Editing Max (comics)

{{short description|Imprint of Marvel Comics}}
{{Infobox publisher
| name         = MAX Comics
| image        = Max_Comics_Logo.svg
| image_size   = 150px
| caption      = The logo utilized for Marvel MAX Comics
| parent       = [[Marvel Comics]]
| status       = 
| founded      = 2001
| country      = United States
| headquarters = [[New York City]], [[New York (State)|New York]]
| keypeople    = [[Joe Quesada]]<br>[[Axel Alonso]]<ref name=ABCeic>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=12539066 |title=Entertainment News, Celebrity and Pop Culture - ABC News|publisher=Abcnews.go.com|access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref>
| publications = Comics
| genre        = 
}}

'''MAX Comics''' is an [[imprint (trade name)|imprint]] of [[Marvel Comics]] specializing in comic book media aimed at adult-only readers. It was launched in 2001 after Marvel broke with the [[Comics Code Authority]] and established [[Marvel Rating System|its own rating system]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=24 |title=Marvel's New Ratings System... Explained! |work=[[Comic Book Resources]] |author=Jonah Weiland |date=July 5, 2001 |access-date=February 8, 2011}}</ref>

==History==
The MAX Comics imprint is not Marvel's first effort to feature explicit content in their titles. The company's [[Epic Comics]] imprint in the 1980s and early 1990s often featured stronger content than their mainstream imprint. However, the MAX Comics imprint is the first time Marvel has specifically produced comics with uncensored content. 

The first series to be published under the Max imprint was ''[[Alias (comics)|Alias]]'', written by [[Brian Michael Bendis]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lee|first1=Stan|last2=Quesada|first2=Joe|title=Marvel Chronicle: A Year by Year History|date=2008|publisher=DK Publishing|location=London|isbn=978-0756641238|page=307}}</ref> Several limited series were then created specially for the Max imprint, such as ''[[Apache Skies]]'' and ''Haunt of Horror'', but the majority of its publications were based around existing Marvel characters, such as [[Howard the Duck]] and [[Devil-Slayer]].

One Marvel character who was revived by Max was ''[[Rawhide Kid]]''<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/comic-book-first-gay-gunslinger/ |title=Comic Book First: Gay Gunslinger |publisher=CBS News |date=2002-12-11 |access-date=2009-03-21}}</ref> who in 2002 became the first openly homosexual Marvel comic book character to star in his own magazine.<ref name="CNN rawhide">{{citation|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/12/09/rawhide.kid.gay/ |title=Marvel Comics to unveil gay gunslinger |access-date=2009-03-21 |date=2002-12-09 |work=CNN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228173809/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/12/09/rawhide.kid.gay/ |archive-date=2009-02-28 }}</ref> The first edition of the Rawhide Kid's saga was called ''Slap Leather''. According to a CNN.com article, "The new series pairs the original artist, [[John Severin]], now 86, with Ron Zimmerman, a television writer. Making the Rawhide Kid [[homosexuality|gay]] was Zimmerman's idea."<ref name="CNN rawhide" /> The character's homosexuality is conveyed indirectly, through euphemisms and puns, and the comic's style is campy.<ref name="CNN rawhide" /> Conservative groups protested the homosexual take on the character, which they claimed would corrupt children, though the covers carried an "Adults only" label.<ref name="comics101">{{citation|last=Palmer |first=Joe |url=http://www.afterelton.com/print/2006/10/gaycomics.html |title=Gay Comics 101 |publisher=AfterElton.com |date=2006-10-16 |access-date=2009-03-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322195553/http://www.afterelton.com/print/2006/10/gaycomics.html |archive-date=2009-03-22 }}</ref>

Since 2012, the new works under the MAX imprint have been limited to the [[Punisher]] series. Marvel now portrays MAX as a rating indicating mature content, rather than a separate brand. The latest MAX issue (''Get Fury'' #6) was published in October 2024 ([[cover date]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/69363/get_fury_2024_6 |title=Get Fury (2024) #6 |access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>

==Criticism==
While some works such as ''[[Alias (comics)|Alias]]'' have received acclaim, the imprint has attracted controversy, with some critics considering some of the titles to be gratuitous in its use of mature or vulgar content. Former Marvel president and chairman [[Stan Lee]] openly criticized the Max imprint. Referring to an incident of strangulation with intestines in the 2001 ''[[Fury (2001 series)#Reception|Fury]]'' miniseries, based on the character [[Nick Fury]], whom he co-created, Lee said, "I don't know why they're doing that. I don't think that I would do those kinds of stories".<ref>James Adams, "Code Red in the New Comicdom", ''The Globe and Mail'', May 2, 2002, p. R9</ref>

==Titles==
* ''[[Alias (comics)|Alias]]'' #1-28 (2001)
* ''[[Apache Skies]]'' #1-4 (2002)
* ''[[Black Widow: Pale Little Spider]]'' #1-3 (2002)
* ''[[Blade (comics)|Blade]]'' #1-6 (2002)
* ''[[Born (comics)|Born]]'' #1-4 (miniseries, 2003; [[The Punisher (2004 series)|Punisher]] MAX origin)
* ''[[Cage (MAX)|Cage]]'' #1-5 (2002)
* ''Dead of Night featuring'':
** ''[[Man-Thing]]'' #1-4 (miniseries, 2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12531 |title=Aguirre-Sacasa talks "Dead of Night featuring Man-Thing" |date=13 February 2008 |publisher=Comic Book Resources |access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref>
** ''[[Devil-Slayer]]'' #1-4 (miniseries, 2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16622 |title=WW Philly: Devil-Slayer Returns in "Dead of Night" |date=31 May 2008 |publisher=Comic Book Resources |access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080602-maxs-devil-slayer.html |title=Warren Simons & Brian Keene On Max's Devil-Slayer |publisher=Newsarama.com |date=2008-06-03 |access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref>
** ''[[Werewolf by Night]]'' #1-4 (miniseries, 2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19247 |title=Swierczynski on "Werweolf By Night" |date=19 December 2008 |publisher=Comic Book Resources |access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref>
* ''[[Deadpool|Deadpool MAX]]'' 1-12 (2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/deadpoo7.htm#S4078 |title=The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators |publisher=Maelmill-insi.de |date=2015-06-28 |access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref>
* ''[[Deadpool|Deadpool MAX II]]'' 1-6 (2011)
* ''[[Deadpool|Deadpool MAX X-Mas Special]]'' one-shot (2011)
* ''[[Destroyer MAX|The Destroyer]]'' #1-5 (miniseries, 2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16082 |title=NYCC: Kirkman Talks "Destroyer MAX" |date=19 April 2008 |publisher=Comic Book Resources |access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=154261 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20091126034834/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=154261 |title=NYCC '08: ROBERT KIRKMAN ON DESTROYER MAX |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 26, 2009 |access-date=February 21, 2009 }}</ref>
* ''[[Doctor Spectrum (comic book)|Doctor Spectrum]]'' #1-6 (2004)
* ''[[Dominic Fortune]]'' #1-4 (2009)<ref>{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Ekstrom |url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/070910-DomFortune.html |title=Return to Fortune: Chaykin on Dominic Fortune MAX |publisher=[[Newsarama]] |date=July 13, 2009 |access-date=September 26, 2009}}</ref>
* ''[[The Eternal (comics)|The Eternal]]'' #1-6 (2003)
* ''[[Fantomex]]'' #1-4 (2013)
* ''[[Foolkiller#Mike Trace|Foolkiller]]'' #1-5 (miniseries, 2007)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=120373 |access-date=September 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519203358/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=120373 |archive-date=May 19, 2009 |title=Max'ing Out the Future: Axel Alonso Talks Marvel Max - Newsarama }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=120557 |access-date=September 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029033839/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=120557 |archive-date=October 29, 2007 |title=Gregg Hurwitz Talks Foolkiller - Newsarama }}</ref>
* ''Foolkiller: White Angels'' #1-5 (miniseries, 2008)
* ''[[Fury (2001 series)|Fury]]'' #1-6 (2001)
* ''[[Fury: My War Gone By|Fury MAX]]'' #1-13, also known as ''Fury: My War Gone By'' (2012)
* ''Get Fury'' #1-6 (2024)
* ''Haunt of Horror'':
** ''[[Edgar Allan Poe]]'' #1-3 (miniseries, 2006)<ref>{{comicbookdb|type=issue|id=41649|title=''Haunt of Horror: Edgar Allan Poe''}}</ref>
** ''[[H. P. Lovecraft]]'' #1-3 (miniseries, 2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=150798 |access-date=March 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208054457/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=150798 |archive-date=December 8, 2008 |title=Corben and Lovecraft at Marvel in June - Newsarama }}</ref>
* ''[[Daimon Hellstrom#Other versions|Hellstorm: Son of Satan]]'' #1-5 (2006)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=7208 |title=Shout at the Devil: Irvine talks "Son of Satan" |date=2 June 2006 |publisher=Comic Book Resources |access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://classic.newsarama.com/WWPhilly06/Marvel/MondoMvl/Alonso_Hellstorm.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-09-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017200950/http://newsarama.com/WWPhilly06/Marvel/MondoMvl/Alonso_Hellstorm.html |archive-date=2007-10-17 }}</ref>
* ''The [[Hood (comics)|Hood]]'' #1-6 (2002)
* ''[[Howard the Duck]]'' #1-6 (miniseries, 2002)
* ''[[The Punisher (2004 series)|The Punisher]]'' #1-65 (2004); later ''Punisher: Frank Castle MAX'' #66-75 (2008)
* Punisher MAX One-shots:
** ''Punisher: The End'' (2004)
** ''Punisher: The Cell'' (2005)
** ''Punisher: The Tyger'' (2006)
** ''Punisher MAX Annual'' (2007)
** ''Punisher: Force of Nature'' (2008)
** ''Punisher MAX Special: Little Black Book'' (2008)
** ''Punisher MAX X-Mas Special'' (2008)
** ''Punisher MAX: Naked Kill'' (2009)
** ''Punisher MAX: Get Castle'' (2009)
** ''Punisher MAX: Butterfly'' (2010)
** ''Punisher MAX: Happy Ending'' (2010)
** ''Punisher MAX: Hot Rods of Death'' (2010)
** ''Punisher MAX: Tiny Ugly World'' (2010)
* ''[[Punisher Max|PunisherMax]]'' #1-22 (2009)
* ''[[Punisher: The Platoon|Punisher MAX: The Platoon]]'' #1-6 (2017)
* ''Punisher: Soviet'' #1-6 (2019)
* ''The Punisher Presents: [[Barracuda (Marvel Comics)|Barracuda]] MAX'' #1-5 (2007)
* ''[[The Tombstone Blues|Rawhide Kid]]'' #1-5 (2003)
* ''[[Shang-Chi|Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu]]'' #1-6 (2002)
* ''[[Starr the Slayer]]'' #1-4 (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090620-heroes-starr-slayer.html |title=Heroes Con '09: Marvel's Starr the Slayer Returns |publisher=Newsarama.com |date=2009-06-19 |access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21671 |title=HeroesCon: Way & Corben Talk "Starr the Slayer" |date=20 June 2009 |publisher=Comic Book Resources |access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref>
* ''[[Strange Tales|Strange Tales II]]'' #1-3 (2010, only #1 is under the MAX label, #2-3 are Marvel Knights)
* ''[[Supreme Power]]'' #1-18 (moved to the normal [[Marvel Comics]] imprint in 2006 under the name of its predecessor, ''Squadron Supreme'')
* ''[[Supreme Power: Hyperion]]'' #1-5 (2005)
* ''[[Nighthawk (Supreme Power)#Supreme Power: Nighhawk|Supreme Power: Nighthawk]]'' #1-6 (2005)
* ''[[Supreme Power]] vol. 2'' #1-4 (2011)
* ''[[Terror Inc. (MAX)|Terror Inc.]]'' #1-5 (miniseries, 2007)
* ''Terror, Inc. - Apocalypse Soon'' #1-4 (2009)
* ''[[Thor: Vikings]]'' #1-5 (miniseries, 2003)
* ''[[U.S. War Machine]]'' #1-12 (2001)
* ''U.S. War Machine 2.0'' #1-3 (2003)
* ''Untold Tales of Punisher Max'' #1-5 (2012)
* ''[[War is Hell (comics)|War is Hell]]: The First Flight of the [[Phantom Eagle]]'' #1-5 (2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=142228 |access-date=March 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208054452/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=142228 |archive-date=December 8, 2008 |title=Nick Lowe on Marvel Max's War is Hell Series - Newsarama }}</ref><ref name=PW021908>{{cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6533463.html |access-date=March 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311091815/http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6533463.html |archive-date=March 11, 2008 |title=/404 }}</ref>
* ''[[Wisdom (comics)|Wisdom]]'' #1-6 (2007)
* ''[[Wolverine (comic book)|Wolverine MAX]]'' #1-15 (2012)
* ''[[X-Men: Phoenix - Legacy of Fire]]'' #2-3 (only issues #2-3 are under the MAX label, 2003)
* ''[[Zombie (comics)|Zombie]]'' #1-4 (miniseries, 2006)<ref>{{cite web |first=Arune |last=Singh |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=7209 |title=Marvel Fanboys: Mike Raichit Talks 'Zombie' |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=June 2, 2006 |access-date=2009-03-11}}</ref>
* ''The Zombie: Simon Garth'' #1-4 (miniseries, 2007)

MAX ''[[Ant-Man]]'' and ''[[Deathlok]]'' miniseries were both solicited, but were cancelled before their release.

Some of the titles such as ''Alias'', ''The Hood'', ''Wisdom'', ''Thor: Vikings'' and ''Apache Skies'' are considered part of [[Earth-616]], the main [[Marvel Universe]], while others like ''Punisher MAX'', ''Wolverine MAX'', ''Fury'', ''Deadpool MAX'' and ''Foolkiller'' take place in alternate universes.

==See also==
* [[Marvel Knights]], similar Marvel Comics' former mature-readers imprint
* [[DC Black Label]], DC Comics' current mature-readers imprint
* [[Vertigo (DC Comics)|Vertigo]], DC Comics' former mature-readers imprint

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{gcdb brand group|id=3198|title=MAX}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=imprint|id=4|title=MAX}}

{{Marvel Comics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Max (Comics)}}
[[Category:Publishers of adult comics]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics imprints]]