essence of honest legitimate journalism and critique combined - such a rarity in these times and all your efforts are worthy of high praise as a result.
Thank you very much! That is high praise, indeed. I do try to be concise and objective. And when I'm not, I think it's my responsibility to mention my bias so there's context.
I was genuinely hoping the early image foray would lead here
Honestly, I'm genuinely surprised at how many requests I've gotten for The Maxx. It was just time for it to be examined. I hope it was worth the wait!
This is still my favorite comic story ever printed. Love this, love Kieth's art, love the characters and the story in which they inhabit.
This was a good video, thanks for making it.
Very interesting book this is. I watched the cartoon a few years back and it really did a number on me
It definitely is. If you've not read I think you should. I think it'll appeal to you. If you ever did a motion comic for this I think I would *actually* not embarrass myself doing Mr. Gone. Heh.
Strange Brain Parts there already is a cartoon of this on CZcams don’t ya know
I looked for it but could only find bits of it. Maybe I need to search harder.
My favorite book so many moons ago. Sam Keith continues to inspire me and I am forever grateful.
Sam Kieth is my all-time favorite artist. I've always thought of him as a combination Jack Kirby and Robert Crumb meets avant garde. I first discovered Sam during his work on the Marvel Comics Presents... stories. I've been a great admirer ever since. When The Maxx came out I was an instant fan. And to this very day I still think it's the absolute best comic book Image ever published. The artwork was quirky, yet beautiful, and the stories were never afraid to approach the darkest and most sensitive topics. And thanks for bringing up the Batman/Maxx crossover. I was wondering what had happened to it. I hope we see the last two issues by the end of the year like you stated were set for release because I was thoroughly enjoying it, even if it wasn't perfect. By the way, did you ever see The Maxx TV series on MTV? If so, what did you think of it?
I saw bits and pieces of it many, many years ago. And I did search it our here on CZcams while I put this video together. But it other than a few short clip I couldn't find anything. I remember it being good...but my memories are very hazy.
@@StrangeBrainParts You can stream it on Amazon Prime for $1.99 an episode, or $18.99 for the whole series. I remember enjoying it very much at the time. Not sure how close it was to the comic, but I remember liking it a whole lot better than Spawn.
He and Bill Sinkiewicz were definitely ahead of their time with their crazy awesome and unique styles.
the animation is a pretty interesting interpretation of his artwork, and fairly faithful to about the first third of the story in the books, then suddenly diverging into an oddly abstract sort of "ending", but impressive and experimental; they really try to make his art come alive! i still prefer the voices in the old audio cassette though, if you want to get obscure.....D
I appreciate the no-nonsense narrative! Sometimes I listen to these pop culture videos and the guys are joking and laughing and talking about themselves and getting off-topic and I want to choke them... But this is to the point and very informative! I love The Maxx! Can't wait to watch the Howard The Duck video! He's one of my guilty pleasure favorite characters ever!
This is an excellent summary and breakdown
This story was so different that I have never and will never forget it. It's part of why I chose the name Max for my avatar shortly after I graduated from high school.
this comic and the show on MTV was definitely a big factor in my formative teenage years
My dad had the VHS when I was a kid, and he didn't let me watch it until I was an older teen in the early 2000s. It was creepy, but I loved it.
I love The Maxx in ways I cannot express. It sad, hopeful, and beautiful
through all the mediocre content I see on youtube, it's so nice to find something truly thoughtful, and that imparts a true appreciation of the subject matter to the viewer. I really want this comic.
I completely forgot that The Maxx existed. It was such a surreal comic that was weirdly endearing.
this kinda stuff is why you're the best guy out there
Thank you. You are too kind. There's a lot of material like this that's overlooked and I do what I can to draw some attention to it.
Great video; the MAXX deserved way more love and attention.
I bought the tv series on iTunes...it is heavy, and confusing but there is such an eerie beauty to it that keeps me watching ...I didn’t even know there was a comic series...thanks for sharing your insight
All I've known about The Maxx was MTV Oddities. I never knew that was such a minor part of the franchise.
With The Maxx being homeless and mentally ill < I'm surprised he wasn't picked up by Marvel. Maybe Joker would have been The Maxx had he been picked up... with Joaquin Pheonix playing Mr Gone instead of the Joker (y'know, seeing as he did get picked up by DC instead)
I somehow get the feeling that a film adaptation of The Maxx will never happen despite the 1990s nostalgia kick, Paramount prbably still hold the rights and you'd have to practically change the story completely to get a PG-13/12A certificate... or even to avoid an R/NC-17/18 certificate.
The maxx was put out by image comics, which was a company created by a number of the biggest artists from marvel, so that the artists could retain copyright control over their characters. This hurt marvel, and probably D.C. comics on many levels (not sure if many of the artists had been working for D.C.) they lost artists that drew fans, and lost any future characters and stories that they would've used their talents to create, to boost future interest and sales, and even caused an immediate drop in stock at marvel of stock shares dropping by $3.25 a share. So, marvel, probably doesn't want any part of helping anyone from image comics, and everyone from image probably doesn't have the greatest interest in selling off their stories and characters to the bigger companies, not to mention, the maxx, as shown was so strange, that it's biggest draw was the strange talent of sam keith, so i don't know that anyone would want to pick up where he left off, or could in any feasible way, especially since, if you want to tell these types of stories you could probably do it without these somewhat generic characters, it was a odd thing that worked for what it was, and in a video format was coveted in that mtv animated series in an almost complete fashion, and in one of the most faithful ways I've ever seen or could hope for, and don't see any reason to risk trying yo reproduce as a 2 hour live action superhero movie, that is more mental drama than action
This totally fucking rocks! The Maxx is one of the greatest comics of all time, but it's so surreal and dark and complicated that it just never connected with a wide audience. I'm very VERY happy to see that someone made a video about it and thrilled that such a fantastic job was done. For this video alone, you got a new sub. Good job and well done!
The MTV cartoon series got me into the comics and remains one of my favorites to this day.
William Messenger-Loebs did my favorite run on The Flash. I was just a kid then and his book was my real intro to comics. I loved it. I remember staying to watch The Maxx on MTv.
i had this series as a kid but never really understood it to the depth i do now after watching this
"why am I talking in....
poetry stuff?"
lmao ive always loved the Maxx and im stoked to see someone doing a video over this!
thank you!!
My favorite series of all. Thank you.
As a indigenous Australian man I love the whole dream time aspect of it
As a kid I was very drawn to this. As an adult to hear the psych analysis of it shows the depth I was unaware of and makes it even better
These were the days, when you had to go to comic conventions or comic shops to gain something new or find a long missing piece of your collection. Subtile, dark independent comics, not the 10000th DC crossover of anything Marvel. I miss these days often enough. The Maxx is Gold.
This was a really good video essay! The Maxx was my first comic (what a place to start, right?) and I revisit it every once in a while because it's so multi-layered. I explain it to people as "an extended therapy session disguised as a superhero story."
I could have seen The Maxx going off and doing his own thing in the World and the Outback not terribly unlike Hellboy
This “The Head” “Beavis & Butthead” & “Aeon Flux” was the progenitor for all the awesome adult oriented animation we have now!
And MTV was paramount in exposing it to us,if only they continued with it instead of rEaLItY tV
"I will talk at you later"
Now I'm subscribing.
The comics were surprisingly deep on a cosmological universe kinda way. Loved it
i got into reading Maxx because there was an anime show on MTV once upon a time that showed it as a cartoon series. i always remembered it being deeply psychological, which is what was so enjoyable about it.
I was in love with the show in the 90s, and over the years I got all the main stories of the Maxx, but didn't read much of it. I found this video very interesting, also I always thought Gone was calling the Maxx "burlappin" as in burlap/homeless. Quite an eye opener!
I cried just listening to your synopsis. I think i need to check out this series, and start going back to therapy.
MTV had The Maxx cartoon over 20 years ago. I didn’t know that show was based on a comic book series
Bean Pie Extraordinaire same here God I love that show
Yes i remember too it was a good cartoon too had no idea it was a comuc6
*_"Everybody has a problem with women. They're attractive and they punish those who are attracted"_* --Mr. Gone
Louis Cyfear Mr. Gone is like the mal-adjusted young men who would become gamer-gaters in our generation.
@@BGcam *GaterGate* was right.
You have no idea the amount of damage BIBLICALLY Ev1L wymen & their simp armys could do to an Industry, a Nation or a Fandom if you don't stand up to them.
Look what those people did to the Comicbook industry...
@@louiscyfear878 You're quoting a rapist and serial killer. How on earth can you think you're on the right side of this argument?
Keith was writing about incels before the coin was termed. Where the hell did this guy get all this way ahead of his time insight?
@@cryptiecreep Being a bad person does not make ones words inherently wrong, wisdom can be found in all its forms from many sources. Credibility however is another thing.
THE MAXX got me back into comic collecting for a time back in the 90s. Nothing else like it.
When ever I think about the Maxx I feel trapped in a world I don’t understand, I feel alone, and long for escape that doesn’t feel possible.
I wasn't big into comic books but the one series I really got into was The Maxx. I had the whole collection and it was quite a challenge to track down every issue. Even had the rare glow-in-the-dark #1, signed by Sam Keith. Somewhere along the way, when I moved from one apartment to another, I lost all my comics. Maybe one day I'll start collecting this series again. Thanks for this video, was a great trip down memory lane!
Very nice analysis of this incredible work. I had the first eight issues back in the 90’s, and it ignited my interest in mental health. Every time I read it I find something new. Now I’m a therapist. Thanks Sam for your influence on my life!
I remember watching this on MTV as a kid. I was awestruck by the show, now I NEED to find the comics.
For anyone who wants to gain as close to a complete understanding of this work as possible, I would strongly recommend tracking down copies of the original issues, especially the ones after Messner-Loebs' departure. Sam Keith is a brilliantly imaginative storyteller, but he is NOT a "writer". While it's true that many plot points are purposely left ambivalent, others are difficult to decipher simply because of Sam's occasional loss of focus. Fortunately, in the original issues, he would print questions from confused readers and then provide thoughtful and honest answers about things that he had meant to make clearer in the text. It's not exactly the hallmark of a great author, but his conversations with his occasionally bewildered fans are wildly entertaining and deeply informative. I have a hard time imagining getting through this series without that sort of primary-and-a-half source.
I actually got a letter printed in one of the last few issues!
I still have all of my issues. I love sam Keith.
I was just watching Honest Trailers "The Hulk" and remembered this from liquid television, back when MTV was cool. Lo and behold, it's in my suggested list. Wow, the universe smiles.
I haven't read the comics, but the MTV series is one thing from my early childhood I remember well, and later, had returned to. It definitely was an interesting show that flow WAY over my 7 year old head, but probably added to coloring my particular perspective on life. In the rewatch, especially since I was going through a heavy depression (though I wouldn't be honest with my self that was what it was until years later), left another impression upon me.
I need to one day put the effort into finding and reading the original comics. The art style and overall theme are definitely appealing to me.
Thank you for covering this! This was the only series I owned in it's entirety (the only thing I was missing was the Ash Can copy and Darker Image#1).
The Maxx has a unique, deep and intimate storytelling, perfectly melted with an otherworldly visual style. A true masterpiece!!!
Tremendous video. Please do more about the early years of Image.
I loved the shit out of The Maxx comic but the ending not being properly concluded was a big let down. I always likened it to Lost in terms of organic storytelling, writers not really sure where it's going yet doing a tremendous job along the way. hopefully some sort of conclusion comes with future issues.
I feel like you left the very important sara/gone arch that is so integral to the series.
I only knew of The Maxx from MTV'S Liquid Television. Only later did I see the comic series, but I never read it.
I used to read this as a kid loved this comic series. I even have an autographed issue
Very few comics have the ability to move me to tears, but the Maxx in it's fairly short run made me cry and experience very heavy emotions many times.
I've had a thing for Julie since I first saw The Maxx on MTV as a 12 year old boy. Blonde, doesn't take no shit, and her voice. Her jungle queen look didn't hurt either. :D
Well done had no idea even more of a fan now
I had fond memories in my early twenties of watching The Maxx on MTV and MTV'S Liquid Television 📺👍😁😎.
You sir, you got yourself a customer. 10/10
This came out initially when I was in jr high. Always loved Sam Keith's art style...and personally think he was at his best when he was doing The Maxx. This book series is so bizarrely gorgeous...
The Maxx is one of my favorite superheroes and cartoons.
This, in my eyes, is a masterpiece of raw human emotion. Thank you for the enlightenment, I’ve never heard of this.
i remember when i was around 8 years old, staying up late watching liquid television on MTV and seeing the Maxx. I had no idea what was going on, but I always wanted to try and watch it again.
man has it been a long long time since ive read and watched this series, i vaguely remembered it till i saw this vid. then it all comes rushing back.