The last time Sam Kieth’s The Maxx graced screens of any kind was in 1995 as part of MTV’s Oddities slate and has been absent among an ever-expanding slate of superhero cinema ever since. That is, until now. Channing Tatum is finally entering the world of comic book adaptations alongside producer Roy Lee (The Disaster Artist, How to Train Your Dragon) and his partner, Tal Vigderson.
First published by Image Comics in 1993, The Maxx follows the adventures of a box-dwelling, homeless man who, upon entering a second/alternate reality known as the Outback, takes on the body and persona of the titular character – a powerful, purple-clad hero. In the Outback, the Maxx is tasked with battling Mr. Gone and protecting the Jungle Queen, whose real-world counterpart is Julie Winters, a social worker often called upon to get the Maxx out of bad situations (i.e. incarceration).
The original Maxx mini-series aired 13 episodes and was one of the cult hits that separated MTV’s unique brand of animated programs from the standard fare of the time. It’s unknown whether The Maxx will return as a series or a feature-length film because decisions are still being made on the best way to proceed but the news of The Maxx revival has come at a time when ’90s nostalgia is running strong. If Tatum approaches The Maxx with the same rigor that he did with Gambit, the odds that comic fans will see this project come to fruition are very high.
