Smax
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Smax is a fictional character from the comic book series Top 10 written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Gene Ha, and published by the America's Best Comics imprint of DC Comics / Wildstorm. A Top-10 spin-off mini-series called Smax focused on the character.
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[edit] Biography
Jeff Smax (born Jaafs Macksun), is a gigantic, blue-skinned, white-haired, super-powered, half-ogre policeman who lives and works in a city populated entirely by super-powered beings. Smax originally hailed from a land based on fantasy myth and fairy tale legends, but had left after a horrifying failure during his career as a dragon slayer.
Smax is the muscle of Precinct 10, being both incredibly strong, and invulnerable to most forms of harm, including radiation. Smax is often fairly gruff and guarded amongst his peers, mostly due to the frequent loss of loved ones he has experienced in life (most notably his dear friend and late partner, Stochastic Fats). Though at first very hesitant to become friendly with his new partner, Robyn Slinger, he eventually begins to bond with her, even feeling a great need to protect her when she is attacked by Commissioner Ultima. The pair are not romantically involved, however, as Smax has an intimate relationship with his twin sister Rexa.
Smax is fairly resourceful in the line of duty, but he has a quick temper and is not intellectually inclined, often not thinking things through. Smax has experience using weaponry, including his Singing Sword, but he most often prefers using his fist, or his Strong Light energy (which emanates from his solar plexus).
[edit] Mini-series plot
The story deals with Smax and Toybox returning, via magical teleportation, to Jeff's magically enchanted homeworld. Smax, now a city dweller, seems embarrassed by his unsophisticated, sword-and-sorcery roots. They attend Smax's uncle's funeral where Jeff introduces Robyn as his wife, though no such relationship exists. At this point we are introduced to Jeff's sister, Rexa Macksun, dressed in the typical garb of a female fantasy barbarian such as Red Sonya and just as tall and physically impressive as her brother with the same blue skin and white hair.
It's revealed Jeff hasn't come home in some time, having originally left his world fleeing personal and literal demons. Once a great dragon slayer, Smax failed to stop an extremely powerful, shape-shifting dragon named Morningbright from destroying a little girl, who was burned to ashes in front of him, forever leaving a white burnmark of a hand on his chest. Further story developments reveal a sexual tension between Smax and his sister.
The two were born of a union between a monster and a human woman who died in childbirth. Their monstrous father would abuse them both and molest the sister, who would also find love and solace in her brother's arms. Smax would eventually kill his father so they could escape together. Though in their medieval homeworld their relationship wasn't particularly frowned upon, Smax developed conflicted feelings about the propriety of their love.
Smax, Rexa, Robyn and a smattering of fantasy heroes begin a quest to destroy the dragon who caused Smax to flee at first in an attempt for Smax to sort out his past.
The humorous tone caught most Moore fans off guard, as it was not quite as dark as his previous titles; still the series manages to touch on a number of dark topics, including alcoholism, prostitution and incest. The cartoony drawing style and "fractured fairy tale" content drew comparisons to Bill Willingham's "Fables" comic series, as well as Terry Pratchett Discworld novels (one of the Grim Reapers featured in Smax is revealed to be terrible at playing chess against peasants; similarly, the Death of the Discworld always has trouble remembering how the knights move).
[edit] Trivia
- Smax's blue skin, white hair and name may be a reference to or play on the Smurfs.
[edit] Publishing history
[edit] Individual issues
Smax #1 - "Isn't it Good to be Lost in the Wood..." (20 August 2003)
w: Alan Moore p: Zander Cannon i: Zander Cannon c: Ben Dimagmaliw
Smax #2 - "...And Isn't it Bad, So Quiet There, in the Wood?" (17 September 2003)
w: Alan Moore p: Zander Cannon i: Andrew Currie c: Ben Dimagmaliw
Smax #3 - "The Grasshopper Green Burying-Band" (15 October 2003)
w: Alan Moore p: Zander Cannon i: Andrew Currie c: Ben Dimagmaliw
Smax #4 - "Trip, Trip, to a Dream Dragon…" (02 January 2004)
w: Alan Moore p: Zander Cannon i: Andrew Currie c: Wildstorm FX
Smax #5 - "Please Leave Us Here, Close Our Eyes…" (24 March 2004)
w: Alan Moore p: Zander Cannon i: Andrew Currie, Richard Friend c: Wildstorm FX
All of the issue titles are Syd Barrett quotes.
[edit] Collections
The series was collected into a hardcover edition in 2004 and in paperback on November 2nd 2005.
Hardcover: ISBN 1-4012-0325-6 / Paperback: ISBN 1-4012-0290-X
