Maximus (comics)

Maximus(otherwise known asMaximus the Mad) is asupervillainappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.The character has been depicted both as a member of and antagonist to theInhumans.Created by writerStan Leeand artistJack Kirby,he first appeared inFantastic Four#47 (February 1966).

Maximus
Maximus the Mad byFrazer Irving.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Fantastic Four#47 (Feb. 1966)
Created by	Stan Lee(writer) Jack Kirby(artist)
In-story information
Full name	Maximus Boltagon
Species	Inhuman
Place of origin	Attilan
Team affiliations	Cabal
Notable aliases	Maximus the Mad Maximus the Magnificent
Abilities	Inhuman physiology grants: Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, reflexes, and longevity Superhuman intelligence Proficient scientist and inventor Advanced knowledge of physics, mechanics, and biology Mental abilities

Iwan Rheonportrays Maximus in theMarvel Cinematic UniverseminiseriesInhumans.

Publication history

Maximus first appeared inFantastic Four#47 (February 1966), and was created byStan LeeandJack Kirby.

Fictional character biography

Maximus, anInhuman,was the second son of two ofAttilan's top geneticists,Agon,the head of the ruling Council of Geneticists, andRynda,director of the Prenatal Care Center. Subjected to the DNA-altering Terrigen Mist when he was an infant, Maximus peculiarly showed no outward sign of any mutagenic change. As he matured, he hid his developing psionic powers from the community, but was less successful at disguising his antisocial tendencies.

When he was about sixteen, his elder brotherBlack Boltwas released from the protective chamber in which he had been confined since birth due to the destructive nature of his powers. One of Maximus's first responses to his brother's freedom was an unsuccessful attempt to make him release his power and prove Black Bolt could not control his sonic powers, and thus lose his freedom.A month later, Black Bolt witnesses Maximus making a treacherous pact with an emissary of theKree,the alien race responsible for genetically accelerating the Inhumans eons before. In an attempt to stop the fleeing emissary so that he could be questioned by the ruling council, Black Bolt uses his forbidden power of the quasi-sonic scream and blasts the alien ship out of the sky. When the ship crashes to Earth, it landed on the parliament building, killing several key members of the Genetics Council, including the boys' parents. The reverberations of Black Bolt's voice also affects Maximus, addling his sanity and suppressing his nascent mental powers. When Black Bolt assumes the throne shortly thereafter, Maximus vows to oppose his brother and eventually usurp his rule.

Maximus stages his first successful coup a few years later. By performing an illegal experiment on theAlpha Primitives,the subhuman worker clones that once served the Inhumans, Maximus creates the Trikon, three bodiless energy beings of great destructive power. While the Trikon wreaks havoc in Attilan, Maximus successfully drives the Royal Family of Inhumans out of the city. Maximus later sendsGorgonin search of the amnesiacMedusa.In the several-year interval before Black Bolt and his cousins locate her in America, Maximus rules Attilan in Black Bolt's stead. Secure in his position, Maximus has his servant, theSeeker,locate the Royal Family and bring them back to Attilan.Upon doing so, Black Bolt seizes the crown back, to Maximus' dismay. Maximus also encounters theFantastic Fourfor the first time. Maximus, hoping to win back the public's affection, activates the Atmo-Gun device he has been working on, a machine he believes will kill the human race and leave all other living beings intact. Maximus miscalculates, however, and the device has no effect. Out of spite, Maximus uses the device to erect a barrier around Attilan, imprisoning the entire race inside.Black Bolt liberates his people by using his quasi-sonic voice to destroy the barrier, at the price of devastating Attilan's ancient architecture.

Maximus then allies himself with six Inhuman criminals, sentenced for their treachery and subversive acts by Black Bolt with his verdict being interpreted by Oracle. FreeingFalcona,Aireo,Stallior,Nebulo,Leonus,andTimberiusfrom their place of imprisonment with theHulk's aid, Maximus then tricks the Hulk into breaching the protective barrier guarding a forbidden chemical substance created by the Inhuman scientist Romnar centuries ago. This substance had certain highly unstable energy absorbing capacities and Maximus intends to use it to usurp the throne again, but Black Bolt overpowers him before he can do so.

Maximus succeeds in bringing about his second coup some months later. Drugging the Royal Family with will-deadening "hypno-potions", Maximus takes the crown from Black Bolt and has the Royal Family imprisoned. Before he can activate his Hypno-Gun, which he believes will make all mankind surrender to his will, the Royal Family escapes and subdues him. Escaping Attilan with his band of renegades in a rocket, Maximus lands in the South American country of Costa Salvador, and attempts to build a will-deadening device similar to his Hypno-Gun. His plans are opposed by the Hulk and the United States Army, however, and he and his allies are forced to flee again.

Maximus later foments a battle between the Royal Family and the Fantastic Four.Returning to Attilan, Maximus is welcomed back by his brother Black Bolt, who prefers Maximus to be somewhere he can be watched. Black Bolt detects that Maximus's psionic powers, suppressed since he was an adolescent, are beginning to return. Offering no explanation, Black Bolt has Maximus placed in a suspended animation capsule, inside which he cannot use his powers. Black Bolt's cousinGorgon,however, objects to Black Bolt's inhumane treatment of Maximus and frees the latter. Maximus immediately uses his mental powers to subjugate the minds of the Inhuman populace and to give Black Bolt amnesia. Maximus then restores the dark force barrier around Attilan and begins negotiations with theKreeto supply them with Inhuman soldiers.Eventually Black Bolt's memory returns, and alongside theAvengers,he returns to Attilan and once again destroys the barrier. The Avengers drive the Kree agent away before he can accomplish his mission and Black Bolt liberates the enslaved Inhumans.

With his mental powers traumatically submerged, Maximus escapes strict punishment for his treachery by feigning insanity. He then begins work on his next project to usurp the throne, the construction of the androidOmega,whose power source is supposedly the collective guilt evinced by the Inhuman populace over their treatment of the subhuman Alpha Primitives. The Fantastic Four helps the Royal Family thwart the construct, and the damage it causes was slight. Maximus stages his fourth successful coup a short time later after the Royal Family briefly leaves Attilan on business. TakingCrystaland her husbandQuicksilvercaptive, Maximus forces Black Bolt to give him the crown to spare their lives. Black Bolt does so, and allows himself to be placed in captivity. Maximus reestablishes contact with the Kree and negotiates a deal where the Kree would take all of the Inhumans with extraordinary abilities, leaving him the other half of the population to rule.TritonandKarnakrescue most of Maximus's captives and outwit the Kree agent Shatterstar. Unaware of that victory, Black Bolt lets loose with his quasi-sonic scream in agony, once again leveling the city. Angered by what had happened, Black Bolt strikes Maximus for the first time and has him imprisoned.

Maximus then allies himself with theEnclave,a band of human scientists who capture Medusa. The Enclave wants to conquer Attilan and dispatches an aerial strike force. When the Enclave threatens to execute Medusa, however, Maximus turns on them out of unrequited passion for his brother's betrothed. A weapon Maximus is manning overloads, leaving Maximus in a deathlike coma. Black Bolt has his brother's body placed in a special crypt, and when Attilan is transported from the Earth to the Moon, Maximus accompanies it. On the moon, Maximus's mind makes contact with an alien power crystal located there, and it reawakened his dormant mental powers. When Black Bolt next comes to pay his respects to his brother, Maximus is able to use his power to affect a transfer of consciousness between them. For several months Maximus rules Attilan in Black Bolt's body as Black Bolt lay imprisoned. Reestablishing contact with the Enclave, Maximus helps them implement meteoroid launchers with which they intend to bombard Earth. With the aid of the Avengers, Maximus' switch is discovered, and the Enclave's schemes are foiled. Maximus is forced to return to his rightful body and was once again placed in solitary confinement.

His next plot carried out from his prison cell involves the Inhuman Woz, and almost results in Attilan being conquered by Earth forces. It is foiled by Black Bolt and Medusa, who arrange for Attilan to be teleported away before its destruction.

Silent War

During the 2007 miniseriesSilent War,Maximus again plots his revenge, taunting Black Bolt from his prison and trying to sway a distressed Medusa on his side.He manages to convince Medusa to try to have Luna help "cure" him, only for Luna to realize too late that the "cure" instead allows Maximus to gain control over all the other Inhumans. After the enhanced Marines managed to destroy Attilan, Maximus usurps the throne of the Inhumans from Black Bolt, taking Medusa as his queen, and announcing a new plan to conquer Earth.

"Secret Invasion"

During the 2008 "Secret Invasion"storyline, Maximus was initially indifferent to the threat of theSkrulls.When it was discovered thatAhurawas a Skrull in disguise, however, Maximus defeated it.

"War of Kings"

In the 2009 "War of Kings"storyline, Black Bolt retakes the throne of the Inhumans. Maximus is still free and serves as Black Bolt's science advisor, devising war machines for the Kree to use against their adversaries, the Shi'ar.After Black Bolt's vanishing, during a time when the ruling of the various empires is up for dispute, Maximus is seen under the close supervision of Gorgon. His desires for something, anything to rule, are swiftly dismissed.

"Death of the Inhumans"

In the "Death of the Inhumans"event, Maximus is brainwashed into serving the Kree before being killed when his costume malfunctions and teleports him away.

Powers and abilities

As an Inhuman, Maximus possesses superhuman physical abilities and an extended lifespan, as well as psychic abilities that enable him to manipulate and control the minds of others. He is additionally highly intelligent and is a skilled inventor, with advanced knowledge of physics, mechanics, and biology.

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

An alternate universe variant of Maximus from Earth-295 appears inAge of Apocalypse.This version is a servant ofApocalypseand serves as his Horseman of Death before being killed bySunfire.

Marvel Knights 2099

An alternate universe variant of Maximus from Earth-2992 appears in the one-shotInhumans 2099.After he kills the Inhuman royal family, Black Boly is forced to kill him.

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe variant of Maximus from Earth-1610 appears in the Ultimate Marvel universe. This version is thefiancéofCrystal,though she refuses to marry him due to his insanity.

In other media

Television

• Maximus appears inFantastic Four(1994), voiced byMark Hamill.
• Maximus appears in theInhumansmotion comic, voiced byBrian Drummond.
• Maximus appears in theHulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.episode "Inhuman Nature", voiced byNolan North.
• Maximus appears in theUltimate Spider-Manepisode "Inhumanity", voiced again by Nolan North.
• Maximus appears inGuardians of the Galaxy,voiced byDiedrich Bader.
• Maximus appears in theAvengers Assembleepisode "Civil War, Part 1: The Fall of Attilan", voiced again by Diedrich Bader.

Character poster ofIwan Rheonas Maximus for the television series,Inhumans.

• Maximus appears inInhumans,portrayed primarily byIwan Rheonand by Aidan Fiske as a child. This version lacks powers, causing him to be envious towards Black Bolt, especially since their father, Agon, has denied him his desire to rule.After seizing control of Attilan, he is ultimately defeated and trapped in Attilan's bunker.
• Maximus appears inMarvel Future Avengers,voiced byHiroki Takahashiin Japanese andMichael Sinterniklaasin English.

Video games

• Maximus appears inMarvel: Avengers Alliance.
• Maximus appears as a Boss and playable character inLego Marvel Super Heroes 2.
• Maximus appears as a playable character inMarvel: Future Fight.
• Maximus appears inMarvel Avengers Academy.
• Maximus appears as a Boss inMarvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order,voiced again by Diedrich Bader.

External links

• Maximusat Marvel
• Maximusat MarvelDirectory
• The InhumansatDon Markstein's Toonopedia.Archivedfrom the original on September 17, 2016.