Maxima (comics)
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Maxima is a fictional comic book character in DC Comics' Superman titles. She was created by writer Roger Stern and artist George Pérez, and first appeared in Action Comics #645 (Sept 1989)
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[edit] History
Oldest child of the Royal family of the planet Almerac, the fiery-tempered Maxima came to Earth in search of a suitable mate, leaving behind Ultraa, her betrothed. She and Superman are genetically compatible; she could give him what no Earth woman could - children. She was infuriated when Superman rejected her offer, saying he had no desire to father despots (Action Comics # 652).
Maxima later found herself reluctantly working with Brainiac who had destroyed Almerac with the Warworld. She turned against him, and helped Earth's heroes defeat him, subsequently joining a reformed Justice League for her own reasons after the League saved Almerac from Starbreaker. As a Leaguer, she helped in the fight against Doomsday, and when that version of the League disbanded, she became a member of Captain Atom's Extreme Justice. She considered both Captain Atom and Amazing Man as potential mates, but neither were interested. During the period of her flirtation with Captain Atom, an angry jilted Ultraa attacked him, Maxima eventually stopped the brawl and sent Ultraa back to Almerac.
She offered herself to Superman again, hoping that her recent good deeds would offset her earlier ruthlessness. (Superman: The Wedding Album, Man of Tomorrow #7) Superman, now married to Lois Lane, was even less interested in her proposal than before. Angry and humiliated, she joined the Superman Revenge Squad. She swore that Superman had rejected, humbled and humiliated her for the last time, and threatened that the next they met, it would truly be war (Man of Tomorrow #10).
However, in her next appearance, during the build up to the Our Worlds at War crossover, Maxima and the 'Chosen People of Almerac', as she phrased it, showed up in Earth's solar system where they met up with Superman and fellow JLA member, Green Lantern. Superman and Green Lantern were just beginning to investigate the disturbing disappearance of Pluto and the even more distressing engine ion trail associated with Warworld, when they stumbled across Maxima, her people, and the supervillain Massacre.
After a battle full of wounded pride, Maxima eventually conceded her position when Almerac's rendezvous showed up using a Boom Tube. She explained that she was leading her people to safety from Imperiex, the force that conquered her world. Massacre had seemed to meet his death back in Superman #106, however somehow Maxima came across him and described her association in these words, "Massacre serves only me now". To save her people, she allied herself with Darkseid's son, Grayven, who was taking them to regions unknown. This was also being undertaken without the knowledge of Darkseid. Maxima left Superman with these words: "Mark my words, when Imperiex comes for your precious homeworld, you'll see alliances you've never dreamed of."
All that Maxima warned eventually came to fruition as she and a myriad of other characters (both heroes and villains) formed alliances with Earth and Apokolips in an effort to destroy Imperiex (Man of Steel #115).
Maxima ultimately met her demise in an heroic effort to put her ship between the destructive beams of Brainiac 13's Warworld which would have resulted in the destruction of the entire universe (Man of Steel #117).
[edit] Personality and motivations
Overall, portrayal of Maxima varied by writer. In her appearances in the various Superman titles, Maxima was typically depicted as a haughty and shallow individual with only self-centered motivations, lacking any real depth as a character. By contrast, in her appearances in the comic book series Extreme Justice and Steel, Maxima was developed as an individual with a warrior's sense of honor and a strong countenance of noble pride that had its humorous moments in relation to other characters. This was evident during Extreme Justice #10 and #11, where Maxima hosted the bachelorette party for Captain Atom's fiance, Plastique, wearing a stylish and elegant "red carpet" dress while everyone else wore jeans to the event that was held in the party room of a humble Tex-Mex restaurant. This occurred again in later issues of that series, where she's visibly uncomfortable from seeing newly joined members, Zan and Jayna, gorge themselves on jelly donuts, hamburgers, French fries, and other assorted fast foods at a mall food court.
[edit] Powers and abilities
As a scion of the Blood Royale of Almerac, Maxima commands a vast array of powers that come from selective breeding and years of gene therapy. In her first face to face encounter with Superman in Action Comics #651, she displayed a high level of psionic powers, such as psychokinesis and a seemingly hypnotic mind control. Maxima possesses superhuman strength, stamina, and durability as well as some degree of superspeed as seen in Action Comics #651.
[edit] Alternate continuities
An alternate history where Superman marries Maxima after Lois dies was presented as an Elseworlds story in Adventures of Superman Annual #3, part of the Armageddon 2001 in which Waverider looked at possible futures of DC characters.
[edit] Appearances in other media
Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000)
Maxima appeared in the episode Warrior Queen. According to the official episode description, "Maxima, Queen of Almerac, chases Superman as a potential mate. She takes the Man of Steel up to her planet, where, as she prepares to marry him, Superman educates Maxima that a mate isn't something to take, but a person who is won over and loved." Maxima is not impressed and literally drags Superman to her planet, only to find herself deposed. Superman helps Maxima regain her throne, and she allows him to return home. Fortunately, whatever disappointment she has is quickly dispelled by the sudden arrival of the destructively rambunctious bounty hunter, Lobo whom she judges with giddy delight is an adequate substitute to woo in her violent way. She was voiced by Sharon Lawrence.
Many changes were made to the character in her animated interpretation. Her appearance changed from Pérez's exotic beauty (akin to his earlier creation, the Tamaranean princess Koriand'r) to something almost Kirbyesque. Her personality became much more bratty. Finally, of her myriad powers, only her strength, flight, metal manipulation (seen when she turned a piece of metal into a sword) and invulnerability remained. Moreover, her powers appear to be generated by her bracelets, rather than being natural products of selective breeding.
De'Cine (voiced by Miguel Ferrer) also changed from an inhuman alien cyborg to an Almeracian courtier.
