Maxima

Publication History

Origin

Maxima imagining Superman as her warlord husband

Maxima once ruled a vast intergalactic empire based on the planet Almerac. She became obsessed with expanding her galactic reach and, most importantly, securing a suitable mate to father an heir for her glorious realm.  When her minions intercepted a subspace transmission detailing Superman's astonishing feats in the gladiatorial games of Mongul's Warworld, Maxima was sure she had found her man. Without further delay, she resolved to make the Man of Steel her husband. Superman rejected her advances on several occasions, expressing among other things that he did not wish to be a warlord, and that he had no desire to father despots.  As a result, her admiration turned to rage, and she became his enemy.

As time passed, however her fury abated and Maxima sided with Superman to repel Brainiac's intergalactic invasion of Earth. Maxima was later banished from Almerac and elected to remain on Earth, where she was a respected member of the Justice League of America for a while. Ultimately, her own superiority complex and lingering resentment over Superman's rejection of her led Maxima back to villainy and a partnership with the so-called Superman Revenge Squad.

Fickle as she was, Maxima never ever backed down from a fight. After the world-destroying being known as Imperiex destroyed Almerac, Maxima seemingly gave her own life so that Earth, her adopted home, would not suffer the same terrible fate.

Personal Data

Maxima presents herself to Superman

• Height: 6'2"
• Weight: 164 lbs.
• Eyes: Brown
• Hair: Red
• Citizenship: Almeracian
• Marital Status: Single
• Occupation: Queen of the Almeracian Empire, Adventurer

Known Powers & Abilities:

Maxima clobbers Doomsday

• Telepathy – Maxima can communicate with other intelligent beings telepathically.
• Mind Control – Maxima has the ability to place other people under her hypnotic control or paralyze them temporarily with her gaze.  She can project powerful illusions into the minds of others, and bend masses of people to her will.
  
• Super Strength – Maxima possesses a level of superhuman strength and stamina that puts her in Wonder Woman's and Superman's class.  Her constitution combined with her mental control is such that she can also suspend her own life functions temporarily.
• Super Speed – Maxima has exhibited a degree of speed in combat that goes well into the hypersonic.
• Invulnerability – Thanks to her Almeracian physiology, Maxima is nearly impervious to injury.  Her level of resistance to physical harm approaches that of a Kryptonian.
  
• Flight – By applying her telekinesis as a means for propulsion, Maxima is able to "fly".  She has shown the ability to maneuver herself, other beings, or objects through the air at escape velocity.
  
• Psychokinesis – In one instance, despite having been drained from a previous encounter with Starbreaker, Maxima closed numerous fissures on her homeworld by re-shifting continental plates together telekinetically.
  
• Teleportation – Maxima has the ability to teleport herself or others in and out of a battle over interstellar distances.
• Ferrokinesis – Maxima has exhibited immense telekinetic control over metals at the molecular level.  She can cause metal to melt with a thought, or rearrange the molecules of scraps into anything she chooses, such as weapons or armor.
• Matter Manipulation – In addition to metals, Maxima has shown the ability to alter other inorganic matter with a thought.  The extent of Maxima's skill in this area is unknown.  She has typically applied this power in transmuting her attire from civilian disguise, to ceremonial Almeracian garb.
  
• Forcefield Projection – Maxima can generate force-field bubbles to shield herself, and or others.  This skill allows her to travel unaffected by the intense pressures of the ocean's depths, or the vaccuum of outer space.
  
• Optical Force Beams – By firing her psionic powers out optically, Maxima can magnify the level of damage she causes to an attacker.  She can focus her optic beams to deliver immense concussive force, or searing heat.
  
• Duplication – Maxima uses a simulacrum of herself that possesses powers similar to her to act in situations when she cannot be present.

Other Media

DC Animated Universe

The animated version of Maxima

Smallville

She makes an appearance in an episode of Smallville, as an alien Queen seeking out her Kryptonian lover.