MAX

The logo for the MAX imprint

MAX is an imprint of Marvel Comics for adult audiences, launched in 2001 after Marvel broke with the Comics Code Authority and established its own rating system. MAX titles are unique among Marvel's current output in that they are free to feature explicit content.

The MAX imprint is not the first time Marvel has done comics intended for mature audience; the Epic Comics imprint in the 1980s and early 1990s often featured adult themes and stories, and some series in the Marvel Knights imprint, such as Elektra, are geared towards mature readers, complete with "mature/violent content" warnings, however, the Max imprint is the first time Marvel has produced comics intended for adult audiences. MAX titles will not be sold on the newsstand, and they will not be marketed to younger readers.

History

The first series to be published under the MAX imprint is the now finished Alias. Marvels Published President Bill Jemas allegedly read a draft for the first issue (which characteristically began with the word "fuck") and stated "why couldn't we publish this?" The MAX imprint was then created to publish the series. Several new series were then created specially for the MAX imprint, such as Apache Skies and Haunt of Horror, while the majority of its publications were based around already existing Marvel franchises, such as Howard the Duck, Devil-Slayer and Rawhide Kid.

Former Marvel President and chairman Stan Lee has openly criticised the MAX imprint, saying "I don't know why they're doing that. I don't think that I would do those kinds of stories" referring to the Fury miniseries, based on the character Nick Fury, who he co-created.

The longest running MAX series has been The Punisher.

Titles

• Alias (2001)
• Apache Skies (2002)
• Black Widow: Pale Little Spider (2002)
• Blade (2002)
• Cage (2002)
• Dead of Night Featuring:
  • Man-Thing (2008)^[1]
  • Devil-Slayer (limited series, 2008}^[2][3]
  • Werewolf by Night (limited series, 2009)^[4]
• The Destroyer (5-issue limited series, 2009}^[5][6]
• Doctor Spectrum
• Dominic Fortune (2009)^[7]
• The Eternal
• Foolkiller (limited series, 2007)^[8][9]
• Foolkiller: White Angels (limited series, 2008)
• Fury (2001)
• Haunt of Horror:
  • Edgar Allan Poe (3-issue mini-series, 2006)^[10]
  • H.P. Lovecraft (3-issue mini-series, 2008)^[11]
• Hellstorm: Son of Satan (2006)^[12][13]
• The Hood (2002)
• Howard the Duck (limited series, 2002)
• The Punisher: Born (limited series, 2003)
• The Punisher
• Rawhide Kid: Slap Leather (2003)
• Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu
• Starr the Slayer (2009)^[14][15]
• Supreme Power (Moved to the normal Marvel Comics 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: Vikings (2003)
• War is Hell: The First Flight of The Phantom Eagle (2008)^[16][17]
• 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)^[18] and Zombie: Simon Garth (2007)

MAX Ant-Man and Deathlok limited series were solicited but were cancelled before their release.

Notes

References

External links

• Marvel.com