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The Maxx Maxximized #1 Offers a Fresh Glimpse at a Modern Classic

The Maxx Maxximized #1 Offers a Fresh Glimpse at a Modern Classic

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The Maxx: Maxximized #1
Writer: Sam Kieth
Script: William Messner-Loebs
Art: Sam Kieth
Inks: Jim Sinclair
Colours: Ronda Pattison
Letters: Mike Heisler
Publisher: IDW
Purchase: IDW Publishing

When it comes to cinematic endeavors, there are generally two schools of thought in regards to the “director’s cut”. Some feel that tweaking and cutting a film after its release is necessary. Others feel that once a film is released to the public, it no longer belongs to the creators, but to the hearts and minds of the film going audience. While we have seen many successful director’s cuts, such as Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, some have have changed our perspective towards films for the worse. Like say, Greedo shooting first.

 When Sam Kieth originally published The Maxx back in 1993, he did so under some tough deadlines. The results to him were less than perfect and had been bothersome for quite sometime. Thanks to IDW, Kieth is able to revisit his flagship franchise and refurbish his book directly from his original drawings. Re-scanned, re-coloured yet not re-done, The Maxx: Maxximized isn’t a directors cut, but a re-do. A chance for Keith to iron out some kinks, particularly with the colouring.

For those of you unfamiliar with the publication, The Maxx tells the tale of a homeless person who escapes into a fantastical realm called the Outback. When he isn’t spending time in la-la land, he can be seen hanging around a freelance social worker named Julie. Yet when a series of rapes grip the city in fear, Maxx’s fantasy world may be more real than he ever thought.

MAXX-01-pr-6-5a6eaIf you have never read the original publication from Image Comics, then this is a great jumping on point. While I personally (sorry to break the first person rule Ricky) have never read the original publication, I was a huge fan of my action figure and the MTV cartoon. The book has a timeless feel and Keith’s art is spectacular.

The Maxx manages to avoid most of the 90’s negative trapping that are synonymous with the era yet not all. Julie, while being a strong female character, is presented with some pretty unrealistic proportions. The same goes with the character of the Maxx, however his design is genuinely iconic, so he gets a pass. But this is a minor gripe and after reading this debut issue its easy to see why its considered a classic.

While the big draw to many old school Maxx fans will be the remastering, I unfortunately can not comment any further in this aspect. Being a new fan myself, I can say that the book is a visceral treat for the eyes and features a compelling story. There may be some temptation to find some of the back trades, but hold tight brothers because The Maxx: Maxximzed is an experiment well worth investing in and is sure to create a new generation of rabid fans, this humble reviewer included.

-Sean

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