Comics
Review: ‘The Maxx: Maximized’ #1
A welcomed blast from the past, “The Maxx: Maximized” #1 brings back the stylish and imaginative cult classic. An iconic character from the ’90s jumps back into the fold with a brand new look. While old fans will cherish The Maxx’s ultimate return, newcomers should definitely jump right in.
WRITTEN BY: Sam Kieth and William Messner-Loebs
ART BY: Sam Kieth
PUBLISHER: IDW Publishing
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: November 27th, 2013
A homeless vagrant known only as Maxx finds himself lost in two different worlds. In New York, Maxx finds himself in deep trouble with the cops and crooks. In the Outback, Maxx is the protector of the worshipped Leopard Queen. Is Maxx really screwed up in the head or is he actually a hero in an alternate dimension? Which reality is the actual one that Maxx lives in? Is New York the fake world, or is the Outback a mere hallucination? There is a deranged lunatic who can freely walk around both worlds and he intends on slitting the throat of Leopard Queen.
The Maxx is on a quest for self-truth. Though he is wearing a loud and colorful costume, that does not make Maxx a real superhero. Because Maxx doesn’t know what his identity is, he could be making up any story that suits himself best. In the mean streets of New York, is he supposed to be this violent vigilante taking down crime a notch? In the Outback, he cannot take his eyes away from the beauty of the Leopard Queen. Maxx wants to mean something to somebody, be someone important in this other universe, which is why he is always trying to protect his social worker, Julie. At times though, I spotted some of the ’90s clichés though and thought, “How come Julie doesn’t have a cell phone?” and “Why is the bad guy is calling from a phone booth?”
What I really enjoy is how the narrative switches between both realities smoothly. Messner-Loebs and Kieth give specific reasons why Maxx slips between fantasy and reality. At one point, Maxx is unable to control his hallucinations and goes off suddenly. In another scene, he willingly travels to Outback because he wants to fall sleep and wake up somewhere else. As readers, we’re always left to question which existence is the real one.
Keith’s illustrations just flows effortlessly with such cartoonish style. Midway through the narrative, I love how Kieth lays out the panels to make it look like the camera is spinning. In her character design, sometimes you don’t see Julie’s eyes because her long blonde hair covers them. With her extremely tight shirts and grungy jeans, Keith illustrates Julie as a vixen and teases with her body poses.
Because I have the original “Maxx” comics from Image, I definitely wanted to see what IDW was going to do differently. Ronda Pattison punches up the colors, especially the purple tones of Maxx’s costume. As I compared the original issues, I noticed Julie’s blue eyes are much clearer and less faded in this “Maxximized” version. Using a less thick black hue, Pattison’s retouch gives the little Isz creatures a much more vibrant look. This isn’t the same “Maxx” comic I have in my collection.
With writer/artist Sam Kieth playing around with narrative structure and artwork, “The Maxx: Maximized” #1 ends up becoming a rewarding and entertaining reading experience. With such psychedelic illustrations, readers will love the landscapes of the gritty city and the vast jungle. Though the ’90s have dated the material, “The Maxx” continues to thrive because of its twisted storytelling and impressive artwork.
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – Jorge Solis
Comics
‘Curse of the Where Wolf’ Bites Into August Release With Trio of Werewolf Theatrical Screenings [Exclusive Preview]
Larry Chaney‘s hairy misadventures are continuing in the sequel graphic novel Curse of the Where Wolf from creative team Rob Saucedo, Debora Lancianese, and Jack Morelli, and its author is celebrating with a trio of horror’s greatest werewolf films.
The Curse of the Where Wolf hits shelves on August 7 from Encyclopocalypse Publications.
That coincides with the launch of a theatrical screening event in Houston, Texas, featuring a trio of seminal werewolf flicks turning 45 this year: The Howling on August 7, Wolfen on August 14, and An American Werewolf in London on August 21.
Each screening features a “werewolf in film” presentation as well as a book signing from Where Wolf author and River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo.
In the new graphic novel, “Being a werewolf sucks. Reporter Larry Chaney wanted to be a hero. Instead, he became a werewolf. Now, caught between incredible new powers and a desire to eat everything (and everyone) in sight, Larry must find a cure for his curse. Or die trying.”
“With Where Wolf, I wanted to tell a whodunit set in a furry convention, so the story was pretty contained within a very specific setting and genre. With Curse of the Where Wolf, I wanted to celebrate everything I love about the possibility of comic books. Curse of the Where Wolf is a funny book, in every sense of the phrase, but it’s also an earnest look at a person’s struggle to become a better version of themselves, especially when the alternative is to become a literal monster,” Saucedo says of Curse.
The original graphic novel was previously serialized as the first webcomic hosted on Fangoria before being collected by Encyclopocalypse Publications in 2023 and has already been optioned for film, podcast, and television development ahead of launch by producers James Fino (“The Freak Brothers” for Tubi, “Rick and Morty” for Adult Swim) and Charles Horak (First Date for Magnolia Pictures).
Expect Larry to find himself in even weirder situations in the 362-page full color sequel; Saucedo has provided Bloody Disgusting with exclusive art pages from the upcoming graphic novel that showcase lupine humor.
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