Mad Max

Origin

Max Rockatansky was a MFP (Main Force Patrol) officer who helped to keep the wasteland safe. He was the last line of defense against raiders and gang members, driving a V8 Interceptor. Max's reputation as an officer of the law spread like wildfire throughout the Australian Outbacks; however, Max paid little attention to his status as a hero and focused primarily on his family and friends. Max's history before the Fall is unknown.

Creation

Mad Max Rockatansky was created by George Miller as a the titular character in the 1979 film Mad Max. He has since been in a total of 4 Mad Max films and a Mad Max comic. He has since become a cult classic character and is highly recognized in pop culture.

Character Evolution

Max Rockatansky was originally a rather ordinary man who paid no attention to his reputation as a hero, focusing mainly on keeping his friends and family safe while surviving in the wastelands one day at a time. Max's attitude changed; however, when his best friend, wife and child were killed by a gang leader known as Toecutter. Once pushed past his breaking point he became an empty shell of a man and searched only for revenge, abandoning his title as a member of the MFP.

Since then Max has been an anti-hero who walks a thin line of morals. He generally tries to do the right thing; however, due to the nature of the world he was brought up in he can be harsh or violent in his doings.

Max also went from being a happy and energetic character to a man of very few words, preferring to let his actions speak for him.

Major Story Arcs

Mad Max

"They say people don't believe in heroes anymore. Well, damn them! You and me, Max, we're gonna give 'em back their heroes!"

--Fifi Macaffee

Mad Max made his debut in the 1979 flick Mad Max. Here he is seen as a popular member of the MFP, serving as one of their interceptors, the last line of defense between society and the criminals in the wasteland. Max is the MFP member to confront and take down the vicious criminal known as the Night Rider; a self proclaimed messiah and fuel-injected suicide machine, Max brings him down by ramming his vehicle thus causing it to spiral out of control into a mass of explosives.

These events cause Max to question if he wants to stay with the MFP, claiming that the only thing that separates him from the raiders and criminals is a bronze badge he wears. The death of Max's best friend, Goose, also factors into Max's views on what he's doing and the life he's current living. When Max attempts to quit his job his boss, Fifi, tells him to take a vacation and think on it. Originally an idea with good intentions it quickly turns into a trip from Hell.

Max quickly learns that he and his family have been stalked by members of the gang of which Night Rider was a member of, wanting revenge for their fallen comrade, they've picked Max's wife and child as targets. Max and his family make several narrow escapes; however, they catch Max's wife and child by surprise while Max is away and end up killing them.

This event changes Max forever, becoming an empty shell of a man he returns to the MFP and steals one of their more powerful vehicles, a V8 Interceptor known as the Pursuit Special. Max begins to track down and kill each member of the gang that targeted his family. In a series of close encounters Max finally prevails, ending his spree with the killing of Johnny the Kid after handcuffing him to a truck, giving him a hacksaw, and telling him he has ten minutes to cut his leg free from the cuffs or else he'll be caught in an explosion.

Max then drives his V8 Interceptor off into the sunset. Beginning his journey as a wanderer in the wastes.

The Road Warrior

"Men like Max... the warrior Max. In the roar of an engine, he lost everything... and became a shell of a man... a burnt-out, desolate man, a man haunted by the demons of his past, a man who wandered out into the wasteland. And it was here, in this blighted place, that he learned to live again."

--Narrator

5 years after the events of Mad Max, Max has been journeying the wastes, accompanied by a dog of which he has trained. Max is still fighting off raiders and criminals; however, it is now for the sole purpose of keeping himself alive. In an early confrontation Max defeats a small band of raiders; however, a pair of them on a motorcycle survive and return to their main group.

Meanwhile Max stumbles across a strange looking vehicle while looking for fuel. Unfortunately for Max the vehicle was a trap set by a man known only as the Gyro Captain. This man holds Max captive for a short time; however, he did not account for Max's dog who attacks the Gyro Captain thus enabling Max to gain the upper hand and take the Gyro Captain captive. In an attempt to bargain for his life the Gyro Captain notifies Max of a large supply of gas and fuel in a nearby location.

When Max and the Gyro Captain visit the location the Captain suggested Max sees the same band of raiders he fought earlier. The raiders attack a group of settlers from the fortified gas base and end up killing all but one of them. Max decides to use this to his advantage and he saves the last surviving member, bringing him back to his people in exchange for fuel. Sadly the man doesn't survive the trip and Max is held captive by the settlers.

Max, using his wits and observational skills, learns that the settlers are being threatened by the raiders and need a large vehicle to transport their surplus of fuel. Max, having knowledge of such a vehicle, makes a deal with the settlers to obtain the vehicle in exchange for fuel and supplies. Max eventually finds the vehicle he's been looking for, with the help of the Gyro Captain, and brings it back to the settlement.

Originally asked to help the settlers drive the vehicle, he declines; however, after being ambushed and assaulted by the raiders, he changes his mind and drives the truck. Engaging in a massive road war, Max helps lead the settlers out of their encampment and defeats the raiders and their leader, Humungus. This was the last time the settlers would see Max.

Beyond Thunderdome

"Now listen good! I'm not Captain Walker, I'm the guy who keeps Mr. Dead in his pocket."

Taking place 13 years after the events of The Road Warrior, Max wanders into a location known as Barter Town, led by Aunty Entity, a twisted dominatrix. In order to ensure his survival he must make a deal with her, he must kill the being known as Blaster, who has been causing trouble for Entity. Max accepts this deal and begins observing his target; searching for his weak points.

After studying Blaster for a long enough time he challenges him to a battle in the Barter Town arena, known as the Thunderdome. Engaging in a no-rules hand to hand battle, Max fights Blaster, originally losing until he exploits Blasters weakness to loud noises. Max begins wailing on Blaster using a large hammer; however, stops after his helmet is removed revealing that Blaster is a cognitively impaired man with the mind of a child.

Due to the fact that Max didn't kill Blaster the deal is broken and Max is removed from Barter Town. The nature of Max's removal nearly kills him; however, he is found in the wasteland by a colony of lost children who assume that Max is someone named "Captain Walker" who they believe to be their legendary savior. The children help nurse Max back to health and inform him that he is to save them and help them get to Tomorrow-Morrow Land on a Giant Metal Bird.

Max attempts to inform them that he is not who they think he is but they don't listen to him, thus Max joins them, realizing that he can use their help in order to prolong his survival. Max, with the help of the lost children, ventures back to Barter Town where he rescues the being known as Master, the other half of Master Blaster.

The group then locates a pilot who has a plane, something the lost children view as a giant metal bird. Max and the pilot help them escape and Max is left to wander the wastes once more.

Fury Road

"I tell myself, they cannot touch me. They are long dead."

After years of wandering Max is captured by the War Boys to be used as a blood bag. In the event of Imperator Furiosa's betrayal, Max is strapped to a vehicle driven by Nux to supply Nux with fresh blood. The War Boys are unable to bring down Furiosa and Max is able to free himself during the chaos. Max then attempts to hijack the war rig that Furiosa is driving; however, he fails and realizes he must team up with her in order to ensure his own survival, once again fitting the common theme of Max needing help (or to help) others in order to fulfill one end of a bargain.

Max's abilities behind the wheel and in battle make him a useful friend and ally to Furiosa as the two outrun the War Boys. The War Boys don't give up their chase and wind up following the group into a location known as the swamp lands. While in the swamp lands Max proves to be incredibly adaptive, as he ends up taking down one of Immortan Joe's generals, Major Kalishnikov, using only a knife and a can of gasoline.

After reaching what used to be the Green Place, Furiosa's old home & destination, he believes himself to be free. His morals get the best of him; however, and he decides to help Furiosa once more, this time to go back the way they came and conquer the Citadel, home base of Immortan Joe and his War Boys. On the trip back towards the Citadel Max and Furiosa are joined by the Vuvalini of Many Mothers, a group of all female wastelanders that Furiosa and her mother were a part of before being captured by the War Boys 7,000 days before. The Many Mothers and their combat expertise proves useful; however, many of them don't survive the harsh battleground of Fury Road.

While defending the war-rig Max is removed from the vehicle by one of the War Boys. He winds up in the vehicle of The People Eater and uses him as a bullet shield when Immortan Joe fires at him, thus resulting the death of The People Eater. Max also ends up fighting the Coma Doof Warrior as he tries to make it back to the war-rig, Max eventually makes it back, just in time to help Furiosa combat Immortan Joe and his son, Rictus Erectus.

During the battle Max and Furiosa are able to kill Immortan Joe; however, Rictus makes his way to the war-rig, causing Nux to sacrifice himself to give Max and Furiosa the time they need to make it back to the Citadel. Nux's sacrifice allows Max, Furiosa, Joe's Wives and the remaining Vuvalini members time to make it back to the Citadel and time for Max to tend to the injuries Furiosa received during their battle with Joe.

When the group reaches the Citadel a wide celebration breaks out. Max is last seen pushing through the large crowds of people, he makes one last glance of acknowledgement to Furiosa before he disappears into the crowd, once again wandering into the wastes.

Skills & Abilities

• Survivalist - Max is a skilled survivalist and has been living in the wastelands for many years. It is unknown where he learned his tricks; however, it can be assumed it was through experience.
• Driver - Max is a talented driver and has successfully driven a wide variety of vehicles such as the War Rig and his own vehicle, the Pursuit Special.
• Engineering - Max is skilled with repairing his own vehicle and designing weapons such as a bomb that'll go off if people try and scrap his car.
• Weapons Master - Max is skilled with a wide variety of weapons and firearms.
• Unarmed Combat - Max is a talented unarmed combatant; however, his style relies on brawling in which he is often hit.

Equipment

• Leather Armor - This armor was originally Max's MFP outfit; however, it has been modified and altered over the years. It has makeshift plates and pads covering it to protect Max from damage.
• Shoulder Pad - The shoulder pad is a permanent part of the jacket and is a replica of the trilogy version with some noticeable differences. The Rawlings replica plate is significantly thicker. The front of the plate in particular looks very rounded on the edges and the plate appears to be larger as a result of the extra material used to thicken the underside. Some of the plates were covered in leather. The soft arch padding has a significantly rounder protrusion at its apex and is devoid of any top stitching. The vinyl collar appears to be thicker. The underarm strap looks similar except for the buckle. Instead of a Rossiter-style roller buckle there is a plain flat center bar buckle.
• Tactical Vest - Max wears a tactical vest that was taken from The Bullet Farmer and his henchmen after he was confronted and killed by Max. It is filled with various magazines, ammunition, a gun cleaning kit and has a Chris Reeve Pacific knife attached. On the left shoulder is a medical nebulizer clear hose, the vest is modified and has extra pouches sewn into it.
• Pursuit Special - Max's original vehicle, a V8 Interceptor. It has been modified and altered over the years; however, it is often stolen by Max's foes. Max has rigged the vehicle to explode if outsiders try to alter or modify the vehicle without Max's permission.
• Leg-Brace - Max wears a metal leg-brace on his left leg due to the gunshot he revived during the events of Mad Max. This brace was constructed of tail-gate hinges from a utility truck, with an attached knee pad and leather straps.
• Boots - Max wears a number of different boots. In the Intro scene they are replicas of the Rossiter boots. After Nux steals his boots and jacket, Max the Blood Bag is fitted with a pair of short lace-up boots Slit manages to take one off his feet as he slips into the sandstorm. After Max wakes up in the sand and tries to free himself from Nux he takes his boots back. After Max finishes off the Bullet Farmer he comes back wearing modern tactical boots, which are Under Armor Valsetz boots in Timber.
• Double Barreled Shotgun - Max uses a Double Barreled Shotgun throughout the Mad Max films. He is seen with other weaponry depending on the situation, but the shotgun is the most common weapon he's used.

In Other Media

Films

Mad Max / Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior / Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome

From 1979 to 1985, Max is portrayed by Mel Gibson.

Mad Max: Fury Road

In the 2015 film Max is portrayed by Tom Hardy.

Comic Book

Mad Max: Fury Road: Max

A limited comic book series created by George Miller, Nico Lathouris, Mark Sexton and published by Vertigo. Serving as a prequel to the 2015 film of the same name, the series focuses on several characters from the film at various points in their lives before it. The third comic focuses on Max and takes place between the events of Beyond Thunderdome and Fury Road.

Video Games

Mad Max (1990 NES)

Mad Max is a post-apocalyptic action game developed and published by Mindscape for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990. The game is based on Mad Max 2.

Outlander (1992 Sega / 1993 SNES)

Outlander is an action driving video game with a post-apocalyptic theme. It was developed and published by Mindscape in 1992 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and in 1993 for the Super Nintendo. The most significant difference between the two versions is that the driving sequences are cockpit view for the Genesis version, but in the SNES version the player is given a third-person view of the car.

Originally it was developed as The Road Warrior based on the Mad Max sequel, however near completion Mindscape lost the rights to the license and the title was changed to Outlander to avoid legal issues. However the game still shares many similarities to the Mad Max film series.

• The Japanese Sega Mega Dive version, called Mad Max Outlander, uses the Japanese cover of the first film.
• The main character is dressed in a black leather jacket, pants and boots.
• His main weapon is a sawed-off double-barrel shotgun.
• In the SNES version, the rear-view mirror shows him wearing aviator sunglasses.
• Collects gas, ammunition, parts for his car, food, water and has to be aware of radiation to which he gets a Geiger counter.
• He drives a V8 Interceptor with the steering wheel on the right side.
• The dashboard warns when your low on fuel.
• The vehicle can get a dual overhead cam blower engine.
• Fights biker gangs and gyrocopters.
• If the character is killed, the game over screen shows the car wreaked, upside down and the character sticking out.
• The health bar has the name "MAX" on it, although this could be mean the max level of health.

Mad Max (2015 PC / PS4 / Xbox One)

Mad Max is an action-adventure video game set in an open world environment and based on the Mad Max film series. Max is voiced by Bren Foster.

The game is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, which features terrain like deserts, canyons, and caves. Players control Max Rockatansky as he progresses through the wasteland to seek revenge on a gang of raiders who robbed him, and to build the ultimate car, called the Magnum Opus. The game puts heavy emphasis on vehicular combat, in which the player uses weapon and armor upgrades on their car to fight against enemies.

The game features soft boundaries leading to an area called the "The Big Nothing", a theoretically endless place players can explore. The game's story is not connected to the film series.