THE MAXX
Review by shogunnadia
From what I understand, The Maxx was originally a comic book created by Sam Keith.....
I first learned of The Maxx in 1995. MTV was doing all sorts of outlandish cartoons like The Maxx including such memorable shows like Aeon Flux and the Head. I never missed The Maxx when it was on.
FROM WIKIPEDIA
The Maxx is an American comic book and animation character created by Sam Kieth and published by Image Comics. The comic book spawned an animated series that aired on the MTV network. The series follows the adventures of the titular hero in the real world and in an alternate reality, referred to as The Outback. In the real world the Maxx is a vagrant while in the Outback he is the protector of the Jungle Queen. The Jungle Queen is similar to the Maxx in that she also exists in the real world as Julie Winters, a freelance social worker who often bails the Maxx out of jail. While the Maxx is aware of the Outback, Julie is not, though it is integral to the story of both the Maxx and Julie.
Bizarre? I know.....So anyhow, I really dug the cartoon.
With all that being said... I was excited the first time I saw him in prototype form at the SDCC08. Geoff Beckett CEO of Shocker Toys had him on display.
Luckily, this years SDCC 09 Geoff had some ready and he was happy to give me one.
Upon opening the display package (shown below),I immediately noticed the heft of the figure. He was pretty beefy, and sturdy, made of PVC and vinyl. The vinyl parts are the upper shoulders, torso and forearms. The rest is PVC.
In my opinion PVC and vinyl together is a rather odd combination that do not work too well together. For starters, I found that the paint took to the two materials differently. Giving the surface different hues disrupting the eye movement when checking out the toy. Furthermore the paint job on the Maxx's hands was spotty at best.
The last flaw I noticed was the points of articulation, he had a lot of swivel ball joints, but they are loose and sloppy.
Maxx comes with two interchangeable heads, one for when he is in the Outback and another for when he is in his reality. But again, the head is made of PVC and the paint job doesn't match the body too well.
He also comes with 3 IZS.
The Izs are little creatures from the outback. The Isz figures included with the Maxx (shown above) are black, pink, and white Isz. They are made of PVC the black and white ones are well painted and pretty detailed. but the pink fairy Isz had a less than satisfactory paint job. Here is some info about them.
FROM WIKIPEDIA The main creatures that inhabit The Outback are white Isz. White Isz are herbivores, but can eat most other Outback creatures, as most if not all the creatures in Julie's Outback are actually plants. When white Isz are brought from The Outback into the real world they become black Isz. Black Isz are carnivores and cannibalistic. They are stronger, faster, and have sharper teeth than white Isz. Black Isz assume different appearances depending on the clothes they're wearing. In this matter, intention counts more than disguise skills. If an Isz is dressed as an old lady, it appears as an old lady to anyone who doesn't know what it really is. All Isz are eyeless. In the latter part of the series, Sara's Isz appear as pink, flying, eyeless fairies and explode if not kept in water.
All in all, I think the figure has a good sculpt that depicts the Maxx well. There were just a few glitches with the paint and the loose joints. If you like the Maxx, I would suggest buying him, but, if you are a toy snob he may not be for you.
Posted 14 September, 2009 - 20:19 by shogunnadia |
Comments
9 comments postedThis was a cool cartoon as I remember. Sam Kieth I met at a comic convention strange dude... but a true artist. Now that I'm older I appreciate his work even more. Whatever happened to him?
Never read the comic,but I loved the show. Some of you younger kids may not realise this,but there was a time when we didn't have instant anime 24/7 on youtube,stuff like this was mindblowing at the time.
....It was dope as hell at the time...Still dig it..
If you loved the show you GOTTA read the comic. It's what got me into comics in the first place.
I like some of the things they did with this figure but the McFarelane version is better (believe me I cringe hard just saying that. McFairlane...pfff). Here's why, IMO: You've got two great, iconic poses for the Maxx. Hunched over, and slicing through Isz in the classic Frazzetta style(which Keith wears on his sleeve), arched back, muscles rippling. I admire Shocker for trying to design him to achieve both but it kinda fails in both. The McF figure is dedicated to the hunched over Maxx and it works superbly. Shocker's is close but doesn't quite get it. And I don't think it's an easy task. Again, props to them for trying. Yes, the articulation is way higher than the McF ver but I think it distracts from the unique shape of the Maxx, like in the ankles. It takes away from that iconic Maxx foot shape. I'd love to see a 1/6 scale Maxx by Hot Toys or Medicom with real spandex and rubber boots. Then maybe... yes, Shogunnadia, I am a toy snob.
Shocker's SCUD figure, on the other hand, is really spot on(and our only choice). :)
seeing this makes me almost want to pick the series up when I go to the boston comic show this weekend. maybe they will have the figure too it looks sweet
Hey Tardbot, thanks for the info! I will most def. pick up the comic now. Is it a Sandman comic?
Nothing to do with Sandman. Image put it out in the early 90's. In the last 5 years or so they put out a couple trades that encompass the entire 36 issue run. You should be able to find em at your local shop.
Cheers!
Nice review. I think the only problem with the figure is that in a couple of those shots, he looks like he's squatting down to mail a package. It almost makes me wish he'd come with a newspaper accessory, or maybe even an issue of his own comic. LOL The Maxx was really the only Image comic of that era that I thought was truly good. I never did finish it though since I'm missing a few issues. But I thought they did a great job with the cartoon.
Last thing I remember seeing Sam Keith do was Ojo, but I'm by no means the comic nerd I once was. :)
Nadia, not sure what you mean by a Sandman comic. Sam Keith did art on early issues of Neil Gaiman's Sandman, but it's nothing at all to do with The Maxx.
"This must be settled the way nature intended....with a vicious, bloody fight!"
Onyx Blackman
Principal, Flatpoint High
Why in the world is this even on the list to be voted on as worst toy of 2009??? What a shame. There are soooo many other candidates that would seriously outweigh this one for the list! C'mon now.
I have the original McFarlane Maxx. This one is completely different materials, but it looks just fine to me.
Grandzinga....