Maxie Zeus
Encyclopedia
Maximillian "Maxie" Zeus is a fictional character
in the DC Comics
universe
. He is a criminal mastermind who believes that he is the god
Zeus
from Greek mythology
. He is an occasional enemy of Batman
. He first appeared in Detective Comics
#483 (April-May 1979).
's underworld caused by the city's numerous insane criminals. He fights Batman on several occasions before being committed to Arkham Asylum
.
Because Maxie seems less dangerous than the Joker, Two-Face
, and other notorious Arkham inmates, Arkham's administrators do not commit him in the maximum security wing despite repeated recommendations from Batman to do so (per Batman and the Outsiders #14). Batman's concern is proven warranted when Maxie escapes to form a team of superhuman agents called the New Olympians. He attempts to kidnap Olympic
athlete Lacinia Nitocris and force her to marry him and become a mother figure for his daughter Medea. This plot is foiled by Batman and the Outsiders
, who beat the Olympians in a series of Olympic-style games.
An electrified, emaciated version of Maxie Zeus appears in the graphic novel Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
by Grant Morrison
and Dave McKean
. Batman finds him connected to the electroshock therapy room of Arkham Asylum
, perpetually receiving electrical currents. Here, Maxie's insanity more resembles a messianic complex and apparently exhibits coprophilia
- earnestly claiming he shall "fertilize the world" with his excrement, in tune with his belief he is the god Zeus.
Maxie is one of the villains that escape Arkham when Bane
brings down the walls of Arkham Asylum in the Knightfall storyline. Maxie's escape attempt is disrupted when he collides with a tree.
Some time later, however, he is drawn into a plot engineered by the children of Ares
— Deimos
, Phobos
, and Eris
to merge Gotham City with Ares' throne capital, the Aeropagus. The intent is re-establish Ares' rule on earth. Maxie is killed as a result of that plot and his sacrifice brought about Ares' return. However, their scheme is foiled by Wonder Woman
, Batman and their allies, and Ares himself banished his children back to Tartarus
.
In issues of Robin
, a vigilante called Violet is trying to track down an illegal casino named "Maxie's", with chips bearing a Zeus-like profile. Presumably, Maxie somehow survived his encounter with the Children of Ares. After Violet is discovered by Zeus's guards, both Robin and Violet manage to escape unharmed, as detectives that Robin was working with on the case raid the casino and arrest Zeus, who surrenders without a fight after an officer physically threatens him.
Maxie recently returned in Kevin Smith
's "Batman: Cacophony
". Apparently cured of his delusions, he had been hired by the Joker
to use Joker Venom on random people on April First as an April Fool's Day joke, but instead mixed the poison with ecstasy
to produce a new designer drug called "Chuckles" which he's been using some of the profits from to fund his empire as well as building his dream of preventing social segregation of foreign cultures in Gotham by creating a public school run like a private school. The Joker, angry that his creation was being used for recreation, swears revenge against Maxie. After witnessing the death of his nephew and a dozen other children when the Joker blows up a school, Maxie suffers a psychotic break and reverts back to his Zeus persona. After being rescued from an attack by the Joker at a nightclub by Batman, the Dark Knight visits Maxie again at his penthouse. After temporarily restoring Maxie's sanity with a massive dose of antipsychotics, Batman convinces him to confess to being behind the distribution of Chuckles and turn himself in to the police. This move is later revealed to be part of Batman's plan to lure the Joker and Onomatopoeia
(the latter of whom has been hunting Batman intent on killing him and taking his mask as a trophy) out of hiding.
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
In this graphic novel, Maxie appears as an emaciated ECT patient who has become addicted to the electrical current being fed into his body, believing it to be "fire from heaven". Maxie is even more insane than before, having developed messianic delusions
in addition to his god complex
. On the one occasion in the story in which he and Batman cross paths, he compares himself to the supreme gods in many mythologies, including Jesus Christ of Christianity. He also doesn't recognize Batman, warmly addressing him as "a pilgrim." In this novel there are evident references to the 1972 English comedy film The Ruling Class
, played by Peter O'Toole and, in particular, to character of "The Electric Messiah" which appears in this movie.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. He is a criminal mastermind who believes that he is the god
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
from Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
. He is an occasional enemy of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. He first appeared in Detective Comics
Detective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
#483 (April-May 1979).
Fictional character biography
Maxie, originally a slightly built, almost mild man, is originally a history teacher and a married man. Through unrevealed circumstances he loses his wife and his sanity. He becomes a crime lord, and uses his cunning and intelligence to rise to power amidst the chaos in Gotham CityGotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
's underworld caused by the city's numerous insane criminals. He fights Batman on several occasions before being committed to Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum
The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, commonly referred to simply as Arkham Asylum, is a fictional psychiatric hospital in the DC Comics Universe, usually appearing in stories featuring Batman...
.
Because Maxie seems less dangerous than the Joker, Two-Face
Two-Face
Two-Face is a fictional comic book supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. and is an enemy of Batman. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #66 , and was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger....
, and other notorious Arkham inmates, Arkham's administrators do not commit him in the maximum security wing despite repeated recommendations from Batman to do so (per Batman and the Outsiders #14). Batman's concern is proven warranted when Maxie escapes to form a team of superhuman agents called the New Olympians. He attempts to kidnap Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
athlete Lacinia Nitocris and force her to marry him and become a mother figure for his daughter Medea. This plot is foiled by Batman and the Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
, who beat the Olympians in a series of Olympic-style games.
An electrified, emaciated version of Maxie Zeus appears in the graphic novel Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is a Batman graphic novel written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Dave McKean. It was originally published in the United States in both hardcover and softcover editions by DC Comics in 1989...
by Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
and Dave McKean
Dave McKean
David McKean is an English illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician....
. Batman finds him connected to the electroshock therapy room of Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum
The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, commonly referred to simply as Arkham Asylum, is a fictional psychiatric hospital in the DC Comics Universe, usually appearing in stories featuring Batman...
, perpetually receiving electrical currents. Here, Maxie's insanity more resembles a messianic complex and apparently exhibits coprophilia
Coprophilia
Coprophilia , also called scatophilia or scat, is the paraphilia involving sexual pleasure from feces...
- earnestly claiming he shall "fertilize the world" with his excrement, in tune with his belief he is the god Zeus.
Maxie is one of the villains that escape Arkham when Bane
Bane (comics)
Bane is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1 , and was created by Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, and Graham Nolan. Bane has been one of Batman's more physically and intellectually powerful foes...
brings down the walls of Arkham Asylum in the Knightfall storyline. Maxie's escape attempt is disrupted when he collides with a tree.
Some time later, however, he is drawn into a plot engineered by the children of Ares
Ares (DC Comics)
Ares is a fictional character, a supervillainous God appearing in DC Comics publications and related media. Based upon the Greek mythological figure of the same name, he is the god of War and one of the major adversaries of Wonder Woman. He first appeared in Wonder Woman #1, volume 1, published in...
— Deimos
Deimos (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Deimos was the personification of terror.He was the son of Ares and Aphrodite. He is the twin brother of Phobos and the goddess Enyo who accompanied Ares into battle, as well as his father's attendants, Trembling, Fear, Dread, and Panic...
, Phobos
Phobos (mythology)
Phobos is the personification of horror in Greek mythology. He is the offspring of Ares and Aphrodite. He was known for accompanying Ares into battle along with his brother, Deimos, the goddess Enyo, and his father’s attendants. Timor is his Roman equivalent...
, and Eris
Eris (mythology)
Eris is the Greek goddess of strife and discord, her name being translated into Latin as Discordia. Her Greek opposite is Harmonia, whose Latin counterpart is Concordia. Homer equated her with the war-goddess Enyo, whose Roman counterpart is Bellona...
to merge Gotham City with Ares' throne capital, the Aeropagus. The intent is re-establish Ares' rule on earth. Maxie is killed as a result of that plot and his sacrifice brought about Ares' return. However, their scheme is foiled by Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
, Batman and their allies, and Ares himself banished his children back to Tartarus
Tartarus
In classic mythology, below Uranus , Gaia , and Pontus is Tartarus, or Tartaros . It is a deep, gloomy place, a pit, or an abyss used as a dungeon of torment and suffering that resides beneath the underworld. In the Gorgias, Plato In classic mythology, below Uranus (sky), Gaia (earth), and Pontus...
.
In issues of Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
, a vigilante called Violet is trying to track down an illegal casino named "Maxie's", with chips bearing a Zeus-like profile. Presumably, Maxie somehow survived his encounter with the Children of Ares. After Violet is discovered by Zeus's guards, both Robin and Violet manage to escape unharmed, as detectives that Robin was working with on the case raid the casino and arrest Zeus, who surrenders without a fight after an officer physically threatens him.
Maxie recently returned in Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
's "Batman: Cacophony
Batman: Cacophony
Batman: Cacophony is the title of a three-issue comic book limited series starring Batman. The series was written by Kevin Smith with art by Walt Flanagan, and ran from November 2008 through March 2009 due to delays with issue three.-History:...
". Apparently cured of his delusions, he had been hired by the Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
to use Joker Venom on random people on April First as an April Fool's Day joke, but instead mixed the poison with ecstasy
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
MDMA is an entactogenic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of drugs. In popular culture, MDMA has become widely known as "ecstasy" , usually referring to its street pill form, although this term may also include the presence of possible adulterants...
to produce a new designer drug called "Chuckles" which he's been using some of the profits from to fund his empire as well as building his dream of preventing social segregation of foreign cultures in Gotham by creating a public school run like a private school. The Joker, angry that his creation was being used for recreation, swears revenge against Maxie. After witnessing the death of his nephew and a dozen other children when the Joker blows up a school, Maxie suffers a psychotic break and reverts back to his Zeus persona. After being rescued from an attack by the Joker at a nightclub by Batman, the Dark Knight visits Maxie again at his penthouse. After temporarily restoring Maxie's sanity with a massive dose of antipsychotics, Batman convinces him to confess to being behind the distribution of Chuckles and turn himself in to the police. This move is later revealed to be part of Batman's plan to lure the Joker and Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia (comics)
Onomatopoeia is a DC Comics supervillain, an enemy of Green Arrow and Batman. He first appeared in Green Arrow #12 . He was created by writer Kevin Smith and artist Phil Hester...
(the latter of whom has been hunting Batman intent on killing him and taking his mask as a trophy) out of hiding.
Henchmen
The following have served as Maxie Zeus' henchmen:- Eddie -
- Fred Britt -
- Harpy - Iris Phelios was Maxie Zeus's girlfriend when he was in Arkham Asylum. She fought Batman after gaining super-strength and agility, but was bested by him.
- Joey -
- Morris -
- New Olympians - A group of Greek Mythology-themed villains organized by Maxie Zeus to affect the outcome of the Olympics only to end up fighting Batman and the OutsidersOutsiders (comics)The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
. It was said that they were given superpowers by the MonitorMonitor (comics)The Monitor is a fictional character created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez as one of the main characters of DC Comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths limited series....
. Most of them were killed by Gog as part of a murder spree aimed at self-proclaimed gods.- AntaeusAntaeus (comics)Antaeus is the name of two fictional characters from DC Comics.-Antaeus :This Antaeus was seen as a member of Maxie Zeus's New Olympians...
I - Member of the New Olympians. He had powers similar to the actual AntaeusAntaeusAntaeus in Greek and Berber mythology was a half-giant, the son of Poseidon and Gaia, whose wife was Tinjis. Antaeus had a daughter named Alceis or Barce.-Mythology:...
. He was defeated in combat by Geo-ForceGeo-ForceGeo-Force is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Markov is Prince of Markovia and the half-brother of Terra. Geo-Force is one of the founding members of the superhero group the Outsiders. He first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the...
. - Argus - Member of the New Olympians. He can telepathically see events unfold from great distances. Argus is also a poor fighter since he was easily defeated by Batman. His abilities make him similar to the actual Argus PanoptesArgus PanoptesIn Greek mythology, Argus Panoptes or Argos, guardian of the heifer-nymph Io and son of Arestor, was a primordial giant whose epithet "Panoptes", "all-seeing", led to his being described with multiple, often one hundred, eyes. The epithet Panoptes was applied to the Titan of the Sun, Helios, and...
. - Diana - Member of the New Olympians. She is a superb archer and swordswoman who also commands fierce dogs. Diana was defeated by KatanaKatana (comics)Katana is a fictional character, a superheroine that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 , and was created to be a member of the first Outsiders team by writer Mike W...
in a sword fight. Her talents make her similar to the actual ArtemisArtemisArtemis was one of the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. Her Roman equivalent is Diana. Some scholars believe that the name and indeed the goddess herself was originally pre-Greek. Homer refers to her as Artemis Agrotera, Potnia Theron: "Artemis of the wildland, Mistress of Animals"...
. - Nox - Member of the New Olympians. She controls a mysterious dark force that enables her to fly and can manipulate it to take on different shapes. She was defeated in a gymnastics match against HaloHalo (comics)Halo is a fictional superheroine that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 , and was created by Mike W...
. Her abilities make her similar to the actual NyxNyxIn Greek mythology, Nyx was the primordial goddess of the night. A shadowy figure, Nyx stood at or near the beginning of creation, and was the mother of personified gods such as Hypnos and Thánatos...
. - Proteus - A shape-shifting member of the New Olympians. Besides shape-shifting, he can also elongate his limbs. Proteus first used his shape-shifting powers to make himself look handsome (since he dislike his previous appearance) and even grow bird-like wings. He and Vulcanus were defeated in a deadly soccer match against Black LightningBlack LightningBlack Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.- Publication history :...
and MetamorphoMetamorphoMetamorpho is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is a founding member of the Outsiders, and has also joined multiple incarnations of the Justice League.-Publication history:...
. His abilities are similar to the actual ProteusProteusIn Greek mythology, Proteus is an early sea-god, one of several deities whom Homer calls the "Old Man of the Sea", whose name suggests the "first" , as protogonos is the "primordial" or the "firstborn". He became the son of Poseidon in the Olympian theogony In Greek mythology, Proteus (Πρωτεύς)...
. - Vulcanus - Member of the New Olympians. He wields a powerful hammer and can hurl high-temperature fireballs. He and Proteus were defeated in a deadly soccer match against Black Lightning and Metamorpho. His abilities are similar to the actual HephaestusHephaestusHephaestus was a Greek god whose Roman equivalent was Vulcan. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, the King and Queen of the Gods - or else, according to some accounts, of Hera alone. He was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes...
.
- Antaeus
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious EarthArkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious EarthArkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is a Batman graphic novel written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Dave McKean. It was originally published in the United States in both hardcover and softcover editions by DC Comics in 1989...
In this graphic novel, Maxie appears as an emaciated ECT patient who has become addicted to the electrical current being fed into his body, believing it to be "fire from heaven". Maxie is even more insane than before, having developed messianic delusionsMessiah complex
A messiah complex is a state of mind in which an individual holds a belief they are, or are destined to become, a savior. The messiah complex does not appear in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ....
in addition to his god complex
God complex
A god complex is an unshakable belief characterized by consistently inflated feelings of personal ability, privilege, or infallibility. A person with a god complex may refuse to admit the possibility of error or failure, even in the face of complex or intractable problems or difficult or impossible...
. On the one occasion in the story in which he and Batman cross paths, he compares himself to the supreme gods in many mythologies, including Jesus Christ of Christianity. He also doesn't recognize Batman, warmly addressing him as "a pilgrim." In this novel there are evident references to the 1972 English comedy film The Ruling Class
The Ruling Class
The Ruling Class is a 1972 British black comedy film. It is an adaptation of Peter Barnes' satirical stage play which tells the story of a paranoid schizophrenic British nobleman who inherits a peerage. The film costars Alastair Sim, William Mervyn, Coral Browne, Harry Andrews, Carolyn Seymour,...
, played by Peter O'Toole and, in particular, to character of "The Electric Messiah" which appears in this movie.
Television
- Maxie Zeus appears in Batman: The Animated SeriesBatman: The Animated SeriesBatman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
voiced by the late Steve SusskindSteve SusskindSteve Susskind was an American actor who appeared in numerous small parts in sitcoms, such as Frasier, Married with Children, Scrubs, and NewsRadio...
. He is depicted as a shipping tycoon with underworld connections. He carries a metal rod appropriately in the shape of a thunderboltThunderboltA thunderbolt is a discharge of lightning accompanied by a loud thunderclap or its symbolic representation. In its original usage the word may also have been a description of meteors, or, as Plato suggested in Timaeus, of the consequences of a close approach between two planetary cosmic bodies,...
(shown in the picture at right), which he uses to electrocute his victims into unconsciousness. In his debut episode "Fire From Olympus", after recovering from a serious financial crisis after turning to smuggling following a run of bad business, Maxie goes insane, develops a god complexGod complexA god complex is an unshakable belief characterized by consistently inflated feelings of personal ability, privilege, or infallibility. A person with a god complex may refuse to admit the possibility of error or failure, even in the face of complex or intractable problems or difficult or impossible...
, and starts to believe that he is the Greek god ZeusZeusIn the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
and his lawyer-girlfriend is the muse ClioCliothumb|Clio—detail from [[The Art of Painting|The Allegory of Painting]] by [[Johannes Vermeer]]In Greek mythology, Clio or Kleio, is the muse of history. Like all the muses, she is a daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne...
. When Batman arrives at the top of his building, Maxie believes he is HadesHadesHades , Hadēs, originally , Haidēs or , Aidēs , meaning "the unseen") was the ancient Greek god of the underworld. The genitive , Haidou, was an elision to denote locality: "[the house/dominion] of Hades". Eventually, the nominative came to designate the abode of the dead.In Greek mythology, Hades...
, as "no mortal can reach 'Mount OlympusMount OlympusMount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, about 100 kilometres away from Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks. The highest peak Mytikas, meaning "nose", rises to 2,917 metres...
" without his permission, and even calls the caped crusader his "brother". Maxie steals a giant lightning gun which he uses on "pitiful mortals" who dare to oppose him, although on a couple of occasions he seems to revert to normal. When Clio tries to stop him, he has her gagged and bound to the barrel of the lightning gun by his henchmen, though she is saved by Batman before she can be killed. Maxie is eventually subdued by Batman with help from Clio. While being dragged through Arkham AsylumArkham AsylumThe Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, commonly referred to simply as Arkham Asylum, is a fictional psychiatric hospital in the DC Comics Universe, usually appearing in stories featuring Batman...
, he looks at the prisoners watching him and believes that he sees a Greek deityDeityA deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
in their place: the JokerJoker (comics)The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
is HermesHermesHermes is the great messenger of the gods in Greek mythology and a guide to the Underworld. Hermes was born on Mount Kyllini in Arcadia. An Olympian god, he is also the patron of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of the cunning of thieves, of orators and...
the trickster god, Two-FaceTwo-FaceTwo-Face is a fictional comic book supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. and is an enemy of Batman. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #66 , and was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger....
is the "double-faced" JanusJanus-General:*Janus , the two-faced Roman god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings, and endings*Janus , a moon of Saturn*Janus Patera, a shallow volcanic crater on Io, a moon of Jupiter...
(actually a Roman godRoman mythologyRoman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans...
), and Poison Ivy is the goddess DemeterDemeterIn Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, and the seasons . Her common surnames are Sito as the giver of food or corn/grain and Thesmophoros as a mark of the civilized existence of agricultural society...
. His last line is "Now at last, Mighty Zeus is home", indicating ironically that he is now where he belongs: in Arkham Asylum.
- Maxie Zeus first appeared in The BatmanThe Batman (TV series)The Batman is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. It ran from 2004 to 2008, on the Saturday morning television block Kids' WB...
episode "Thunder" voiced by Phil LaMarrPhil LaMarrPhillip "Phil" LaMarr is an American actor, comedian and voice actor. One of the original cast members on the sketch comedy series MADtv, he is also known for his small, but memorable role as Marvin in Pulp Fiction...
. In this interpretation, he wears high-tech armor with gloves that generate electricity and is saneSanitySanity refers to the soundness, rationality and healthiness of the human mind, as opposed to insanity. A person is sane if they are rational...
for most of the part. The gladiatorGladiatorA gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the...
armor suit he wears is more similar to Roman mythology than Greek. It is also notable that this version of Maxie Zeus despises being called "Maxie" as it is shown that when Batgirl calls him that and he gives her a paralyzing electric shock replying "And the name is Maximillian!". Maxie here is an eccentric/deluded multimillionaire and owner of Zeus Industries, who is obsessed with Greek mythology. He runs for mayor against Marion Grange. Maxie Zeus rode in his airship New Olympus in order to make Gotham City his kingdomMonarchyA monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
after losing his election against Grange. Batman and BatgirlBatgirlBatgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
defeated him. When recovering and wondering what happened to New Olympus, Batman stated that it "became the New Atlantis." In "Rumors", Maxie Zeus later reappeared as one of the many villains captured by Rumor.
Video games
- Maxie Zeus appears as an enemy in the NESNes-Localities:In Norway:* Nes, Akershus, a municipality in the county of Akershus in Norway* Nes, Buskerud, a municipality in the county of Buskerud in Norway* Nes, Hedmark, a former municipality in the county of Hedmark in Norway...
Batman videogameBatman (NES)Batman is a video game inspired by the eponymous 1989 film. It was released in 1989 for the Nintendo Entertainment System and developed by Sunsoft. The NES version of Batman is a platform action game that features locations from the 1989 movie. It contains five levels culminating in a showdown...
. He rushes at Batman. He looks nothing like his other appearances.
- Maxie Zeus appears as an unlockable bio in Batman: Arkham AsylumBatman: Arkham AsylumBatman: Arkham Asylum is a 2009 action-adventure stealth video game based on DC Comics' Batman developed for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows. It was developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Eidos Interactive in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment...
. His cell (which contains a book on Greek mythology and has Greek symbols drawn on the wall) is found adjacent to the asylum's ECT room in the Intensive Treatment's Patient Pacification Center.
- Maxie Zeus's nightclub, The Gotham Olympus, can be found in Batman: Arkham City. Scanning the statue at the front's lightning bolt will unlock an Arkham City Story, explaining that Maxie has disappeared after a few electro-shock therapy sessions. Despite his status, his nightclub continues to run on schedule.
Miscellaneous
- In The Batman AdventuresThe Batman AdventuresThe Batman Adventures was a DC Comics comic book series featuring Batman. It is different from other Batman titles in that it is set in the continuity of Batman: The Animated Series as opposed to the regular DC Universe.-Overview:...
(a comic series based on the animated series), he escapes Arkham several times and teams up with villains such as Lex LuthorLex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
and Ra's al GhulRa's al GhulRa's al Ghul is a DC Comics supervillain and is one of Batman's greatest enemies. His name in Arabic has been translated in the comics as "The Demon's Head" and references the name of the star Algol. Created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams, he was introduced in Batman #232's...
to destroy Gotham. Each time, he is foiled by Batman and Robin, and returned to prison.
- In an issue of The Batman Strikes!, Maxie joins a group of villains headed by the Joker. However, it is revealed that this is a simulation created by Batman to train his sidekick. On a later issue, Maxie goes on a criminal rampage alongside RagdollRag Doll (comics)The Rag Doll is a fictional character, a supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. He was first introduced as an adversary for the Golden age Flash in a story published in Flash Comics #36...
, SpellbinderSpellbinder (DC Comics)Spellbinder is the name of three fictional characters that appear as villains in comic books published by DC Comics. Versions of the character have appeared on the animated series Batman Beyond and The Batman.-Delbert Billings:...
, and Everywhere Man, but is defeated by Batgirl.
External Links
- Maxie Zeus at DC Comics Wiki