Maximus (also known as Maximus the Mad) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character has been depicted both as a member of and antagonist to the Inhumans. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #47 (February 1966).
Iwan Rheon portrayed Maximus in the Marvel Cinematic Universe miniseries Inhumans. Additionally, Mark Hamill, Nolan North, and Diedrich Bader have voiced the character in animation.
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Publication history
Maximus first appeared in Fantastic Four #47 (February 1966), and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
Fictional character biography
Maximus, an Inhuman, is the second son of two of Attilan's top geneticists: Agon, the head of the ruling Council of Geneticists, and Rynda, director of the Prenatal Care Center. Maximus was subjected to the mutagenic Terrigen Mist when he was an infant, but showed no visible mutations. As he matured, he hid his developing psionic powers from the community, but was less successful at disguising his antisocial tendencies.
When Maximus is about sixteen, his elder brother Black Bolt is 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 is 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 the Kree, the alien race responsible for genetically accelerating the Inhumans. In an attempt to stop the fleeing emissary so that he could be questioned by the ruling council, Black Bolt blasts the alien ship out of the sky. When the ship crashes to Earth, it lands on the parliament building. This kills several key members of the Genetics Council, including Black Bolt's parents. When Black Bolt assumes the throne, 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 the Alpha Primitives, subhuman worker clones who once served the Inhumans, Maximus creates the Trikon, three 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. Black Bolt later returns and takes back the throne, to Maximus's dismay. Maximus also encounters the Fantastic Four for the first time. Maximus, hoping to win back the public's affection, activates the Atmo-Gun device he has been working on, which 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 destroying the barrier, at the price of devastating Attilan's ancient architecture.
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.
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 highly intelligent and is a skilled inventor, with advanced knowledge of physics, mechanics, and biology.
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse
An alternate universe version of Maximus from Earth-295 appears in Age of Apocalypse. This version is a servant of Apocalypse and serves as his Horseman of Death before being killed by Sunfire.
Marvel Knights 2099
An alternate universe version of Maximus from Earth-2992 appears in the one-shot Inhumans 2099. After he kills the Inhuman royal family, Black Bolt is forced to kill him.
Ultimate Marvel
An alternate universe version of Maximus from Earth-1610 appears in the Ultimate Marvel imprint. This version is the fiancé of Crystal, though she refuses to marry him due to his insanity.
In other media
Television
Maximus appears in Fantastic Four (1994), voiced by Mark Hamill.
Maximus appears in the Inhumans motion comic, voiced by Brian Drummond.
Maximus appears in the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. episode "Inhuman Nature", voiced by Nolan North.
Maximus appears in the Ultimate Spider-Man episode "Inhumanity", voiced again by Nolan North.
Maximus appears in Guardians of the Galaxy, voiced by Diedrich Bader.
Maximus appears in the Avengers Assemble episode "Civil War, Part 1: The Fall of Attilan", voiced again by Diedrich Bader.
Maximus appears in Inhumans, portrayed primarily by Iwan Rheon and 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, the Inhuman royal family flees to Earth. Black Bolt later returns to Attilan and traps Maximus in a bunker there, leaving him Attilan's only resident.
Maximus appears in Marvel Future Avengers, voiced by Hiroki Takahashi in Japanese and Michael Sinterniklaas in English.
Video games
Maximus appears in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
Maximus appears as a boss and playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.
Maximus appears as a playable character in Marvel: Future Fight.
Maximus appears in Marvel Avengers Academy.
Maximus appears as a boss in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, voiced again by Diedrich Bader.