Max the Monkey^[1] is a character that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics. He is a mobian monkey and the guitarist for the Forget Me Knots.

Appearance[]

History[]

Past[]

Originally, Mina Mongoose was a solo pop-star traveling on her world tour at Maximillian Acorn's request to encourage supporters of the Kingdom of Acorn to keep up the fight against the Eggman Empire.^[2] During her tour, she felt the need to evolve from a solo singing career and gathered Max's support to join her new band.^[3]

Max the Monkey's personal life and his histories with two other individuals, Sharps the Chicken and Mach the Rabbit, before arriving at New Mobotropolis with Mina and their manager are unknown. He could have been living a shelter life hiding in a village far away from Dr. Robotnik's eyes or had the unfortunate fate of being an enslaved Robian wandering the world during the First and Second Robotnik War, prior to joining Mina's band.

It was likely Mina's promising fame as a singer and her rallying tour against the Eggman Empire that must have convinced Max to lend her his talents.

Celebrating the "Fall" of the Eggman Empire[]

After the Freedom Fighters took down Doctor Eggman at the Eggdome,^[4] all the citizens of the kingdom thought they can finally breathe in peace, especially right after losing Knothole to the Egg Fleet^[5] and moving to New Mobotropolis.^[6] The people immediately went into celebrating the "fall" of the Eggman Empire and debuted the band Forget Me Knots in New Mobotropolis Coliseum. The singer started hyping the crowd up and Max prepared to play his part but the whole performance was interrupted by a lightning bolt cast by Monkey Khan with dark storm clouds, cancelling the entire event.^[7]

Iron Dominion's Invasion[]

Main article: Iron Dominion Takeover

Max was in New Mobotropolis when the Iron Dominion invaded the city and used Nicole against the Kingdom of Acorn. It's unknown if he was one of the residents who evacuated to Angel Island^[8] or was captured by the Iron Dominion, whom were intended to legionize the citizens into the Eggman Empire.^[9] Either way, Nicole's brainwash by the Iron Queen left a terrifying impression on Max.

Making a Statement[]

Weeks after the Iron Dominion was defeated, Max was called by his manager for a new song but him and his other band mates, Sharps the Chicken and Mach the Rabbit, were troubled with Ash's direction for it. They were dishearten by the hostile tone from the lyrics regarding the Freedom Fighter Nicole. She is the reason the citizens of the Kingdom of Acorn has New Mobotropolis after the Egg Fleet destroyed Knothole Village.^[5] Max wants to play music for fun, not make songs to send inciting messages. The others agree and want no part of what Ash is seemingly ordering them to do.

However, the song was not Ash's idea. Mina Mongoose walked in and revealed she was behind the lyrics. Mina had been suffering terrible nightmares over her experience from the Iron Dominion's takeover, specifically visions of Nicole taking her in her sleep, causing her to be paranoid of the dangers of an unchecked Nicole running the entire city and frighten by the idea of her losing control again.^[10] As if continuing a previous conversation, Mina explains to Max and the others she wants change and believes their music can make it happen.

Max seemingly agrees with her intent but doesn't understand why the Forget Me Knots need to do this. Mina responses bluntly about her urgency; if Nicole were to lose control again, she could easily use her Nanites to turn their instruments and house into eating them, making Max, Sharps and Mach react poorly at the thought. With that in agreement, Max and the Forget Me Knots spent the next 3 weeks preparing for their concert.^[11]

Changing Tempo[]

As soon as the song is finished, the day of the concert arrived at the New Mobotropolis Coliseum. The entire city was there in attendance, with at least a few of the heroes, Vector, Espio, Sonic and Sally, who the latter two were joined by Nicole. New Mobotropolis was likely excited to see the band's performance when they missed out their debut.^[7] Unfortunately, the event attracted the curiosity from villains known as Ixis Naugus and Geoffrey St. John, emerging from the shadows. These two coup conspirators were preparing to usurp Elias Acorn's authority for the throne.

The Forget Me Knots met in the band's trailer right before starting. Max, with clench, hyped hand, was excited and ready to go. Tonight isn't a normal concert for the band, as they were about to do something risky. Mina Mongoose felt she needed to give a pep talk prior to their performance. Tonight they will turn heads, change minds and make a difference! Along with Sharps and Mach, Max response to that with a mighty: "Yeah!" in collective unison, before making his way on stage.

As the crowd chatted her name, Mina gave a short message to the audience and then directed the bassist Sharps the Chicken to begin the concert with "Hit it!" and began their newly-made song; I Can't Always Be Jumping At Shadows! The audience became instantly mesmerize! The band's radically new music seems to have worked, and glued everyone's attention. Sonic instantly enjoyed it, with Sally and Nicole taken aback but found themselves getting into rhythm.

During the course of the song, Ixis Naugus noticed Forget Me Knots' fear of Nicole in the music. Showing a moment of his wit, Naugus casted a spell to enhance the emotions behind the music being received by the public. This caused the already looming but hidden concerns of Nicole and her control over the Nanites to emerge among the citizens of New Mobotropolis, who all also had experienced the Iron Dominion Takeover. Nicole stopped enjoying the song as she recognized the lyrics were about her and reacted with horror and misery to Mina's feelings.

When the song was over, Mina took the opportunity to voice their concerns with their platform over New Mobotropolis' public safety. The recent invasion exposed a weakness of having a powerful but vulnerable A.I. running the city unchecked and a solution is needed from their government, which there has been none about Nicole. Mina exclaims the government is elected by the people, so they have to hear their concerns, which was Mina's entire point for tonight's concert. Her actions inspired an energize outcry among the audience, much to the band's goal.

While Max and the others thought leading this reform was all the Forget Me Knots's doing, Naugus was hidden in the shadows. He watched and cackled as he plotted over how to use the Forget Me Knots' message on Nicole to take power from the Royal Acorn Family and reclaim his self-proclaimed kingdom.^[12]

Aftermath of the Concert[]

After the event was over, the audience followed the Forget Me Knots to celebrate their performance. As the band retreated to their trailer, Max stopped at the doorway. Mina Mongoose was busy talking to Ash to notice but he nervously backed away and the others followed his lead. Sonic the Hedgehog and Sally Acorn were in there and judging by Max's reaction, they weren't happy. Since he didn't know the heroes well enough for a confrontation, Max informed Mina of their trailer's intruders and stayed behind along with the bandmates who also didn't know them. They waited together outside while Mina, Ash, Sonic and Sally sorted things out.^[12]

As the days continued on, Mina was witnessing more unrest around the city since the band's performance. A few public disturbances, such as rudely interrupting Sonic and Sally's date and getting into fights with each other, had started popping up within the citizens. Even if these were the natural consequences of her actions, this growing hostile environment in the city wasn't what she was wanting their music to create. Unbeknownst to her, the furthering escalation was caused by Ixis Naugus' interference.^[13]

In the next few days, Mina held a gathering for the public along with the Freedom Fighters watching with a closer eye. Mina was likely feeling responsible for the general disturbances since their earlier showing and gathered Max and the others for a surprise performance to lighten the mood.

Despite the Forget Me Knots' attempt to make things better, the influence of Ixis Naugus would snatch that future away. Right as Mina Mongoose began the announcement to get things started, Geoffrey St. John rushed past Sonic the Hedgehog and leap onstage. He launched on the radical campaign of the dangers of Nicole running their homes, denouncing the current ruler Elias Acorn and the whole family for allowing it to happen at all, and establishing his master as the true king. The villains aim to capitalize on the dissatisfaction that have existed since first losing Old Mobotropolis under the Royal Acorn family's rule.

Mina tried to say something but Geoffrey simply shut her down. Traveling as ghostly gas and super speeding out ahead of Sonic, Ixis Naugus himself appeared on stage and any hope the Forget Me Knots had for control over the situation ended there, as Max retreated to safety.^[14]

Raising Positivity in New Mobotropolis[]

Max would not show up for a while after the day Geoffrey St. John and Ixis Naugus took over the Kingdom of Acorn using the people's awakened unrest.^[15] The citizens quickly learned to deal with their new ruler and some happily did so in ignorance. A long time after Team Fighters left for good to chase the Death Egg for Mecha Sally, Mina Mongoose prepared another concert at New Mobotropolis Coliseum.

Times have gotten really bad and Mina felt guilty of her song's message, fueled by emotion, that led to Nicole's isolation. After a moment of heart to heart, Nicole forgave Mina. Feeling relieved by Nicole's judgement, Mina excitedly tells her she is making a new song to get her back from her banishment and recreate the band's magic to change the public's minds. Nicole says she looks forward to it.^[16]

Happy to oblige, Max worked on the new song with the Forget Me Knots. The day arrived, with the king Ixis Naugus and his stooge Geoffrey in the audience. The evil king thinks the Forget Me Knots would calm the growing desire for Nicole to return from her banishment and take power away from him. Naugus assumes the band would have the same message as how their last concert gave him a way to win over the people.

Happy to disappoint, Mina Mongoose grabbed the mic and informed the public this concert's theme is about love, understanding, and forgiveness. She confirmed the first song is in honor of helping Nicole, which the whole thing sickens Naugus. However, the Tails Doll snuck away from Cream the Rabbit and travelled under the stage. It unleashed an attack, taking Max by surprise as he got electrocuted. Team Freedom rushed in there and saved Max and his band mates from the exploding stage.

Mina took her mic and gave a loud shout out to the heroics of Team Freedom, while Ixis Naugus and the last of Geoffrey St. John retreat into the shadows.^[17]

Post-Super Genesis Wave[]

Despite his concept being a scrapped game character, Max would not appear in the book after the Super Genesis Wave erased the original timeline.

Powers and abilities[]

Other than being a Mobian in the pre-Super Genesis Wave timeline, Max doesn't display any abilities other than his musical prowess. However, he did withstood an electrical attack by the Tails Doll near the end of the timeline.^[17]

Relationships[]

Forget Me Knots[]

Mina Mongoose[]

Nicole[]

Ixis Naugus[]

Eggman Empire[]

Friends/allies[]

• Forget Me Knots
  • Ash Mongoose
  • Mina Mongoose
  • Mach the Rabbit
  • Sharps the Chicken
• Kingdom of Acorn
  • Team Freedom
    • Big the Cat
    • Bomb
    • Cheese the Chao
    • Cream the Rabbit
    • Heavy
    • Rotor Walrus

Neutral[]

• Nicole

Enemies[]

• Eggman Empire
  • Dr. Eggman
  • Badnik Horde
    • Tails Doll
• Geoffrey St. John
• Iron Dominion
• Ixis Naugus

Trivia[]

• Max is from the scrapped "Sonic the Hedgehog Band", who appeared in concept art prior to the release of the original Sonic the Hedgehog game; the band was supposed to play music when a player accessed the Sound Test option of the game.
  • The Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie comic series) is Max's first appearance outside of concept art, as he didn't appear in the Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic with the band.
• A female groupie was seen carrying a sign reading "Max rocks!" at one of Max's concerts.
• Max's absence in the post-Super Genesis Wave timeline could either be because he is not part of the mainline games or without Mina Mongoose, he didn't have an establish place in the world for him to make a return by the book's cancellation.

See also[]

• Max the Monkey

References[]

External links[]

• Max the Monkey at Mobius Encyclopaedia, the Archie Sonic wiki.