Character discussion : This Week 'Fortress Maximus'

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 11:04 pm

The UK annual story with Kord really got it wrong with Max as well, if I remember. Well, for a start, they called Galen Kord...

impy wrote:Speaking of headmaster bonding, Maxy and Scorpy seem to be the only decent characters were gain an understanding of in the Headmaster process. the only other detailed fleshy-TF bonding would be Fracas and nightstick, and Hi-Q

We also saw a bit of Highbrow/Gort, I think. Not much from the others, though.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:53 am

Fort Max:

Whined a lot for a big robot.

Only TF I know of to have things ripped out by another TF's teeth.

Ripped off his own head.

Killed himself (after ripping off his own head).

You have to give Furman credit for the protrayal of Max in late G1 and G2. He was trying to give some unity to the various incarnations of the character.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 1:46 am

city sized robots? - the only one in the comic is metroplex, and two more that size walking about.... eww

As for max beating Galvy because he kicks alot of ass, its hardley consitent is it.

I mean bumblebee gets taken out alot so perhaps he should just beat megatron because, well its just not fair!

Emperor_Starscream · Post by **Emperor_Starscream** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 1:46 am

he rons away from war..only to get ripped his head in nebulos...but ofering only his weapons is not enough? why lose his head? ... anyway, after that he is loked in a closet only to get his body used by gallen and later by spike who loked him in the closet again. but in g2 he comes out of the closet

to die ...well poor old max if he dont pass so much time in the closet lo locked by his headmasters he could be a better character

The Last Autobot · Post by **The Last Autobot** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:20 am

Well, I like Foft Max.

He fought in Cybertron for 4 Million years for Gods sake!!!! He had the right to abandon war after that incredible time of fighting. In the comic Prime involvement with the war didnt start 9 million years ago (like in the cartoon ), but only a few thousand years. So Prime fought only that time in Cybertron (a very short period in comparison) and he decided to personally lead a mission with a decadent crew to be am easy target for the decepticons (very wise

).

Meanwhile other autobot leaders stayed and fought like Fort. He saw a great amount of destruction and realized nothing could be done to stop tha war (as we, actually, have constantly seen).

Well leaving to Nebulos was indeed very stupid. But he strived to find peace.

In the Hm japanese series. Fortress was a Cybertron citizen but rather small and wasnt fit for war (like a few others) so they left from the planet, and later returned when Galvatron (shortly after Prime returned) attacked the planet to use Vector Sigma. The Hm in the series are actual Tfs who built bigger bodies (the size of regular tfs) to fight. Fortress is the "head" of a bigger robot (the one we know as Cerebros) who in turn was the head of Maximus. Decent character.

Post by **Best First** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:32 am

The Last Autobot wrote:He had the right to abandon war after that incredible time of fighting.

If that's his attittude he might as well have pissed off on day one.

Meanwhile other autobot leaders stayed and fought like Fort. He saw a great amount of destruction and realized nothing could be done to stop tha war (as we, actually, have constantly seen).

even if that's true the war holds the Decep's on Cybertron - the moment they have no opposition - teh whole galaxy gets pasted.

kevinjohnson999 · Post by **kevinjohnson999** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:19 am

Cheers for d welcome guys! It's good to hear some TF fans who aren't obsessed with the spurious nature of the cartoon mythology. I was always a huge fan of the comic, partic the UK one and the stuff written by Mr Furman. I know this is nowt to do with Fort Max but never mind.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:31 pm

kevinjohnson999 wrote:Cheers for d welcome guys! It's good to hear some TF fans who aren't obsessed with the spurious nature of the cartoon mythology. I was always a huge fan of the comic, partic the UK one and the stuff written by Mr Furman. I know this is nowt to do with Fort Max but never mind.

you see - all is good in the world.
the TF.net checklist.

Comic - check
UK Comic - check
Furman - check

Cartoon bad - check.

We have 4 out of 4 - good stuff!

veritech · Post by **veritech** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:34 pm

Rebis wrote:
veritech wrote:Did anyone else remember that in a few issues of the Headmasters Mini, Fort Max actually had the head of Cerebros!

What I mean is that Cerebros transformed into a a giant version of his own head!!! . . . which was then attached to Fort Max body.

Now, obviously this is a mistake on the part of the artist, but what a mistake! I cannot believe that any self-respecting editor would let this one get by!

As a kid reading this comic, I really had no idea what was going on when I saw this mistake . . . very confusing.
Well, to be accurate, Cerebros didn't exist in the comic until the 'new breeds' were on their way to Earth.

What you saw was Max with Cerebros' head: Galen becoming Cerebros' head, and Max putting it on, rather than Cerebros becoming a giant form of his own head.

Maybe someone on here can point me in the right direction: I read online an essay that talked about the multiple art mistakes in the Comics and specifically talked about the Fort Max wearing Cerebros head. does anyone know where I can locate that article?

By the way, this was an art mistake wasn't it? Why would Galen transform into Fort Max's head in one panel and in another issue transform into Cerebros head only to go back to Fort Max's noggin' an issue later?

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:37 pm

veritech wrote:By the way, this was an art mistake wasn't it?

Yes.

bobaprime85 · Post by **bobaprime85** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:54 pm

The Last Autobot wrote: leaving to Nebulos was indeed very stupid. But he strived to find peace.

Regardless of who those could get killed by his idiotic mistakes.....

I can understand the idea of a pacifist hating the idea of war, but really the guy should have had just one conversation with OP to learn how to deal with it. I mean, did he really think that just sticking his head in the ground would make it all go away? I would think that after 4 million years, he would have learned what a terrible threat the Decepticons posed to all life in the universe.

His death in G2 was the character's highpoint, to be honest. Not to say that if someone tried to get a better handle on him, he might be halfway decent. Something of a pacifistic counterweight to Grimlock's militarism maybe? Stick OP in the middle, and the situation could work, if some interest was given to the dynamic, which I don't think happened.

DarkConvoy · Post by **DarkConvoy** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:02 am

Actually in the Headmasters cartoon From Japan It was like that a bit The Heads were th actual Robots and the Larger Bodies were Like Armor they used this also in Powermasters. As For Fort Max I must say he was one of the Most Screwed Characters in Transformer History the Comics make him a whimp the american Comic make him uh no comment and the Japan Cartoon make him a head. I wish that he would be used more properly later if the comics come back (I HOPE) and as for his size Make him RID size as he is suppose to be a CITY

Stormwolf wrote:I liked the personality of Fort Max (and Scorponok for that matter).

But I think it sucked that we also lost 2 citybots.

I wish that Fort Max and Scorpie were redesigned.

The orgininal (toy) concept was like this:

Spike > Cerebros > Fortress Maximus

Zarak > Scorponok

My personal concept would have been like this:

Spike/Galen > Cerebros (as a mini Fort Max) > Fortress Maximus (citybot)

Zarak > Megazarak (a mini Scorponok) > Scorponok (citybot)

That way we would still have a smaller Transformer to interact like they did in the comics.

Dead Head · Post by **Dead Head** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:41 am

Low point: Fortress Maximus puts Galvatron on ice. It's hard to believe FM could best Galvatron, gibbering or otherwise. And it kicked another few rungs out from under Galvatron's feet - denigrating the great past exploits and reputation of Unicron's fearsome offspring.

--

There are huge problems (pun not intended) with the regular interaction of city-sized/planet-sized Transformers.

The interaction with normal-sized Transformers is either time-limited and jarring (example: autobot city on earth wakes up for five minutes at the end of a deadly battle to thwomp the Quintessons [when he could have been called at the start] then goes back to his nice long nap), or the interaction makes what would otherwise be an 'epic' encounter seem boring and repetitive (example: big-ass planet eater shows up to kick ass AGAIN, only to be defeated by that one magical glowing ball of doom AGAIN).

I don't like the character of Fortress Maximus (unlike Scorponok, whose character I do like), but would prefer him to be 'battle-station'-sized to aid the regular interaction with the usual cast of goodies and baddies.

(Having said I don't like the character of Fort Max, that does not mean I don't care for him. It actually says something positive for a character, makes them worthwhile story fodder, if they generate a reaction other than 'meh'. He's not "gripping" and he's not "meh". He's a mess, I guess. I'm sure he's a character worth delving into again for future stories.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:49 am

I dunno, even though FM has tended to be a pansy, I never judged him as harshly as most of you fellows on here.

I never thought he was anywhere near the whiner Rodimus was.

Just imagine if Rodimus had been a Headmaster in addition to being a whiner. He probably would have gone on to be a poet in a commune, always high on energoacid.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:38 am

I don't have that much issue with Max beating Galvy.

Basically once Spike and Max get their game on they have the full (alledged) advantages of the headmaster process working for them. I don't think it undermines Galvy's past at all - especially as its not the same Galvatron (so no God volcano juice has been applied).

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:04 pm

Plus Galvy had just crashed in a spaceship (which rendered everyone else inoperative).

Plus he was loopy.

There's that brief moment when he tries to regain compusure, and just as he does Max attacks, sending Galvy off the deep end again. I wonder if Galvy had the time to collect his thoughts if the outcome would have been different.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:23 pm

if he had his thoughts with him, he would just piss on him.

PMOP - Galvatron > Optimus > Megatron > fortmax... or somthing

Time Wars Scropynok, who must be of similar power levels to maxy-pads has apretty fair and decent fight with Galvatron, untill Galvy gets bored and stuffs his hand through him.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:30 pm

hmm - thing is i always feel Furman does a lot of chars over to make Megs and Galvy seem so hard in Time Wars...

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:34 pm

Yeah, he put the two of them over really strong, which undermines the latter credibility of their opponents...

And also makes it harder to believe when the time comes for them to lose.

Gah.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:29 pm

ok to be fair for all, (IMO Galvy can beat Magnus-Target 2006) Id say Galvy and Magnus are equal.

I would put good money on Magnus beating FortMax pretty convincingly

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:31 pm

I only see Powermaster Prime going toe to toe with Galvy.

But if Galvy met Prime during Target 2006... who knows?

Post by **Best First** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:49 pm

What about G2 Megs? Or Jhiaxus?

Huh - Furmy is a bit crap at Power levels, eh?

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:17 pm

id say galvy was as good as either of them, prolly more jhaxius.

Actually I just see him as the most powerfull of all TF, mainly because he will kill with no thought.

deff far harder then Maxy

ShadowSonic · Post by **ShadowSonic** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 11:20 pm

I put Galvatron at the same level as G2 Megs, which would mean he's weaker than Jhiaxus considering the beating G2 Megs got from him.

Stormwolf · Post by **Stormwolf** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 11:31 pm

I think that the Strength rating goes like this:

- Unicron, Primus

- Original Transformers, the Swarm, Underbase Starscream, Warworld Starscream

- Citybots

- Galvatron, Powermaster Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus (when enraged)

- G2 Megatron, G2 Prime, G1 Scorponok, G1 Fort Max

- Actionmaster Prime, Ultra Magnus (not enraged)

- G1 Optimus Prime, G1 Megatron, Thunderwing, Straxus, Rodimus Prime

The Last Autobot · Post by **The Last Autobot** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:16 am

DarkConvoy wrote:Actually in the Headmasters cartoon From Japan It was like that a bit The Heads were th actual Robots and the Larger Bodies were Like Armor they used this also in Powermasters.

The "heads" were the cybertrons who built the larger robots to fight. The Powermasters had a mind of their own on the other hand.

If that's his attittude he might as well have pissed off on day one.

But he didnt.

kevinjohnson999 · Post by **kevinjohnson999** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:17 am

spiderfrommars wrote:Plus Galvy had just crashed in a spaceship (which rendered everyone else inoperative).

Plus he was loopy.

There's that brief moment when he tries to regain compusure, and just as he does Max attacks, sending Galvy off the deep end again. I wonder if Galvy had the time to collect his thoughts if the outcome would have been different.

Yeah, this is a fair explanation of how Galv was beaten by FM, However, was he actually killed in this battle? If not, I'm sure Galv would recover and with no other Autobots left on Ezarth, what then? He has recovered from worse than a beating from Fort Max in the past, like when he crashes to Earth and takes on Centurion within 5 mins, or when he is encapsulated under lava for months....

Bouncelot · Post by **Bouncelot** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:31 am

Stormwolf wrote:Original Transformers

Original Transformers?

Stormwolf · Post by **Stormwolf** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:06 am

Bouncelot wrote:
Stormwolf wrote:Original Transformers
Original Transformers?

Liege Maximo and others like him.

Bouncelot · Post by **Bouncelot** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 11:06 am

Stormwolf wrote:
Bouncelot wrote:
Stormwolf wrote:Original Transformers
Original Transformers?
Liege Maximo and others like him.

Ah. I guess this also includes The Last Autobot.