The Maxx

Most of us inhabit at least

two worlds...the real world, where we're at the mercy of

circumstance, and the world within, the unconscious,

a safe place where we can escape.

The Maxx shifts between these worlds...against his will.

Here, homeless, he lives in a box in an alley.

The only one who really cares for him is Julie Winters,

a freelance social worker.

But in Pangaea, the other world, he rules the Outback

and is the protector of Julie, his Jungle Queen.

There, he cares for her.

But he always ends up back in the real world.

And me, old Mr. Gone...

Only I can see that the secret which unites them

could destroy them.

I could be helpful.

Ah, screw it!

I think I'll have some fun with them, first.

Huh.

The sounds in my head have started again.

Good.

It helps me think.

Focus.

My claws still feel wet.

Interesting.

Someone coming.

Someone dangerous.

I can smell the sweating leather and peppermint.

Out here everything's vile and filled with hatred,

like an infected boil.

But I can hide.

I'm good at that.

I recognize him...Ret'qark'n, one of the Mountain People,

God Clan.

Really mean.

I can hear the empty wind punishing the grass.

- Somewhere a bird is screaming.

Being near death always affects me...it makes my senses sharper.

Unfortunately Ret'qark'n always has luck on his side...

luck and clumsiness.

Yikes!

They say Ret-qark'n's club is made from the petrified heart

of an Air Whale and if anyone is smashed to jelly by it,

he awakes in Paradise, awash in oil and sweet milk,

being serviced by beautiful slaves.

But then again, maybe not.

Limitless pleasure is highly overrated.

There it is.

All I have to do now is reach it.

Run!

Run!

Run!

And leap!

I hurl through the air, my claws snapping the guarding

bars like rotten crickets.

And I'm...in.

A bit more to the left.

More.

More. There.

Now down.

Further.

Ah...

Perfect.

That's his accursed claw, the one that almost...

Now I want to see his other claw to brood over him as he sleeps.

Just as he brooded over me as I lay helpless, powerless,

before his bestial wrath.

Bring the scutter up.

Not down, you idiot!

Up! Up!

That's better.

Now I can think.

Now I can plan.

Hey, Maxx, wake up.

It's the same every Saturday morning.

You curl up watching cartoons and fall asleep.

I can't sleep at night.

I'm not gonna stand around and watch you sleep all day.

Oh, the Crappon in a Hat.

Must be the stupidest cartoon ever made.

I mean, the Crappon in a Hat teams up with Jean Paul Sartre

to fight nausea.

It sounds like a losing battle to me.

Cartoons today are so pretentious.

I could put an end to this silly little dalliance

right now.

Not that I would, of course.

I just don't operate that way.

Will you cut that out!

Everybody knows Iszes don't have eyeballs.

Okay, big guy, you sleep.

It's not like some wacky cartoon is gonna infect your brain

or something.

I'll make us some cocoa.

Just don't fall in, okay?

That's all I need is for you to turn into some kind of stupid

cartoon character...

Kinda stupid cartoon character...

Hello, Hello.

Yes, hello to me And hello to you

I am the Crappon And I live the zoo

And it's such a friendly Old zoo

And such fun You will enjoy it

Yes, you will, everyone Maybe two will enjoy it

Maybe three Even four

So, come visit my zoo And fun for all

Or if you prefer to curl up in a dumpster

festooned with old garbage I won't say

You can't, Sir But just lean back

Relax In that smelly old bin

And enjoy our show.

What am I doing here?

I was just at Julie's I'm sure that I was

And why am I sure That I was

Just because What has happened to me?

I'll all mottled And tattered

I've been outlined And blue lined