MAX Comics is an 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 its own rating system .
15-453: Marvel Graphic Novel ( MGN ) is a line of graphic novel trade paperbacks published from 1982 to 1993 by Marvel Comics . The books were published in an oversized format, 8.5" x 11", similar to French albums . In response, DC Comics established a competitor line known as DC Graphic Novel . The decision to launch the line was made in late 1979, after strong sales reports for the summer. Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter envisioned
30-548: A companies sub imprints (such as Ultimate Marvel or MAX by Marvel Comics ) to distinguish it from their main superhero lines. Sometimes a line can be published under an imprint but not always be part of a larger continuity within their imprint (such as The Punisher MAX line which is not in continuity with most other Marvel Max titles). A line can consist of several different titles, ongoing series, limited series, one-shots, annuals, specials or trades and be by many different artists but are advertised and marketed as part of
45-619: A new line of graphic novels titled Marvel Original Graphic Novel or Marvel OGN . Line (comics) A line is a concept in Western comic books which denotes a specific group of publications by a publisher. Sometimes taking place in a separate continuity or more loose continuity (such as Vertigo by DC Comics ) or exploring a kind of subject matter and or genre which the publisher does not want to involve in their main franchise or so called "universe". Often lines which explore more "realistic" or "dark" subject matters are published under
60-483: Is known not to include every graphic novel from this period. The line was divided evenly between author-owned and company-owned titles. Several characters were featured in an issue of Marvel Graphic Novel before receiving their own miniseries or ongoing series. The most successful of these was The New Mutants , which ran for 100 issues. Other series which were spun-off from a Marvel Graphic Novel are Dreadstar , Void Indigo , Starstruck , and The Swords of
75-438: The "books as being in the format of European albums, with cardboard covers, full-color, slick pages". In September 1980, Shooter indicated the line was delayed because of complications in putting together the contracts, which he was drafting in consultation with Marvel attorneys. In early 1981, Marvel hired Michael Z. Hobson away from Scholastic Books to be Vice-President/Publishing. His expertise in writing author contracts, which
90-544: 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 , written by Brian Michael Bendis . Several limited series were then created specially for the Max imprint, such as Apache Skies and Haunt of Horror , but
105-506: The Max imprint. Referring to an incident of strangulation with intestines in the 2001 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". 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 ,
120-474: The Swashbucklers . In addition, Star Slammers had a miniseries published by Malibu Comics and Futurians was a short-lived title published by Lodestone Comics . Daan Jippes Daan Jippes L. Sprague DeCamp Roy Thomas Dave Simons Bill Mumy William Gibson Keith Pollard Roy Thomas John Wagner Gerry Conway Mike Esposito In 2013, Marvel started publishing
135-460: The line. So called crossover events are often followed by a line of tie-in comics to the event miniseries from other unrelated titles to connect them. Dark Horse Comics has several lines which focuses on their licensed film properties such as Alien , Predator and Star Wars . The Aliens line consists only of limited series, one-shots and graphic novels due to the publisher's wish to allow artistic freedom. Dark Horse's Star Wars line
150-532: 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 who in 2002 became the first openly homosexual Marvel comic book character to star in his own magazine. The first edition of the Rawhide Kid's saga was called Slap Leather . According to a CNN.com article, "The new series pairs
165-685: 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 #4 ) was published in October 2024 ( cover date ). While some works such as 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
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#1732776701801180-430: The original artist, John Severin , now 86, with Ron Zimmerman, a television writer. Making the Rawhide Kid gay was Zimmerman's idea." The character's homosexuality is conveyed indirectly, through euphemisms and puns, and the comic's style is campy. Conservative groups protested the homosexual take on the character, which they claimed would corrupt children, though the covers carried an "Adults only" label. Since 2012,
195-499: The series according to the Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide . Overstreet continued numbering beyond the original "official" numbering, following a Marvel-published list of graphic novels. When the list stopped being published, Overstreet stopped trying to number the issues, halting at number 38, although they list 29 more issues published from 1983 through 1991, although the list
210-443: Was ended in 2014 due to Disney moving their Star Wars comics to Marvel. Dark Horse also publishes a line of comics which are creator owned but are connected through common oversight by editor Karen Berger . Most companies have several simultaneously running lines. MAX (comics) The MAX Comics imprint is not Marvel's first effort to feature explicit content in their titles. The company's Epic Comics imprint in
225-523: Was greater than Shooter's, was a key reason. A few months later, contracts with writer/artist Jim Starlin were finalized for The Death of Captain Marvel and Dreadstar . The Death of Captain Marvel , the first book in the line, was published in January 1982. Marvel numbered stories through 1985 up to number 20, but released many other stories in the same format that are considered unnumbered parts of
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