Max (comics) explained

MAX Comics
Parent:Marvel Comics
Founded:2001
Country:United States
Headquarters:New York City, New York
Keypeople:Joe Quesada
Axel Alonso[1]
Publications:Comics

MAX Comics is an imprint of Marvel Comics specializing in comic book media aimed at adult-only readers. It was launched in 2001 after Marvel broke with the Comics Code Authority and established its own rating system.[2]

History

The MAX Comics imprint is not Marvel's first effort to feature explicit content in their titles. The company's Epic Comics imprint in the 1980s and early 1990s often featured stronger content than their mainstream imprint. However, the MAX Comics imprint is the first time Marvel has specifically produced comics with uncensored content.

The first series to be published under the Max imprint was Alias, written by Brian Michael Bendis.[3] Several limited series were then created specially for the Max imprint, such as Apache Skies and Haunt of Horror, but the majority of its publications were based around existing Marvel characters, such as Howard the Duck and Devil-Slayer.

One Marvel character who was revived by Max was Rawhide Kid who in 2002 became the first openly homosexual Marvel comic book character to star in his own magazine. The first edition of the Rawhide Kid's saga was called Slap Leather. According to a CNN.com article, "The new series pairs the original artist, John Severin, now 86, with Ron Zimmerman, a television writer. Making the Rawhide Kid gay was Zimmerman's idea." The character's homosexuality is conveyed indirectly, through euphemisms and puns, and the comic's style is campy. Conservative groups protested the homosexual take on the character, which they claimed would corrupt children, though the covers carried an "Adults only" label.

Since 2012, the new works under the MAX imprint have been limited to the Punisher series. Marvel now portrays MAX as a rating indicating mature content, rather than a separate brand. The latest MAX issue (Get Fury #4) was published in October 2024 (cover date).

Criticism

While some works such as Alias have received acclaim, the imprint has attracted controversy, with some critics considering some of the titles to be gratuitous in its use of mature or vulgar content. Former Marvel president and chairman Stan Lee openly criticized the Max imprint. Referring to an incident of strangulation with intestines in the 2001 Fury miniseries, based on the character Nick Fury, whom he co-created, Lee said, "I don't know why they're doing that. I don't think that I would do those kinds of stories".[4]

Titles

MAX Ant-Man and Deathlok miniseries were both solicited, but were cancelled before their release.

Some of the titles such as Alias, The Hood, Wisdom, Thor: Vikings and Apache Skies are considered part of Earth-616, the main Marvel Universe, while others like Punisher MAX, Wolverine MAX, Fury, Deadpool MAX and Foolkiller take place in alternate universes.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Entertainment News, Celebrity and Pop Culture - ABC News. Abcnews.go.com. 2016-02-22.
  2. Web site: Marvel's New Ratings System... Explained! . . Jonah Weiland . July 5, 2001 . February 8, 2011.
  3. Book: Lee. Stan. Quesada. Joe. Marvel Chronicle: A Year by Year History. 2008. DK Publishing. London. 978-0756641238. 307.
  4. James Adams, "Code Red in the New Comicdom", The Globe and Mail, May 2, 2002, p. R9
  5. Web site: Aguirre-Sacasa talks "Dead of Night featuring Man-Thing" . 13 February 2008 . Comic Book Resources . 2016-02-22.
  6. Web site: WW Philly: Devil-Slayer Returns in "Dead of Night" . 31 May 2008 . Comic Book Resources . 2016-02-22.
  7. Web site: Warren Simons & Brian Keene On Max's Devil-Slayer . Newsarama.com . 2008-06-03 . 2016-02-22.
  8. Web site: Swierczynski on "Werweolf By Night" . 19 December 2008 . Comic Book Resources . 2016-02-22.
  9. Web site: The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators . Maelmill-insi.de . 2015-06-28 . 2016-02-22.
  10. Web site: NYCC: Kirkman Talks "Destroyer MAX" . 19 April 2008 . Comic Book Resources . 2016-02-22.
  11. Web site: NYCC '08: ROBERT KIRKMAN ON DESTROYER MAX . https://archive.today/20091126034834/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=154261 . dead . November 26, 2009 . February 21, 2009 .
  12. Web site: Steve . Ekstrom . Return to Fortune: Chaykin on Dominic Fortune MAX . . July 13, 2009 . September 26, 2009.
  13. Web site: Max'ing Out the Future: Axel Alonso Talks Marvel Max - Newsarama . September 26, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090519203358/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=120373 . May 19, 2009 .
  14. Web site: Gregg Hurwitz Talks Foolkiller - Newsarama . September 26, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071029033839/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=120557 . October 29, 2007 .
  15. Web site: Corben and Lovecraft at Marvel in June - Newsarama . March 25, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081208054457/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=150798 . December 8, 2008 .
  16. Web site: Shout at the Devil: Irvine talks "Son of Satan" . 2 June 2006 . Comic Book Resources . 2016-02-22.
  17. Web site: Archived copy . 2009-09-26 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071017200950/http://newsarama.com/WWPhilly06/Marvel/MondoMvl/Alonso_Hellstorm.html . 2007-10-17 .
  18. Web site: Heroes Con '09: Marvel's Starr the Slayer Returns . Newsarama.com . 2009-06-19 . 2016-02-22.
  19. Web site: HeroesCon: Way & Corben Talk "Starr the Slayer" . 20 June 2009 . Comic Book Resources . 2016-02-22.
  20. Web site: Nick Lowe on Marvel Max's War is Hell Series - Newsarama . March 9, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081208054452/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=142228 . December 8, 2008 .
  21. Web site: /404 . March 9, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080311091815/http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6533463.html . March 11, 2008 .
  22. Web site: Arune . Singh . Marvel Fanboys: Mike Raichit Talks 'Zombie' . . June 2, 2006 . 2009-03-11.

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