The Maxx 1 de 3

The Maxx: Maxxed Out #1

by Sam Kieth, William Messner-Loebs (diálogos)

DESCUBRE LAS AVENTURAS DEL ANTIHÉROE DEL SUBCONSCIENTE CREADO POR SAM KIETHThe Maxx es un extraño personaje que se oculta detrás de una máscara y de cuya naturaleza nadie está seguro, pero que se enfrentará a las pesadillas de su querida Julie y las maquinaciones del Sr. Ido. The Maxx también es la obra más personal de Sam Kieth (Epicuro el Sabio), una de las primeras series publicadas por Image y, desgraciadamente, una obra que nunca llegó a publicarse por completo en España… ¡Hasta ahora! En el primer volumen de esta nueva edición se incluyen los números 1 a 13 de la edición original, y además la historia corta aparecida en Darker Image nº1.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Fantasy

312 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Kieth first came to prominence in 1984 as the inker of Matt Wagner's Mage, his brushwork adding fluidity and texture to the broad strokes of Wagner's early work at Comico Comics. In 1989, he drew the first five issues of writer Neil Gaiman's celebrated series The Sandman, but felt his style was unsuited to the book (specifically saying that he "felt like Jimi Hendrix in The Beatles") and left, handing over to his former inker Mike Dringenberg.

He acted as illustrator on two volumes of writer William Messner-Loebs' Epicurus the Sage and drew an Aliens miniseries for Dark Horse Comics, among other things, before creating The Maxx in 1993 for Image Comics, with, initially, writing help from Messner-Loebs. It ran for 35 issues and was adapted, with Kieth's assistance, into an animated series for MTV. Since then, as a writer-artist, he has gone on to create Friends of Maxx, Zero Girl, Four Women and Ojo.

Ojo comprises the first and My Inner Bimbo the second, in a cycle of original comic book limited series published by Oni Press. Loosely connected, the cycle will concern the intertwined lives of people with each other and sometimes with a supernatural entity known as the Mysterious Trout. Kieth has stated that other characters from The Maxx series will appear in this cycle of stories. My Inner Bimbo #1 was published in April 2006. Issue #2 was delayed past its original release date; It was finally resolicited in "Previews" in 2007 and hit the store shelves in November 2007.

DC Comics' Batman/Lobo: Deadly Serious, a two-issue prestige format mini-series that started in August 2007, was written and drawn by Kieth. This was followed by 2009's two-issue prestige format mini-series Lobo: Highway to Hell, written by Scott Ian and featuring art by Kieth.

Reviews

[Michael Beblowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgia compelled me to revisit Sam Kieth's surreal graphic novel The Maxx (which has received so many variations on reprinting over the years since it was adapted as an animated television segment on MTV at a time when the channel occasionally flirted with music content and subculture). Volume 1 collects the most familiar issues of the adventures of the Maxx, a purple suited superhero who lives in a cardboard box in an alley and fights crime, protecting pro-sex feminist and free-lance social worker Julie Winters from the villainous Mr. Gone and his horde of carnivorous homunculi, the Isz. Of course things are not what they appear... Reading the Maxx can be a challenge, not solely because of the psychological complexity or the thematic violence but because the artwork expansively defies panel structuring. Also the Maxx weaves between cultural criticism, metaphysics, dream sequences and elaborate primal fantasies in ways that render plot trajectory obsolete. For those willing to suspend disbelief, dispense with the Undergraduate Paint-by-numbers definitions of Introduction to Psychology courses, and invest time in making connections I would recommend all three volumes of the "remastered" Maxx.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Maxx is a costumed protector of a damsel in distress, or not. After all, he does live in a cardboard box. Maybe he is a hero. Maybe he is a figment of her imagination or she of his. However it is that they manifest, they exist in two worlds. The madness is in determining which, if any, is real. The madness is also in the reading. A sharp and powerful combination of beautiful artwork and complex psychological storytelling makes this one of the most intriguing comics of the last couple of decades. Love it or hate it, it is still mind blowing.

[Say · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good. mostly was interested in this because of the MTV series (I own that as well) Which is almost shot for shot up until issue 12..... however since 11 sets up for more in the series, probably check that one out as well.

the series writing is surreal but not without it's point, the artwork is interesting and varied. I especially like the female character designs as they don't look like stereotypical comic book women.... as maxx's huge ass feet.

[s · Rating 4 out of 5]

i don’t like the recolors in this edition (and the original letters pages may as well be footnotes they’re so essential) but this comic is sooooo good it doesn’t matter. i remembered it falling to pieces bit by bit over its run … but it rly starts devouring itself immediately. like what other superhero book was fluent in contemporaneous intrafeminist discourse let alone putting it to good use !!

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Maxx is a superhero. Julie is a jungle girl. Or is he a product of her imagination? Or her spirit animal? And who is the diabolical Mr. Gone?
A very bizarre superhero riff that didn't entirely work for me but didn't entirely not work ... which is to say, I'm not sure what to make of it (not a reaction I have very often). Definitely worth trying, though.

[Seth Augenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, trippy comic from the 90s... with a soul to it.

[Christopher Porche · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mind bending trip diwn an unconventional superhero rabbit hole.

[Nate]

Not for me at this point in my life. Maybe 10 or 15 years ago. Or not.

[Shawn Ingle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, creative, confusing at times yet extremely intriguing.

[Carlos Urrego · Rating 5 out of 5]

Por pura y física suerte, y un descuento. Pude comprar los tres tomos recopilatorios del comic “MAXX” uno de los grandes comics de la bandera independiente de los 90. Creada por Sam Kieth (con ayuda de William Messner-Loebs, al principio de la serie, y de Alan Moore al final), se basa en una historia de superhéroes. Su protagonista, "el MAXX", es un superhéroe enmascarado que se debate entre el mundo real y una especie de mundo de ensueños.
En fin vamos al punto… Es difícil hablar de este comic sin hacer spoilers ya que considero que esta historia es mejor descubrirla, leerla y disfrutarla. Pero como sé que es argumento tan pobre y no los va a convencer de leer este maravilloso comic hablare un poco de sus aspectos generales.
La historia nos envuelve des del comienzo con un halo de misterio, un misterio tan grande que cada pista que se nos revela en cada uno de los números, solo crea más dudas abriendo una infinidad de posibilidades que alivia y martiriza a los personajes de esta historia. Y ya que mencionamos a los personajes “el MAXX” es uno de los personajes más curiosos que he visto un comic es un vagabundo que se cree superhéroe, pero al mismo tiempo es un rey en “pangea” un mundo de ensueños un mundo criaturas únicas con sus propias reglas. Lo curiosos es que a mí me hubiera encantado ver más a Maxx en Pangea ya que en ese mundo es un ser Heroico fuerte ¡ojo no quiero decir que no lo sea en el mundo que es un vagabundo! Solo que en pangea se ve más ese aspecto de Maxx. Pero donde podemos ver mucho más el crecimiento y otros aspectos de él es en la ciudad en el mundo cruel y gris podemos per sus frustraciones, sus miedos, dudas y su aspecto cómico.
aspecto cómico.
La verdad es que no quiero hablar más del comic sin terminar los tres tomos, pero por ahora es uno de los mejores comic que e leído con un arte muy de los 90 tan sicodélico y único.
Antes que se me olvide. Aprovechen la promo de 2x1 de panamericana. Encontré los tomos a 19 mil en el de Medellín y también hay copias en Bogotá. Enserio no lo duden vale la pena y esta regalado

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Maxx no es un comic perfecto pero roza la excelencia en muchos momentos, y hasta el capítulo más pedorro tiene cocsas rescatables. Si en algún momento me puedo comprar esta edición o completarlo en la otra, voy a ser muy feliz.

[Wombo Combo · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, this appears to be a standard 90's Image book like Spawn, but it is very, very different. The Maxx is a surreal work about people struggling through some extremely dark thing. It's an intelligent comic. Sam Kieth does the art and is constantly switching between styles. This book was truly made by masters of the art of comics.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few narratives that I found transcendent in my youth have held up as I close in on middle age, but The Maxx still delivers, even if it's a bit rough around the edges. Sam Kieth's unique style and visual story telling are still top notch however.