Maximilian Jenius
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Maximilian Jenius (マクシミリアン・ジーナス Makushimirian Jīnasu?) is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Macross, voiced by Sho Hayami. In the new English Adaptation by ADV Films he is voiced by Chris Patton. He is known as Max Sterling in the Robotech English adaptation, where he is voiced by Cam Clarke.
Jenius is a young fighter pilot in Hikaru Ichijyo's (Rick Hunter in Robotech) Vermillion Team along with his inseparable friend, Hayao Kakizaki (Ben Dixon in Robotech). Although Hikaru initially has little confidence in this subordinate who has to wear corrective lenses on duty, that attitude is instantly dispelled when Jenius shows in his first sortie that he is a preternaturally talented ace pilot who is near invincible in combat. He is quickly recognized as the top pilot of the force and is allowed the privilege of having his personal fighter craft to be painted with blue markings as a mark of distinction.
Jenius' skill at piloting mecha became even more celebrated with feats that no other pilot would have thought of, much less attempted. The time when he infiltrated a Zentradi ship in his mecha and controlled it so deftly that he even managed to disguise it in the clothes of a Zentradi to pass for a native is a stand out incident.
Despite his reputation, Jenius endeavored to maintain a humble attitude both on and off duty, although he was not above an occasional egotistical musing in when he was off duty. He was also an incurable romantic in his youth which shows when he met his future wife.
That occurred when the top Zentradi ace pilot, Milia Fallyna, (Miriya Parino in Robotech) was told about this formidable pilot in the blue mecha and challenged him personally in battle. This led to a bizarre series of events where the two rivals would meet, fall in love, and marry after a knife-fight in the park.
By the end of the first Macross series, Max and Milia have a daughter named Komilia Maria Fallyna Jenius. (The daughter is renamed Dana Sterling in the Robotech adaptation.)
In Macross 7, Max becomes the captain of the Battle Seven and commander of the Macross Seven Fleet, though he is separated from Milia. The couple have seven natural daughters and one adopted daughter. It is also implied that he still has feelings for his estranged wife. Despite being about 50 years old, Max looks little older than he did in the original series. Character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto half-jokingly said that is the case "because he's a genius. Growing old is a state of mind for average men."
His name and trademark blue color for hair, uniform, glasses and personal mecha may have been inspired by the Prussian military decoration the Pour le Merite, also known as the "Blue Max" (the medal's nickname coming from Max Immelmann, one of the earliest German aces of World War One and the first pilot awarded). The lesser grade of the decoration was given to the most successful German pilots of World War One, including Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron.
