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The Maxx: Maxximized #4

The MAXX: Maxximized, Volume 4

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Volume 4 continues the re-presentation of Sam Kieth's and William Messner-Loeb's groundbreaking series, The Maxx, with all-new colors by Ronda Pattison. Collects issues #13-18 in this oversized hardcover.

152 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 2015

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About the author

Sam Kieth

409 books273 followers
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.

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for C. Varn.
Author 3 books408 followers
December 28, 2015
This returns Julie to the comic, although she is not figured herself out so easily, and no need conclusion is given to the series. Furthermore, the role and symbolic important of spirit animals and trauma is further clarified. Sara/Sarah becomes a much more important character, almost usurping Julie as Sara/Sarah's trauma becomes more front and center to the story. The art and colors are excellent. The only frustrating thing is that I have to wait for the IDW to release Volume 5 electronically so I can get more into this arc which I don't remember because I quit reading Maxx in the 1990s around the end of Julie's first arc in the comic.
Profile Image for Variaciones Enrojo.
4,158 reviews52 followers
April 6, 2018
Reseña de Víctor A. Sagasti para Mulder Comics:
http://muldercomics.blogspot.com.ar/2...

THE MAXX: EL INCOSCIENTE, CLAVE
THE MAXX MAXXIMIZED volumen 4, por VÍCTOR A. SAGASTI
Los acontecimientos de la entrega anterior, en los cuales el momento a destacar fue que JULIE WINTERS abandonaba la Ciudad, a su particular amigo THE MAXX, como también a SARAH. Por estos sucesos, esta última se erigía como nueva protagonista.
En este número, viendo a SARAH en ese rol nuevo, se la muestra entre el dolor de la pérdida de su abuela; el camino posterior para conmemorarla la tiene en una disyuntiva: ¿ser quien no es, producto de las imposiciones maternales? o ¿ser dueña de sus convicciones como hasta ahora?
No será la única problemática familiar en SARAH; se conocerán pormenores del abuelo confinado en un geriátrico. El anciano constantemente, y a través de varios años, ha vivido la fantasía en la que una nave espacial lo espera, en este caso, fuera del nosocomio donde está internado y así llevarlo a un destino añorado.
Para completar este desfavorable contexto en la flamante figura principal, el hecho de estar ligada a MÍSTER GONE, traerá aparejada nuevas revelaciones que la retrotraen al periodo infantil. Es en este punto donde la realidad y el inconsciente demanden la intervención de THE MAXX. Con la habitación del que fuera departamento de JULIE como punto de análisis, en una situación confusa para dirimir lo sucedido en la remembranza, la posibilidad que la ausente regrese es factible.
Traumas irresueltos, el cruce del inconsciente y nuestro mundo, la PANGEA, ISZ y la perturbadora presencia de MÍSTER GONE en los lugares más insólitos, irán develando enigmas que tal vez sirvan para cerrar los círculos de la vida donde unos se van y flamantes criaturas pueden llegar, completando esta magistral historieta que se disfruta en cada publicación de esta obra de culto de los 90´ llamada THE MAXX.
Publicado originalmente en USA por la editorial IDW en la cabecera THE MAXX MAXXIMIZED, números 13 al 18 entre los meses de noviembre de 2014 hasta abril de 2015.

El equipo creativo a cargo fue:
Historia y portadas de SAM KIETH.
WILLIAM MESSNER—LOEBS en guiones.
SAM KIETH en la parte artística.
Tintas de JIM SINCLAIR.
Coloreado por RONDA PATTISON.

Si quiere conocer más la creatividad experimental que afloró en los 90´de manera única, como así también el contexto histórico y social de donde deriva la denominación de la PANGEA, narraciones del estilo psicológico como el de THE MAXX, las grandes teorías del psicoanálisis, otro tipo de historietas, como cualquier información que precise, la biblioteca es el lugar indicado para incursionar y profundizar el conocimiento. Estos establecimientos que resguardan el saber universal, ofrecen opciones populares, públicos y escolares.
Sigan siempre en contacto con la galaxia cibernética de MULDERCOMICS desde todas sus plataformas para mantenerse al corriente de lo que sucede en el mundo de la historieta.
¡Hasta la próxima!

FUENTES CONSULTADAS
· KIETH, Sam; MESSNER LOEBS, William y otros; THE MAXX: MAXXIMIZED; EDITORIAL IVREA S.L.; octubre 2017; BUENOS AIRES; REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA. MUSSO, Federico (traducción); COSTA, Nicolás (letreado).
· https://comicvine.gamespot.com
179 reviews1 follower
January 27, 2016
This continues with The Maxx doing its thing. It starts out with one of the sweetest stories in the series which really shows how good it can be at its best. And then the next bits are kind of scary. But on balance, it's still kind of amazing.
Profile Image for Patrick.
2,163 reviews21 followers
March 24, 2017
You know, this whole series is so much more than I could see as a kid. I'm eternally grateful for that Humble Bundle that included all seven of these volumes.
Profile Image for Quentin Wallace.
Author 34 books178 followers
July 5, 2020
This is a pretty deep comic. I'm still amazed this was published by Image in the 90s since Image at that time wasn't particular known as "deep", although Image did publish some really diverse material later. I suppose The Maxx paved for the way for later creators to publish material other than straightforward super hero stories.

The art remains strong and the story isn't the easiest to follow but hasn't entirely went off the rails. I'm still not sure where this is going, but that's okay.
Profile Image for Jonathan Ammon.
Author 10 books17 followers
November 4, 2023
There was one plot development I seriously disliked in this volume, but I loved everything else so much. Wonderful, transcendent stuff. Keith and Messner-Loebs never stop going for it. This reads as if its completely uninhibited and completely secure even though it's like little or nothing else I've read.
Profile Image for Dony Grayman.
7,186 reviews36 followers
October 18, 2017
Edición argentina, tomo 4 de 7, mucho más gordo que los anteriores pero al mismo precio. Incluye la revelación del nombre y profesión de Maxx antes de ser Maxx, escenas oníricas de lo más pintoriescas y un final cliffhangeroso
Profile Image for Ollie.
466 reviews30 followers
March 30, 2017
I have to give the Maxx and Sam Keith a lot of credit. Jon Spencer once said that good rock music has to at least be a little bit weird. Well the Maxx did the same for me and comics.

I have no idea what first attracted me to the comics (maybe the crossover with Gen13 which was my gateway comic?), but once I started, I was hooked and I didn’t know why. Its convoluted story, its weird characters, its graphic subject should have turned me off to the series, but instead they kept me coming for more. One thing I knew for sure was that there was nothing out there like it and being original counted for a lot in that era of comics.

Many years after I’ve read the comics, I’m still at a loss to describe what it’s about. Sure, the Maxx appears to be about good’s struggle over evil with superheroes and supervillains in the mix, but it’s also so much more. As you read on, you realize that this is a very psychological book, and that these apparently superhuman characters are actually dealing with very real inner struggles, learning to cope with their life, afraid of their own weakness. And even though I originally remember the Maxx series being about the Maxx, then I thought maybe it’s about Julie, rereading the series almost 10 years later I’m starting to realize this series is actually about Mr. Gone. A shocking revelation that the villain of the story is actually the hero. Then again, Sam Keith was never one to write conventional stories. Quite honestly, my mind is being blown all over again. I know I said there was nothing out there quite like The Maxx and years later, there still isn’t.

IDW has stepped up to the plate once more and truly revamped the series in these Maxximixed editions. The series is not just printed on thick glossy paper, collected in hardcover books with all new art, but here they’ve also rescanned the original artwork and recolorized the pages. Kieth is nothing if not a breathtaking artist and the Maxx looks even better than it originally did, if you can imagine that. A much needed and truly apt collection of a grossly underrated series.

These first four books end right before we truly get into the root of Julie’s trauma and where exactly the Maxx as we know him came from. Until now we’ve have unpacked quite a complicated story and the boundaries have been drawn. Now, let’s see if Sam Kieth can put everything back in the box.

Hold onto your butts. Things are about to get much weirder.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews