History Comicbook / TheMaxx

As the story goes on, the role of protagonist shifts from the Maxx to Julie to one Sarah James, who was introduced early in the storyline... but all the characters are ultimately part of the same story.

** Several comic storylines were also expanded for the better, including Sarah's introduction.

* AgeAppropriateAngst: Sarah does whine a lot, especially in her introduction, but she ''is'' 15 and in a rotten high school where she is constantly bullied.

* BeautifulAllAlong: Subverted. Sarah tries this once, and doesn't feel it works for her. She's still pretty damn cute when she's not trying her hardest to look like a girl version of Maxx's hobo disguise, though.

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: [[spoiler:Sarah]] for Mr. Gone, but he was also very fond of [[spoiler:Julie's parents.]]

* GainaxEnding: Even for a comic as surreal as this, the ending is ''very'' weird and confusing. [[spoiler:In short, the world ends. Or the main characters are unable to continue existing in it due to their time unraveling. They all disappear and reawaken in alternative realities separate from one other. And Sara has permanently turned into an Is-like creature.]]

* TheGlassesGottaGo: Shortly after the Time Skip, Sarah inexplicably starts being drawn without glasses.
** TheGogglesDoNothing: She's oftentimes seen wearing some pilot goggles though, for some reason.

* HugeGuyTinyGirl: Semi-platonic version (despite some misunderstandings). Julie and The Maxx, The Maxx and Sarah, Sarah and [[spoiler:her Maxx]].

* MagicalLand: The Outback. While at first they seem to be some sort of HappyPlace or DreamLand which only exists in the minds of the main characters, it is also shown to have a certain effect in reality (Like for example, allowing the Isz entering into our world)and its said that dying there equals death in the real world. The Outback is also linked to the "spirit animals" of Julie and Sarah.

%%* MindScrew: Oh yeah. Especially after chapter 30.

* NewAgeRetroHippie: Sarah's mother, Tilly James. Julie subverts the stereotype, having elements of the archetype but breaking from it in other ways.

* ScaryShinyGlasses: In her first appearances, Sarah is often drawn in silhouette with only the blank lens of her glasses visible

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Strange InUniverse example: The character's name is spelled "Sarah" at first, before being written as "Sara" after the TimeSkip, but, bizarrely enough, her name is spelled as "Sara" in flashbacks during the second half. As well, Artimis/Artemus/Artemis's name is never consistently spelled right, and Julie becomes Julia repeatedly.

* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: Parodied with [[spoiler: Sarah's version of the Isz, which are "faeries" with ribbons, dresses, and pink bodies. But they're still carnivorous and extremely creepy]]

A homeless man only known as the Maxx fancies himself a superhero, but often ends up causing more trouble than he stops. The thing is, he ''does'' look like a superhero, though kind of a weird one. Even weirder is that he shifts between the real world and a world called the Outback (later more accurately described as ''an'' Outback) a.k.a. Pangaea (Julie's particular Outback has this name), a fanciful version of Australia populated with various bizarre wildlife.

** The cartoon keeps these shifts in art on top of adding in shifts of ''animation''. In a given scene, the animation can change between still frames, limited MotionComic style tweeting, standard TV-level animation, and bouncy, fluid animation at a whim; and often combines a mix of these styles at the same time alongside a liberal usage of [[TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects CGI for establishing shots and moving vehicles]].

* GeckoEnding: The animated series ended with the Maxx finding peace [[spoiler:in his own Outback, as the one he thought was his was in fact a part of Julie's psyche]] while the comics version continued the story without anything like this happening.

%%** Several comic storylines were also expanded for the better, including Sarah's introduction.
%%* AffablyEvil: Mr. Gone, sometimes

%%* AntiVillain: Mr. Gone, after issue 21.

%%* BaldOfEvil: Mr. Gone.

%%* BeardOfEvil: Mr. Gone, again.

%%* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: [[spoiler:Sarah]] for Mr. Gone, but he was also very fond of [[spoiler:Julie's parents.]]

%%* JunglePrincess: The Leopard Queen.

%%* SurrealHorror

%%* UrbanFantasy

%%* XtremeKoolLetterz: The title.

'''Gone''': Talk to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Descartes Descartes]], toots!

* DoesNotLikeShoes: It's safe to assume that Julie always barefoot unless explicitly shown to be wearing shoes in an earlier panel. At one point she spends some time in a dirty, trash-filled alley, and even steps on something sharp and hurts herself. All she has to say is that she should learn to watch where she's going when she's barefoot.
** Glorie is also barefoot in her appearances, and Sarah also has random barefoot moments.

* UnbuiltTrope: The Isz feel like a somewhat sinister deconstruction of other AdorableEvilMinions popularized in media such as the ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' series. Despite all their silly antics, they are [[NotSoHarmlessVillain genuinely vicious opponents]]. Also, their constantly appearing wearing funny costumes is not for mere comic relief, but also a way in which they are able to infiltrate among humans without arousing suspicion.

In 2018, IDW Comics released a crossover with ComicBook/{{Batman}}, "Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams". Around its original release it was the subject of a module for the obscure RPG ''Heroes and Heroines'', although this overlooked most of the deeper material of the source comic.

-->-- '''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N61dlbDfnSo Mr. Gone]]''' ''OpeningNarration''

In 2018, IDW Comics released a crossover with ComicBook/{{Batman}}, "Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams". Around its original release it was the subject of a model for the obscure RPG ''Heroes and Heroines'', although this overlooked most of the deeper material of the source comic.

In 2018, IDW Comics released a crossover with ComicBook/{{Batman}}, "Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams".

** To ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' (or possibly a TakeThat, with, "Death is hard an' cold an' ugly. Not some cute chick!"). Sam Keith worked on the very earliest issues of the comic. Actually, Death (''ComicBook/TheSandman'' version) appeared in a poster in the ComicBook.

* AgeAppropriateAngst: Sarah does whine a lot, especially in her introduction, but she ''is'' 15 and in a rotten high school.

** The cartoon keeps these shifts in art on top of adding in shifts of ''animation''. In a given scene, the animation can change between still frames, limited MotionComic style tweeting, standard TV-level animation, and bouncy, fluid animation at a whim; and often combines a mix of these styles at the same time.

* RapeAsBackstory: [[spoiler:Mr. Gone: not only he was molested by his drunk aunt as a child, she immediately [[FalseRapeAccusation accused him]] of raping her. Later, the crimes Mr. Gone reveals he has done to others.]]

* ArtShift: The Crappon Inna Hat dream sequence, both the comic and animated versions.

* DerangedAnimation: Moderately deranged animation, even more deranged writing.

* NinetiesAntiHero: Some of the goofy kids providing colour commentary ''think'' The Maxx is one of these. However the truth is something else.

* ShoutOut: To ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' (or possibly a TakeThat, with, "Death is hard an' cold an' ugly. Not some cute chick!"). Sam Keith worked on the very earliest issues of the comic. Actually, Death (''ComicBook/TheSandman'' version) appeared in a poster in the ComicBook.

** The animated series had WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead appear on a TV. Well, it was an Creator/{{MTV}} production after all.

* SurrealHorror

** Mr Gone’s MonsterMisogyny in general can be traced back to his childhood: [[spoiler:he was molested by his aunt, then later his first wife was a junkie that sold their infant son’s eyes for a box of morphine, resulting in the boy’s death; his second wife was a feminist who refused to take his abuse at the hands of his aunt seriously, on the grounds that “women almost never abuse men,” and then later kicks him out and forbids him from seeing his daughter after he opens up to her about a nightmare he had.]]

** Mr Gone’s MonsterMisogyny in general can be traced back to his childhood: [[spoiler:he was molested by his aunt, then later his first wife was a junkie that sold their infant son’s eyes for a box of morphine, resulting in the boy’s death; his second wife was a feminist who refused to take his abuse at the hands of his aunt seriously, on the grounds that “women almost never abuse men,” and then later kicks him out and forbids him from seeing his daughter.]]

* Mr Gone’s MonsterMisogyny in general can be traced back to his childhood: [[spoiler:he was molested by his aunt, then later his first wife was a junkie that sold their infant son’s eyes for a box of morphine, resulting in the boy’s death, his second wife was a feminist who refused to take his abuse at the hands of his aunt seriously, on the grounds that “women almost never abuse men,” and then later kicks him out and forbids him from seeing his daughter.]] While none of this in any way excuses or justifies his horrific actions, it helps explain them, at least a little.

'''Gone''': Talk to Descartes, toots!