Published: March, 1993 – August, 1998
Written by: Sam Kieth, Alan Moore, Bill Messner-Loebs
Art by: Sam Kieth, Chance Wolf, Tony Kelly, Kell-O-Graphics
Image Comics, 840 Pages
Review:
I used to love The Maxx when I was a teenager. I never fully understood it, as I was young and it was a batshit crazy comic book at times but it always captivated me. I became an even bigger fan of the comic book after the animated TV series and because it was being put out by Image, which had my undying allegiance, at least in the first half of the ’90s.
What always drew me in was Sam Kieth’s art. He has a style all his own and it was unlike anything I had seen before it. Sure, lots of people have come and gone and mimicked Kieth’s style but no one has quite hit the mark for me in the same way.
Reading this now, I’m not as captivated by it but I still enjoyed it and it was like a trip down memory lane for me. It brought me back to where I was at 14 years-old when I first picked it up.
I think what initially made me fall in love with the comic was how dark it could be. I hadn’t experienced that in comics, really. But moving on from standard superhero books like the ones from Marvel, DC and the earliest titles from Image, The Maxx was where I came to understand that comics can be so much more than that.
This deals with some tough subject matter but it does so in an interesting and satisfying way.
I don’t think that Kieth’s style will resonate with everyone that picks The Maxx up but for long time comic readers that haven’t given it a shot, it’s definitely worth a look.
Rating: 8.5/10
Pairs well with: other ’90s indie comics that were a bit out there like Madman, Bone, Scud, etc.
Talking Pulp 
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