Random comic review: Animax #1

   Animax #1 by Srar/Marvel comics

I’m a sucker for comics that are written for the sole purpose of merchandising a toy line. I understand that some of the most beloved properties of the eighties such as Transformers, He-man, and G.I Joe are all examples of shamelessly pandering a product by way of the comic medium, but there where so many toy lines that attempted this marketing gimmick and fell flat. Most comics based on toys from the mid eighties were so clumsy in their approach, that even children were insulted. I can practically hear the thought process now. It probably went something like this, "Kids like super heroes and muscle cars, and kids love going to the zoo. Hmmmm, I got it!" Then Animax was born, and the rest is history.

The Animax comic is a prime example of a 28 page advertisment. As a toy, it was a cool concept, and I'm sure I would have enjoyed playing with them as a child. They were superheroes with big vehicles fighting nasty mutants. It wasn't a bad idea for a toy.

The comic however, looks like animal crackers on roids. The Animax team had the most ridiculous uniforms I’ve ever seen on a person in a comic, and that's saying a lot. The detailed artwork amplifies the absurdity, by making the team look like they’re wearing safari game trophies on their heads. These animal hats serve as telepathic links between the Animax (good vehicles), and their Road Tamers ( the human protagonists).

Animax takes place in the future when earth has stopped rotating, and as a result, has been split into two halves: the Light-Side and the Dark-Side. The mutants called the Car-nivores or Motor-Mutants ( take your pick) live on the outskirts of Peoplopolis, which is the only human city left on earth. Hence the name, 'People-op-o-lis.' For some unknown reason, the human race is in danger of being extinguished by these mutants. It never gets into the reasons why. The mutants are simply introduced as irrationally violent heathens, and its very clear that they are the bad guys of the story. There appears to be no motovation for their malicious actions. It's a very shallow "good vs evil" storyline, but not an uncommon concept for the time period.

Action Max is the leader of the Animax team, and the story opens with him dying. Later he’s cloned by an old lady with a secret laboratory, and then the lab is destroyed moments later, and the lady who gave Max a new lease on life is killed by the Motor-Mutants. All the while everyone is awkwardly saying the names of the heroes, villains and vehicles, as if they’re overtly telling kids what to ask for when they go to their local toy store. Not only are the costumes insane, but the names are even worse! Rhino Rammer sounds like a thinly veiled sexual reference, and Action Max's ( the stories main hero) name could not have been more cliché or generic if it tried. Also, the main female characters name is Heater Delight. Is she a stripper or a scientist. Come on guys. Really?

 Yes, I know Tiger. Heater Delight? I don't beleive it either.

The main villain’s name is X-tinctor, and he’s the epitome of the villain archetype from that era. He wore a helmet with horns, had bat-wings, and carried a whip. Which could easily be any villain from any toy line or cartoon from the same decade. It’s such an ambiguous look, it should be a public domain character if it isn't already. So, ol’ helmet-head leads a bunch of pigs riding motorized warthog tricycles, in an attempt to kill the clone of Max Action, the savoir of the Animax universe (or is it Animaverse). Humanitie's hopes for survival (and potential toy profits) are forever lost without Max.The last panel has Tiger (the guy with the tiger hat) running for the hills to find Max's lion-car as X-tinctor is storming the castle or fortress, or whatever. Does it even matter at this point?

  The opening panel showing Venger from the D&D cartoon, I mean X-tinctor.

The bottom line of the review: The artwork isn’t bad, and regardless of how crazy the costumes were or how generic the villains, It’s still an entertaining and nostalgic comic. If you happen to see this one in the quarter bin at your local shop, snatch it up. Its a good laugh, and well worth the read.

   The animal hats must be worn at all meetings. No exeptions!

I did some research, and to my knowledge, as of the time of the publication of this article there is only one other page on the internet ( other than here) that mentions Animax, and it was posted by the creator of the series, Mel Birnkrant (if you know of more Animax sites, please contact me so I can add more hyperlinks).

Mel makes a brief statement on his site, saying that “the toys where never produced, and the comic was dropped after the 4th issue." He continues," I have no regrets and consider this my best idea ever, and I'm currently perusing my one true passion, and that's making toys.”

Click here to visit Mel's Animax page, and here to see his most current projects.

If you remember this comic, or have any thoughts on this comic, share them in the comments below.
If you have a comic book (old or new) that you would like for me to review please contact me by clicking the links in the sidebar under Contact Joshua Jones.