MAX (comics)
Encyclopedia
MAX is an imprint
of Marvel Comics
aimed at a niche 'adults only' audience, launched in 2001 after Marvel broke with the Comics Code Authority
and established its own rating system
. MAX titles are unique among Marvel's output in that they are free to feature explicit content similar to that of an R-rated movie.
The MAX imprint is not Marvel's first effort in pushing the boundaries of content in their titles. The company's Epic Comics
imprint in the 1980s and early 1990s often featured sexual themes heavily.However, the MAX imprint is the first time Marvel has specifically produced comics intended for a niche 'adults-only' audience.
and Haunt of Horror, while the majority of its publications were based around existing Marvel characters, such as Howard the Duck
, Devil-Slayer and Rawhide Kid
.
Former Marvel President and chairman Stan Lee
has openly criticized the MAX imprint. Referring to the Fury miniseries, based on the character Nick Fury
, which 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."
The longest running MAX series is The Punisher.
MAX Ant-Man
and Deathlok
limited series were solicited but were cancelled before their release.
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
aimed at a niche 'adults only' audience, launched in 2001 after Marvel broke with the Comics Code Authority
Comics Code Authority
The Comics Code Authority was a body created as part of the Comics Magazine Association of America, as a tool for the comics-publishing industry to self-regulate the content of comic books in the United States. Member publishers submitted comic books to the CCA, which screened them for adherence to...
and established its own rating system
Marvel Rating System
The Marvel Rating System is a system for rating the content of comic books, with regard to appropriateness for different age groups. In 2001, Marvel Comics withdrew from the Comics Code Authority and established its own rating system for its publications...
. MAX titles are unique among Marvel's output in that they are free to feature explicit content similar to that of an R-rated movie.
The MAX imprint is not Marvel's first effort in pushing the boundaries of content in their titles. The company's Epic Comics
Epic Comics
Epic Comics was a creator-owned imprint of Marvel Comics started in 1982, lasting through the mid-1990s, and being briefly revived on a small scale in the mid-2000s.- Origins :...
imprint in the 1980s and early 1990s often featured sexual themes heavily.However, the MAX imprint is the first time Marvel has specifically produced comics intended for a niche 'adults-only' audience.
History
The first series to be published under the MAX imprint is the now finished Alias. Several new series were then created specially for the MAX imprint, such as Apache SkiesApache Skies
Apache Skies is a four-issue comic book limited series, published in 2002 by Marvel Comics as a part of that company's MAX imprint. The series was written by John Ostrander and drawn by Leonardo Manco.The series was a sequel to 2000's Blaze of Glory....
and Haunt of Horror, while the majority of its publications were based around existing Marvel characters, such as Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck is a comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik. The character first appeared in Adventure into Fear #19 and several subsequent series have chronicled the misadventures of the ill-tempered, anthropomorphic, "funny...
, Devil-Slayer and Rawhide Kid
Rawhide Kid
The Rawhide Kid is a fictional Old West cowboy in comic books published by Marvel Comics. A heroic gunfighter of the 19th-century American West who was unjustly wanted as an outlaw, he is one of Marvel's most prolific Western characters...
.
Former Marvel President and chairman Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
has openly criticized the MAX imprint. Referring to the Fury miniseries, based on the character Nick Fury
Nick Fury
Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury is a fictional World War II army hero and present-day super-spy in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 , a World War II combat series that portrayed the...
, which 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."
The longest running MAX series is The Punisher.
Titles
- AliasAlias (comics)Alias is a comic book series created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos. It was published by Marvel Comics under Marvel's MAX imprint for a total of 28 issues from 2001 to 2004....
(2001) - Apache SkiesApache SkiesApache Skies is a four-issue comic book limited series, published in 2002 by Marvel Comics as a part of that company's MAX imprint. The series was written by John Ostrander and drawn by Leonardo Manco.The series was a sequel to 2000's Blaze of Glory....
(2002) - Black Widow: Pale Little Spider (2002)
- BladeBlade (comics)Blade is a fictional character, a superhero/vampire hunter in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and penciller Gene Colan, his first appearance was in the comic book The Tomb of Dracula #10 as a supporting character.The character went on to alternatively star and co-star...
(2002) - CageLuke CageLuke Cage is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Archie Goodwin and artist John Romita, Sr., he first appeared in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1...
(2002) - Deadpool Max (2010)
- Dead of Night Featuring:
- Man-ThingMan-ThingThe Man-Thing is a fictional character, a monster in publications from Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in Savage Tales #1 , and went on to be featured in various titles and in his own series, including...
(2008) - Devil-Slayer (limited series, 2008)
- Werewolf by NightWerewolf by NightWerewolf by Night is a fictional character, an antiheroic werewolf in the Marvel Comics universe. The Werewolf by Night first appeared in Marvel Spotlight vol...
(limited series, 2009)
- Man-Thing
- The Destroyer (5-issue limited series, 2009)
- Doctor Spectrum
- Dominic FortuneDominic FortuneDominic Fortune is a fictional comic book character, owned by Marvel Comics.Created by Howard Chaykin and based on the Scorpion, Chaykin's character for the failed Atlas/Seaboard Comics company, Dominic Fortune was originally a 1930s costumed, fortune-seeking adventurer.-Publication history:Dominic...
(2009) - The Eternal
- Foolkiller (limited series, 2007)
- Foolkiller: White Angels (limited series, 2008)
- Fury (2001)
- Haunt of Horror:
- Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
(3-issue mini-series, 2006) - H.P. Lovecraft (3-issue mini-series, 2008)
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Hellstorm: Son of Satan (2006)
- The HoodHood (comics)The Hood is a fictional character, a supervillain, and a crime boss in the . Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell, the character first appeared in The Hood #1 .-Publication history:...
(2002) - Howard the DuckHoward the DuckHoward the Duck is a comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik. The character first appeared in Adventure into Fear #19 and several subsequent series have chronicled the misadventures of the ill-tempered, anthropomorphic, "funny...
(limited series, 2002) - The Punisher: BornThe Punisher: BornBorn is a four-issue comic book limited series featuring the Marvel Comics character Frank Castle a.k.a. the Punisher. The series was released in 2003 written by Garth Ennis and penciled by Darick Robertson.-Synopsis:...
(limited series, 2003) - The PunisherThe Punisher: Frank CastleThe Punisher: Frank Castle is a comic book ongoing series published under the MAX imprint of Marvel Comics, featuring vigilante anti-hero, the Punisher....
- Rawhide Kid: Slap Leather (2003)
- Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu
- Strange Tales MAXStrange TalesStrange Tales is the name of several comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics. It introduced the features "Doctor Strange" and "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.", and was a showcase for the science fiction/suspense stories of artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, and for the...
(limited series, 2009) - Starr the Slayer (2009)
- Supreme PowerSupreme PowerThe Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in publications under the mature-audience MAX imprint by Marvel Comics. The team first appears in Supreme Power #1 and was created by writer J...
(Moved to the normal Marvel ComicsMarvel ComicsMarvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
imprint in 2006 under the name of its predecessor Squadron Supreme) - Supreme Power: Hyperion
- Supreme Power: Nighthawk
- Terror Inc. (2007, limited series)
- Terror, Inc.: Apocalypse Soon (2009)
- Thor: VikingsThor: VikingsThor: Vikings is a 5-issue comic book limited series published by MAX Comics, an imprint of Marvel Comics for adult audiences, in July – November 2003...
(2003, limited series) - War is HellWar is Hell (comics)War Is Hell was a horror/war comic book series from Marvel Comics in 1973-1975. For its first six issues, it featured reprints of old war comics, followed by two issues of reprints of Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos...
: The First Flight of The Phantom EaglePhantom EaglePhantom Eagle is the name used by three fictional comic book aviator heroes. The first was introduced during the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of comic books by Fawcett Comics...
(2008) - U.S. War Machine and U.S. War Machine 2.0
- Wisdom (2007)
- X-Men: Phoenix - Legacy of Fire (issues 2 and 3 of a 3 issue mini-series, 2003)
- Zombie (limited series, 2006) and Zombie: Simon Garth (2007)
MAX Ant-Man
Ant-Man
Ant-Man is the name of several fictional characters appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. Ant-Man was originally the superhero persona of Hank Pym, a brilliant scientist who invented a substance that allowed him to change his size...
and Deathlok
Deathlok
Deathlok is a fictional cyborg published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Astonishing Tales #25 , and was created by Rich Buckler and Doug Moench...
limited series were solicited but were cancelled before their release.