The Maxx # 1 1933 NM-

The Maxx #1, published by Image Comics in March 1993, is the surreal debut of Sam Kieth’s iconic creator-owned series. It introduces a hero who exists simultaneously in the gritty real world of a generic city and a primal dreamscape known as The Outback.

Story Synopsis: "The Wild Man"

The issue introduces the titular character, The Maxx, a massive, purple-clad homeless man who believes he is a powerful superhero. He spends his time protecting a "social worker" named Julie Winters, though she mostly views him as a troubled vagrant she occasionally bails out of jail. 

• Dual Realities: The story constantly shifts between the "Real World," where The Maxx lives in a cardboard box, and "The Outback," a vast prehistoric landscape where he is the Rabbit-God protector of the Jungle Queen (who resembles Julie).
• The Isz: Small, white, sharp-toothed creatures called Isz begin to leak from the dream world into reality. While they are harmless in The Outback, they become predatory and dangerous in the city.
• Mr. Gone: The issue sets up the arrival of the series' primary antagonist, the serial rapist and dark mystic Mr. Gone, who has a mysterious telepathic connection to Julie and understands the nature of the Outback better than The Maxx does. 

Creative Team & Legacy

• Creator/Artist/Writer: Sam Kieth
• Script/Plot: William Messner-Loebs
• Colors: Steve Oliff and Olyoptics

The series is famous for its unconventional art style and for tackling heavy psychological themes like trauma, repression, and coping mechanisms. It was later adapted into a celebrated animated series on MTV in 1995.