This is so far beyond what went on in the animated series. Every time an answer is revealed, it's a clue to another layer of answers and backstory and vile, twistedness hidden within each of the characters.

Dug this book. Going to the CADL tomorrow to snag the next one. ( )

Holy crap, this isn't your grandfather's Maxx! First of all the actual Maxx doesn't make an appearance in his superhero guise. There is a new Maxx who looks kinda different. The story is less surreal and more comprehensible.

This comes with a "Suggested for Mature Readers" on the back in small letters, but really it should say "TRIGGER WARNING - FOR PREVIOUSLY MOLESTED READERS". I was never molested, but I can see this getting REALLY FREAKING HEAVY and not fun for someone who was. Or it might help them, who knows, but at least a warning that the topic is dealt with EXTENSIVELY along with references to rape. Don't get me wrong, I didn't get the feeling that Mr. Kieth was glorifying any of this or writing it to sell more comics, it was just soooooo dark and realistic that it made me uncomfortable while keeping me captivated.

Finally this ends with a cliffhanger and I don't own volume 5, so that's not fun either. ( )

So that took a sharp right turn into... well, into a different kind of wtf than it had previously been. I'm OK with that, though. I like Sara. ( )

If I had to pick one favorite comic it would be the Maxx. This series started out as Sam Kieth and William Messer-Loebs contribution to the newly created Image Comics line started by a bunch of disgruntled comics all stars (mainly disgruntled from Marvel Comics), the Maxx was pretty much your basic superhero fair. Sometimes Amnesiac Maxx is the purple clad, yellow claw waving, sharp-toothed mask-wearing protector of Julie Winters, a freelance social worker with a chip on her shoulder and a love for Camille Paglia posters. Pretty soon Julie's Friends daughter Sarah becomes part of the mix as the three encounter an existential evil villain Mr. Gone and his legion of iz, little black blobs that are all feet and teeth. Like I said, superhero vs. villain to protect helpless woman, yada yada yada. But as the series picks up steam Kieth and Loebs take the comic in a completely different direction, as it becomes apparent that most of the characters are either acting out other character's dream worlds or man not exist at all.

My only complaint with the series is that it begins to fall apart towards issue 28 or so as Kieth struggles with the direction and meaning of the story. He is also obviously tired of the same characters as he continuously leaves the story completely behind to tell unrelated side stories, which are all just as good, but beside the point. Because of this the comic sort of abruptly comes to an end at issue 35.

Keith's art style, though hard for some to warm to immediately, is intricate and varied as he mixes brushed ink work, watercolor and paints to create a very visually appealing comic. ( )