Maxwell Lord

Last updated
Maxwell Lord
Maxwell Lord.png
Maxwell Lord as depicted in Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1 (March 2005). Art by Phil Jimenez (penciler), Andy Lanning (inker), and Steve Firchow (colorist).
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Justice League #1 (May 1987)
Created by Keith Giffen
J. M. DeMatteis
Kevin Maguire
In-story information
Alter egoMaxwell "Max" Lord IV
Species Metahuman
Team affiliations Checkmate
Extremists
Justice League
Black Lantern Corps
Justice League International
Project Cadmus
Notable aliasesBlack King, Lord Havok
AbilitiesTelepathic persuasion

Maxwell Lord IV is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Justice League #1 (May 1987) and was created by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire. [1] Maxwell Lord was originally introduced as a shrewd and powerful businessman who was an ally of the Justice League and was influential in the formation of the Justice League International, [2] but he later developed into an adversary of Wonder Woman and the Justice League.

Contents

The character made his cinematic debut in the 2020 DC Extended Universe film, Wonder Woman 1984 , portrayed by Pedro Pascal. A new iteration portrayed by Sean Gunn will appear in the upcoming DC Universe (DCU) franchise, starting with the film Superman (2025).

Fictional character biography

Maxwell Lord IV is the son of Maxwell Lord III, a successful businessman and head of the Chimtech Consortium. Maxwell III set out to be a good example for his son by striving to always do what was right. [3] When Maxwell IV was 16, he came home to find his father dead in an apparent suicide. His father had discovered that his company had produced a carcinogenic product, and could not bear the guilt.

Lord's mother was convinced by her husband to employ a similar practice, cajoling heroic metahumans to help Lord. Thus, he sparked the plans to bring the Justice League, leaderless and broken after the Crisis on Infinite Earths event, under his exclusive control. [4]

Giffen and DeMatteis years

Lord initially worked behind the scenes to establish the Justice League, while under the control of a computer created by Metron. The computer wanted Lord to set up a worldwide peacekeeping organization as part of its plan to dominate the world. [5]

Lord talks with the Martian Manhunter on the need for a strong League in Justice League America #40 (July 1990). Art by Adam Hughes and J. M. DeMatteis. Maxmartian.PNG
Lord talks with the Martian Manhunter on the need for a strong League in Justice League America #40 (July 1990). Art by Adam Hughes and J. M. DeMatteis.

A later retcon changed his controller to the villainous computer program Kilg%re (pronounced Kilgore [6] ), which had taken over Metron's machine. A much later retcon mitigated the Kilg%re's and Metron's influence, stating that Lord already had plans for taking over the League with his company Maxwell Lord Enterprises, and that he would have pursued them regardless. [4]

Lord's ruthlessness at this time was illustrated when he set up a disturbed would-be terrorist as a villain for the League to defeat, resulting in the man's death. Later, Lord rebelled against the computer's influence and destroyed it.

Once free of the computer's influence, Lord is portrayed as an amoral businessman, but not a real villain. During the time that Giffen and DeMatteis were writing the Justice League, Lord is shown struggling with his conscience and developing heroic qualities, though he would remain a con-artist.[ clarification needed ][ citation needed ]

From Invasion! to Identity Crisis

Originally a normal human, Lord is one of many people on Earth gifted with superpowers during the Invasion crossover, when a Gene Bomb is exploded by alien invaders. This bomb activates Lord's latent metagene, granting him the ability to control the minds of others, albeit at great difficulty. [7] Despite being a metahuman, Lord never identifies as one. Instead, at the urging of his mother to act for the benefit of non-metahumans, he shifts his hatred for the generic "authority figures" who caused his father's death to the metahuman community. [4]

After he is shot and placed in a coma at the beginning of JLAmerica/JLEurope crossover Breakdowns, Supervillain Dreamslayer takes over Lord's body and supercharges Lord's power, allowing him to control thousands of minds at once. Using Lord's body and power, Dreamslayer almost forces the Justice League International (JLI) to disband. While possessed Lord forces the JLI to battle itself, the mortally wounded Silver Sorceress manages to contain Dreamslayer, and holds him within her mind as she dies, taking him with her. When Lord is freed, his power is burnt out.

Lord reflects on his time with the League in Justice League America #60 (March 1992). Art by Kevin Maguire and J. M. DeMatteis. Maxjl.PNG
Lord reflects on his time with the League in Justice League America #60 (March 1992). Art by Kevin Maguire and J. M. DeMatteis.

Later, Lord is diagnosed with a brain tumor and dies. Kilg%re downloads Lord's consciousness into a duplicate of Lord Havok that he later alters to resemble Lord's human body. [8]

Doomsday later crash lands on Earth, easily trounces the League and kills Superman. With Earth undefended, world-conqueror Mongul invades and destroys Coast City killing Lord's mother. This event further fuels his hatred and paranoia against the metahumans, as well as leading him to believe that not only can metahumans not be trusted, but that their personal battles and scuffles are enough to shatter world safety. [4]

Lord puts together several former JLI members, including L-Ron, Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, and Fire as the "Super Buddies", advertised as "heroes the common man could call". These stories are told in the six-issue miniseries Formerly Known as the Justice League in 2003, and its 2005 sequel, I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League. [9]

In Brad Meltzer's Identity Crisis (2004), Lord attends Sue Dibny's funeral and speaks to Booster Gold, further denting his already dwindling faith in superheroes. [10]

Infinite Crisis

Lord kills Ted Kord in DC Countdown #1 (May 2005); art by Phil Jimenez. Beatlemax.png
Lord kills Ted Kord in DC Countdown #1 (May 2005); art by Phil Jimenez.

Countdown to Infinite Crisis reveals that Lord is no longer a cyborg, and is a criminal mastermind who spent years running the JLI while gathering sensitive information about the world's superheroes, whom he considered a threat to the planet. Simultaneously, he sabotaged JLI efforts to render the superhero team as ineffectual as possible. At the end of the prologue special issue, he shoots and kills Ted Kord.

During this time, Alexander Luthor Jr., the son of Lex Luthor from an alternate Earth, gives Lord control of Brother Eye, a satellite system Batman created to monitor superhumans worldwide. Lord uses Brother Eye to create an army of OMACs to hunt down and kill all superhumans before Wonder Woman kills him by snapping his neck. [11] [12] [13]

Wonder Woman seemingly kills Lord in Infinite Crisis #1 (Dec, 2005); art by Phil Jimenez. WWMax.png
Wonder Woman seemingly kills Lord in Infinite Crisis #1 (Dec, 2005); art by Phil Jimenez.

At the "Crisis Counseling" panel at Wizard World Chicago, Dan DiDio explained DC's reasoning in using Lord's character in Infinite Crisis. After going through several possible characters who could be the "new leader for the offshoot of Checkmate", Maxwell Lord was suggested. Many of the editors thought that the idea made sense, as Lord had been shown to have a mean streak and to have killed previously. The idea was dropped due to the continuity errors, such as him being a cyborg, but they went back to it later after deciding none of the other possible characters were suitable. Didio explained: "We thought about that aspect of the story [where Maxwell was turned into a cyborg] some more. And then asked, 'Did anyone read it?' No. 'Did anyone like the idea?' No. So we moved ahead with Max as being a human, and having been a human, and not letting that small part of the past stand in the way of this story. We wanted what was best for Countdown [to Infinite Crisis], and for us, that meant that Max had to be a human". [14]

Blackest Night

In Blackest Night and Brightest Day , Maxwell Lord is revived as a Black Lantern before the Life Entity fully resurrects him. He kills Magog and captures Blue Beetle before the Justice League rescues him. [4] [15]

The New 52

In The New 52 and DC Rebirth relaunches, Maxwell Lord is the leader of Project Cadmus. He is possessed by Eclipso before Killer Frost and Superman free him. [16] [17] [18]

Powers and abilities

Maxwell Lord is a metahuman who can control the minds of others and force them to act on their subconscious desires. In his original depiction, he is born a human and transformed by the Dominators' Gene Bomb, but he is later depicted as having been born a metahuman. [19] [20] [21]

Other versions

In other media

Television

Film

Video games

Maxwell Lord appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure . [33]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justice League</span> Comic book superhero team

The Justice League, or Justice League of America (JLA), is a group of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #28. Writer Gardner Fox conceived the team as a revival of the Justice Society of America, a similar team from DC Comics from the 1940s which had been pulled out of print due to a decline in sales. The Justice League is an all-star ensemble cast of established superhero characters from DC Comics' portfolio. Diegetically, these superheroes usually operate independently but occasionally assemble as a team to tackle especially formidable villains. This is in contrast to certain other superhero teams such as the X-Men, whose characters were created specifically to be part of the team, with the team being central to their identity. The cast of the Justice League usually features a few highly popular characters who have their own solo books, such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, alongside several lesser-known characters who benefit from exposure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Tornado</span> Fictional comic book superhero

Red Tornado is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. As the second character to assume the identity of Red Tornado, he is the result of an android being merged with a sentient tornado by T.O. Morrow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power Girl</span> DC Comics superheroine

Power Girl, also known as Kara Zor-L, Karen Starr, and Paige Stetler, is a superheroine appearing in American comic books by DC Comics, making her first appearance in All Star Comics #58. Power Girl is the cousin of the superhero Superman, but from an alternate universe in the fictional multiverse in which DC Comics stories are set. Originally hailing from the world of Earth-Two, first envisioned as the home of DC's wartime heroes as published in 1940s comic books, Power Girl becomes stranded in the main universe where DC stories are set, and becomes acquainted with that world's Superman and her own counterpart, Supergirl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime Syndicate of America</span> DC Comics supervillain team

The Crime Syndicate are teams of supervillains from one of DC Comics' parallel universes where they are the evil counterparts of the Justice League. The original team was specifically known as the Crime Syndicate of America and is sometimes abbreviated as CSA. This first superpowered Crime Syndicate team appeared in Justice League of America #29 in August 1964. The primary successive incarnation, known as the Crime Syndicate of Amerika, first appeared in the 2000 JLA: Earth 2 graphic novel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vibe (character)</span> Fictional superhero from DC Comics

Vibe is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Barda</span> Fictional comic book character

Big Barda is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Mister Miracle #4, and was created by Jack Kirby. She was raised as a member of the New Gods, but left to become a hero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vixen (comics)</span> DC Comics superheroine

Vixen (Mari Jiwe McCabe) is a superhero created by Gerry Conway and Bob Oksner. She first appeared in Action Comics #521 (July 1981), published by DC Comics. Through the Tantu Totem, which allows her to harness the spirit (ashe) of any animal, past or present, and use its abilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justice League International</span> Group of fictional characters in DC Comics

Justice League International (JLI) is a fictional DC comics superhero team that succeeded the original Justice League from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. The team enjoyed several comic books runs, the first being written by Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, with art by Kevin Maguire, created in 1987. Due to editorial conflicts, the team's new makeup was based largely on newer characters, such as Booster Gold, and recent acquisitions from other comic book companies, such as The Blue Beetle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fire (comics)</span> Superhero in the DC Comics universe

Fire is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)</span> Comics character

Doctor Light is a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Kimiyo Hoshi is a distinct character from the villain of the same name. She has, however, crossed paths with the villainous Doctor Light on several occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snapper Carr</span> Comics character

Lucas "Snapper" Carr is a character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Gardner Fox and penciller Mike Sekowsky, and first appeared in The Brave and the Bold in February 1960. From 1960 to 1969, Snapper Carr appeared as a supporting character to the Justice League of America. The character occasionally appeared in comics featuring the Justice League from 1969 to 1989, when the Invasion! limited-series comic book gave him superpowers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formerly Known as the Justice League</span> Comic book superheroes

Super Buddies are a team of comic book superheroes in the DC Comics universe who appear in the six-issue Formerly Known as the Justice League miniseries in 2003, and its 2005 sequel, I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League. The team is put together by former Justice League bank roller Maxwell Lord as a superhero team "accessible to the common man". The team is considered more or less inept and incapable of being of any help by many. The team was created by writers Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, and artists Kevin Maguire and Joe Rubinstein.

<i>The OMAC Project</i> American comic book limited series

The OMAC Project is a six-issue American comic book limited series written by Greg Rucka with art by Jesus Saiz and published by DC Comics in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OMAC (comics)</span> Fictional type of cyborg in DC Comics

The OMACs are a fictional type of cyborg appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. They are based on the character of the same name created by Jack Kirby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Kord</span> Comics character

Theodore Stephen "Ted" Kord is the second Blue Beetle, a superhero who was originally published by Charlton Comics and later acquired by DC Comics. He was created by Steve Ditko and first appeared as a back-up feature in Captain Atom #83, with Gary Friedrich scripting from Ditko's conception and plot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. O. Morrow</span> Comics character

T. O. Morrow is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is responsible for the creation of the Red Tornado, Red Inferno, Red Torpedo, Red Volcano, and Tomorrow Woman androids, the last of these with the help of Professor Ivo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professor Ivo</span> Comics character

Anthony Ivo is a supervillain in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is a mad scientist who is the creator of the android villain Amazo and, along with villainous scientist T. O. Morrow, the co-creator of the android Tomorrow Woman. As a result of his thanatophobia, Ivo has used his own scientific discoveries to make himself nearly immortal and invulnerable, causing him to become monstrous in the process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dreamslayer</span> Comics character

Dreamslayer is a fictional character, a powerful DC Comics supervillain and part of the evil gang called Extremists. Like the other Extremists, he is an homage to a Marvel Comics character, in this case Dormammu. He first appeared in Justice League Europe #15, and was created by Keith Giffen, Gerard Jones and Bart Sears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lord Havok</span> Comics character

Lord Havok is a fictional character, a DC Comics supervillain, part of the supervillain team called the Extremists. He is a genius equipped with a powered armor. Lord Havok first appeared in Justice League Europe #15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professor Hamilton</span> Fictional DC comics character, created 1987

Professor Emil Hamilton is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually as a supporting character in stories featuring Superman.

References

  1. ↑ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 184. ISBN   978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ↑ Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 215–217. ISBN   978-0-345-50108-0.
  3. ↑ "Maxwell Lord (Character) - Comic Vine". Comic Vine. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Justice League: Generation Lost #20 (February 2011)
  5. ↑ Kirk, Jason (2010-06-13). "Who is Maxwell Lord? – Part I: Origin | the Captain's JLA blog". League.jmkprime.org. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  6. ↑ Flash vol. 2 #51 (1991)
  7. ↑ Kirk, Jason (2010-06-15). "Who is Maxwell Lord? – Part II: The JLI | the Captain's JLA blog". League.jmkprime.org. Archived from the original on July 13, 2010. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  8. ↑ Kirk, Jason (2010-06-19). "Who is Maxwell Lord? – Part III: The Fall | the Captain's JLA blog". League.jmkprime.org. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  9. ↑ Kirk, Jason (2010-06-27). "Who is Maxwell Lord? – Part IV: The Super Buddies | the Captain's JLA blog". League.jmkprime.org. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  10. ↑ Identity Crisis #1
  11. ↑ The OMAC Project (2005). DC Comics.
  12. ↑ Trinity #14 (September 2008)
  13. ↑ Kirk, Jason (2010-07-06). "Who is Maxwell Lord? – Part V: Checkmate | the Captain's JLA blog". league.jmkprime.org. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  14. ↑ "WWC: DAY 2 – DC Crisis Counseling Panel". Newsarama.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2009.
  15. ↑
    • Blackest Night #1, #3, and #8 (September 2009 - May 2010)
    • Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #1 and #3 (February - April 2010)
    • Brightest Day #0, #7, and #14 (April - November 2010)
    • Justice League: Generation Lost #1 - #10 (May - September 2010)
    • Power Girl (vol. 2) #15 (August 2010)
    • Power Girl #18 (November 2010)
    • Justice League: Generation Lost #13 - #19 (November 2010 - February 2011)
    • Justice League: Generation Lost #22 - #24 (March - April 2011)
  16. ↑ O.M.A.C. #1 - Office Management Amidst Chaos
  17. ↑ Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #1 - #6 (February - March 2017)
  18. ↑ Wonder Woman #764 (December 2020)
  19. ↑ Justice League: Generation Lost (vol. 1) #4 (August 2010)
  20. ↑ Justice League: Generation Lost #17/23 (2010-2011)
  21. ↑ Justice League (vol. 3) #12 (March 2017)
  22. ↑ Justice Riders
  23. ↑ Wonder Woman: Earth One #2
  24. ↑ Wonder Woman: Earth One #3
  25. ↑ "Maxwell Lord Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 24, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  26. ↑ "KryptonSite Scoop: Maxwell Lord Is Coming To Smallville!". Kryptonsite.com. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  27. ↑ Anthony D'Alessandro (12 July 2015). "Supergirl Finds Her Maxwell Lord: Peter Facinelli Joins CBS Show – Deadline". Deadline.
  28. ↑ "Supergirl Recap: Episode 112, Bizarro". SuperHeroHype. 2 February 2016.
  29. ↑ "Justice League: Mortal - What Really Happened?". 23 November 2018.
  30. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Leaked 'Justice League: Mortal' Script Review ~ Superhero Movie News – Comic Book Movie News 24/7". superheromoviesnews.com.
  31. ↑ Pantozzi, Jill (October 24, 2019). "Pedro Pascal's Wonder Woman 1984 Character Is Exactly Who You Thought He Was". io9 . Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  32. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 8, 2023). "Sean Gunn To Play Villain Maxwell Lord In James Gunn & Peter Safran's DC Universe – The Dish". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  33. ↑ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.