NOTE: This article is about the 2000 version of Max Steel, which differs from both the 2013 and Live-Action versions.
| “ | Going Turbo! | „ |
| ~ Max Steel's catchphrase. |
Max Steel is the titular main protagonist of the original Max Steel franchise. Appearing in the original 2000 animated series of the same name and the nine direct-to-video animated films that followed. Max is an N-Tek agent that fights villains and super hightech thieves.
He was voiced by Christian Campbell for most of the series (with Matthew Kaminsky replacing him for two episodes) and five of the animated films. In the last four films, he was voiced by Mark Hildreth.
Biography[]
Max Steel is actually Josh McGrath, a thrill-seeking teenager with a passion for extreme sports. After the tragic loss of his parents, he was adopted by his father's best friend and business partner, Jefferson Smith. Jefferson owns a sporting goods company, which serves as a front for the covert intelligence agency known as N-Tek. Upon becoming Max Steel, Josh gains the ability to harness Turbo Energy, enhancing his speed, strength, and agility for high-intensity combat and missions.
While visiting his stepfather at work, Josh McGrath was caught in an attack by enemy agents from a former rival organization, Psycho. During the assault, Josh confronted several adversaries and eventually battled a powerful cyborg. In the midst of the fight, he was gravely injured and exposed to a swarm of microscopic nanomachines known as "Nano Tech Max." These nanomachines entered his body but remained dormant as Josh lay on the brink of death. In a desperate attempt to save his life, his adoptive father, Jefferson Smith, convinced him to undergo a secret procedure that activated the nanomachines. This not only saved Josh's life but also granted him extraordinary powers, transforming him into Max Steel.
After his accident, Josh attempted to recover using the company's advanced Nano-Technology Max, but it proved ineffective (with no mention of the elusive fifth isotope, Elementium). As time passed, Dr. Roberto "Berto" Martinez, N-Tek’s nano-technology specialist, arrived and explained that Josh was feeling weak because the nanoprobes inside him required Transphasic Energy to survive. Without it, they would starve, putting his life at risk. Understanding the urgency, Josh agreed to undergo transphasic exposure, which successfully stabilized the nanoprobes and ultimately saved his life.
The Nano-Max technology enhanced Josh’s senses, granting him heightened vision and hearing, along with extraordinary abilities such as altering his appearance, turning invisible (Stealth Mode), and superhuman strength (“Turbo Action!”). Using the nanoprobes, he adopted the persona of Max Steel, a figure vastly different from his original self, and dedicated himself to fighting crime. Josh chose the codename "Max Steel" to reflect his fusion with Nano-Technology, while "Max" was inspired by the advanced N-Tek computer system, Steel, which played a crucial role in the organization’s operations.
Although the original series has ended, Josh McGrath remains Max Steel, as confirmed in The Master of the Elements, where he is now exclusively referred to as Max. His new identity significantly impacts his life, forcing him to repeatedly retire and return to extreme sports, struggle with academics, and navigate the challenges in his relationship with his girlfriend, Laura Chen.
The nanoprobes, while granting him incredible abilities, are both his greatest asset and his biggest weakness. Without a steady supply of Transphasic Energy, Max weakens and could potentially die. Initially, the only way to recharge was using a generator with rotating transphasic circles, as seen in Countdown. However, Berto later developed a mobile generator, as featured in Endangered, allowing Max to sustain his energy levels more easily.
A key element of the series was Max's aircraft, the Hawk, which he used in nearly every episode. Like him, it featured Stealth Mode, making it an essential tool in his missions. After the events of Endangered, Josh has stepped away from the extreme sports circuit, fully embracing his life as Max Steel.
In Max Steel: Countdown, it is revealed that Max is no longer as powerful as before. After a laboratory accident, he was infused with nanofillers and combined with Steel, resulting in the Adrenalink process. This made adrenaline his new power source—meaning the more he fought and the more excited he became, the stronger he got.
However, in Max Steel vs. The Dark Enemy, Max pushes Adrenalink to 150% in order to defeat Extroyer, which severely damages his system. As a result, he undergoes repairs and reverts to his original Turbo Action abilities. Unlike before, he no longer weakens when his energy is depleted and retains his athletic skills.
In Max Steel vs. The Mutant Menace, Max's system is further upgraded after struggling to defeat Toxzon. His new Turbo fuel is ten times more powerful than before, and his Biolink—now called Ballolink—has been enhanced, spreading throughout his body when activating Turbo Mode. This creates a new nanosuit that helps him control his upgraded abilities. Additionally, activating Turbo Action now boosts the power of the entire N-Tek arsenal, including vehicles, and his energy charge lasts significantly longer.
During The Mutant Menace, it is revealed that Max's nanosuit is only activated when he is in Turbo Mode. However, the toxicity from Legion shows that some enemies can pose a threat even without Turbo Action.
Trivia[]
- While this version of Max wasn't that popular in the United States, he was a success in Latin America, leading to most of the movies being created for the foreign market only.
- After the original franchise moved to the foreign market, the animated films retconned Max's origin, erasing the name Josh McGrath and establishing that Max Steel was always his real identity.