Richard Maxwell

Richard Maxwell

Voiced by

Nathan Carlson

Episode appearances

15

Episode mentions

5

Nickname

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Occupation

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Religion

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Type

Minor

First episode

088

#72: “An Encounter with Mrs. Hooper” (1989)

Last episode

526

#500: “500” (2002)

First episode mention

176

#160: “A Rathbone of Contention” (1991)

Last episode mention

800

#763: “The Ties That Bind, Part 13” (2014)

Products

2024 Richard Maxwell Trading Card

Description

Richard Maxwell was a criminal who helped Dr. Blackgaard to break into the powerful computer program, Applesauce and start Blackgaard's Castle. He distracted John Whittaker and Tom Riley from attending the city council meeting by burning down Tom's barn. When Lucy was hospitalized, he decided things had gone too far. After he spent time in the detention center, he apologized to everyone he hurt and later helped bring Blackgaard down.

Family

Rachael Woodworth is his half-sister. His mother is Melissa Woodworth and his father is Mickey Maxwell.

Friends

Richard doesn't seem to make friends very well, due to his past and his apparent discomfort with having people near him, but he does have a special relationship with John Whittaker and Lucy Cunningham-Schultz. Richard did reconcile with some enemies he made in Odyssey, including Tom Riley in #333: “The Last Resort”, and both Connie Kendall and Eugene Meltsner in #159: “The Homecoming”.

After the events of "the Acolyte" story arc, Richard seems to be on friendly terms with both Whit and Connie.

Backstory

Richard's "off-screen" backstory was revealed in the The Blackgaard Chronicles (book series).

Richard grew up in Millsburg with his parents and half-sister. When Richard was young, his parents, Melissa and Mickey Maxwell divorced. His mother got custody of Richard and Rachel and his dad moved to Chicago. When Richard was two, his mother met a man named Osgood Brownlow. Brownlow was regularly present in their lives.

Osgood Brownlow taught Richard about scams and cons. Richard threatened to tell his mother about what Brownlow was teaching him. Brownlow told him that his mother would not believe him and would trust Brownlow more. Later on, he saw Brownlow sell his mother's jewelry. Not only that, but he saw him act affectionately with another woman. However, when Richard told his mother what he saw, she did not believe him and accused him of stealing the jewelry to frame Brownlow. Heartbroken, Richard packed his bags and left to live with his father in Chicago.

He lived in the same apartment as his father but they were never close. His father did help him develop a love for computers and Richard realized his talent. Richard got many different jobs while living in Chicago. When he worked in a sanitation department, he met Greg Kelley. One day, he received a note from his father. His father left Chicago to get a job in the Middle East. His father also pre-paid for tuition at a place called Campbell College in Odyssey, near the town where his mother and sister lived.

He lived peacefully in Odyssey. Due to his criminal tendencies, he met a man who called himself Jellyfish. After six months of living quietly, his mother and Rachael showed up on his doorstep. Brownlow had deserted them. He allowed his mother and Rachael to live with him, despite his strained relationship with his mother. For about a year, his mother and sister lived with him. One day, he woke up with a note from his mother, telling him that she left to start over. He was instructed to take care of Rachael.

He tried his best to raise his sister, but she eventually ended up in the juvenile hall for shoplifting.

He was hired by Regis Blackgaard after Blackgaard's cronies kidnapped Richard.

Richard's Return in the Comics

In the canon comic series Elsewhere in Odyssey, it is revealed that after Richard testified against Blackgaard's goons in Album 25: Darkness Before Dawn, he set out to personally dismantle the rest of Blackgaard's world-wide organization. This led him down the path of vigilantism, and ultimately pitted him against Blackgaard's most devoted follower, the Acolyte. After the Acolyte's defeat, Richard nearly reverted to his criminal ways in order to steal the resurrected Applesauce program, but chose do do the right thing in the end.

As of present continuity, Richard has decided to move back to Odyssey for the time being. It was revealed in Elsewhere in Odyssey's 2023 Thanksgiving strip, that he is staying at one of the old Timothy Center cabins, and attended Thanksgiving at Whit's house.

Personality

Richard has actually revealed very little about himself on the show, though much is implied. He was a manipulative 'teenage thug with a criminal past' with quite an attitude on him when we first met him, but had a strangely present sense of right and wrong — being unwilling to actually harm people. After #84: “The Battle, Part 2”, he was sent off to Campbell County Detention Center.

In his return (#156: “Waylaid in the Windy City, Part 2”, #159: “The Homecoming”), he was much changed: more humble, willing to accept responsibility, actually seeking forgiveness from those he hurt, and a burning desire for revenge. These qualities have remained with him throughout his episodes.

Despite his burning desire for revenge, it's hinted that he wouldn't go as far as to actually hurt or kill someone. As shown in #156: “Waylaid in the Windy City, Part 2”, he got revenge on Dr. Regis Blackgaard by making him think that he had a real gun and humiliating him, but it turned out to be a water gun. ("You really think I would waste my life on account of this creep? I didn't even want to risk breaking parole by getting a real gun.") It was also said that Richard was very good looking.

Trivia

• Richard is very good with computer programming as seen in Album 25: Darkness Before Dawn.
• He owns an electrical stunner which he acquired on sale at the Electric Palace (#331: “Checkmate”).
• He was in a coma because he fell over a cliff while escaping from Jellyfish (#332: “Another Chance”).
• He enjoys playing pool (#76: “Eugene's Dilemma”).
• He is very good looking as heard in #77: “The Nemesis, Part 1”
• As yet, no official word has been given on the 'Maxwell's Flower Shop' mentioned in #372: “For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll, Part 1”.
• In opening Blackgaard's Castle he manipulated Lucy Cunningham-Schultz, and burned down Tom Riley's Barn.
• He was originally going to be AREM in the Novacom Saga.

Past Jobs

• In #72: “An Encounter with Mrs. Hooper”, Richard was working at the Odyssey Retirement Home as an orderly.
• While working as an orderly, it was revealed in The Blackgaard Chronicles book 1 that Richard stole jewelry, knickknacks, and cash from the elderly tenants at the Odyssey Retirement Home, and then selling the jewelry and knickknacks through Jellyfish.
• He worked for Dr. Blackgaard at one point.
• He worked as counselor at the Campbell County Community College where Eugene works.
• In the original script of “Waylaid in the Windy City”, Richard mentions that he worked for a sewer company in Chicago, but the line was cut out later.

Gallery

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  Elsewhere in Odyssey

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  Cross-Check

• 

  Rook's Ruse

Quotes

“	Richard Maxwell: You saved my life! Why? John Whittaker: Two reasons. For one, you have a lot of explaining to do. Richard Maxwell: Yeah? What's the other reason? John Whittaker: Your life is worth saving.	”
— #84: “The Battle, Part 2”

“	Richard Maxwell: Well, do I get a kiss good night? Donna Barclay: Get lost, Richard!	”
— #72: “An Encounter with Mrs. Hooper”

“	Rodney Rathbone: Are you crazy? Richard Maxwell: Yes! Now get out of here!	”
— #332: “Another Chance”

“	Richard Maxwell: Nice kid. Eugene Meltsner: Yes, she is, and we'd like her to stay that way!	”
— #77: “The Nemesis, Part 1”

“	Richard Maxwell: Well, what do you think? Are you going to hire her? Regis Blackgaard: No. Whittaker's hold on her is too great. However she can still be used for our immediate purposes. Richard Maxwell: You mean to get Whittaker out of the way for the vote. Regis Blackgaard: Yes. But it must be done carefully so they don't suspect anything.	”
— #78: “The Nemesis, Part 2”

“	Jellyfish: What’s going on? What’s happenin'? Richard Maxwell: Don’t you know? It’s a rescue. Jellyfish: Who is that? Who are you? Richard Maxwell: Don’t get all bent out of shape. It's just... me. Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Richard? Jellyfish: Maxwell!	”
— #331: “Checkmate”

“	Richard Maxwell: Once again, you've saved my life in more ways than I deserve. Boy, that was poetic.	”
— #159: “The Homecoming”

“	Richard Maxwell: I'm what you call a renaissance man. I dabble in a lot of things.	”
— #76: “Eugene's Dilemma”

“	Regis Blackgaard: Oh... oh, this is wonderful! Applesauce is finally within my reach. After all these years, I'm finally going to get it! Richard Maxwell: Ya got that right, heh heh heh...	”
— #84: “The Battle, Part 2”

“	Jellyfish: Well, well, well, Sleeping Beauty is waking up. How did you like your little shock, huh? Richard Maxwell: It wasn’t half as bad as waking up and seeing you. Having a good time, Myron? Jellyfish: Not as good a time as I’m gonna have! Richard Maxwell: Mind if I give you a piece of advice? Jellyfish: Why not? Richard Maxwell: When you're doing something like this... Jellyfish: Yeah? Richard Maxwell: Make sure you lock the door! (jumps out) See ya!	”
— #332: “Another Chance”

“	Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Eugene, do you know him? Richard Maxwell: Know me? We used to work together, ain't that right, Multsey baby? Eugene Meltsner: We were briefly employed with the same organization.	”
— #77: “The Nemesis, Part 1”

“	Richard Maxwell: <about Regis Blackgaard> That's why I'm here—to stop him. Tom Riley: Uh-huh. Don't you mean to help him? Jack Allen: Tom...! Richard Maxwell: No, sir. I mean stop him! It's the least I can do.	”
— #328: “Hard Losses”

“	Regis Blackgaard: You silly little coward! Richard Maxwell: What? Regis Blackgaard: You dare even think about disobeying my orders! Just remember, my fine young man, that I hold your future. We both know that you're guilty of far worse acts than changing the grades of a few eggheads at the college! Perhaps you'd like me to pick up the phone and tell the authorities about them? Richard Maxwell: No, no, no—please! Regis Blackgaard: That's better. You're a smart fellow, Richard. I'm going to need people like you when I take over this town.	”
— #78: “The Nemesis, Part 2”

“	Richard Maxwell: Connie, this is my boss. Connie Kendall: Hello. Regis Blackgaard: How do you do, Miss Kendall. My name is Blackgaard. Dr. Regis Blackgaard.	”
— #77: “The Nemesis, Part 1”

“	John Whittaker: Those are a lot of maybes. Richard Maxwell: Six, to be exact.	”
— #156: “Waylaid in the Windy City, Part 2”

“	Richard Maxwell: ...we worked with the five C's. Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: The five C's? What's that? Richard Maxwell: Campbell County Community College Computers. Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Oh, that's clever. Richard Maxwell: Yeah, and cute too.	”
— #77: “The Nemesis, Part 1”

“	Richard Maxwell: Is that a yes? Eugene Meltsner: A conditional yes, yes. Richard Maxwell: I'll take it. Eugene Meltsner: If it wasn't locked down you'd take it.	”
— #159: “The Homecoming”

“	John Whittaker: Now maybe things can get back to normal. Richard Maxwell: I wouldn't count on it, Mr. Whittaker. I wouldn't count on it.	”
— #76: “Eugene's Dilemma”

“	Richard Maxwell: I am... sorry, Mr. Riley. And I hope you can forgive me... one of these days. Tom Riley: Just get out. Get out.	”
— #159: “The Homecoming”

“	Thomas Grayson: I hereby expel you from this institution for your participation in the grade-changing scheme. Richard Maxwell: Oh! I'm crushed! I'm heartbroken!	”
— #76: “Eugene's Dilemma”

“	Richard Maxwell: I always got blamed for everything bad that happened at Campbell County Detention Center, but the funny thing is, when you left, the bad things stopped. Jellyfish: Well, uh, it's nice to know you cleaned up your act.	”
— #328: “Hard Losses”

“	Richard Maxwell: You should really have one of these on hand for protection. I got mine on sale at the Electric Palace.	”
— #331: “Checkmate”

“	Richard Maxwell: You crack me up!	”
— #76: “Eugene's Dilemma”

“	Richard Maxwell: I never forget.	”
— #328: “Hard Losses”

“	Richard Maxwell: What are you accusing me of? Bernard Walton: I don't know, what are you guilty of?	”
— #440: “I Slap Floor”

Episodes

Richard Maxwell is voiced by Nathan Carlson, has appeared in 15 episodes.

#72: “An Encounter with Mrs. Hooper” (1) #76: “Eugene's Dilemma” (2) #77: “The Nemesis, Part 1” (3) #78: “The Nemesis, Part 2” (4) #83: “The Battle, Part 1” (5) #84: “The Battle, Part 2” (6) #156: “Waylaid in the Windy City, Part 2” (7) #159: “The Homecoming” (8) #328: “Hard Losses” (9) #331: “Checkmate” (10) #332: “Another Chance” (11) #333: “The Last Resort” (12) #435: “A Look Back, Part 1” (13) #440: “I Slap Floor” (14) #500: “500” (15) #72: “An Encounter with Mrs. Hooper” (1) #76: “Eugene's Dilemma” (2) #77: “The Nemesis, Part 1” (3) #78: “The Nemesis, Part 2” (4) #83: “The Battle, Part 1” (5) #84: “The Battle, Part 2” (6) #156: “Waylaid in the Windy City, Part 2” (7) #159: “The Homecoming” (8) #328: “Hard Losses” (9) #331: “Checkmate” (10) #332: “Another Chance” (11) #333: “The Last Resort” (12) #435: “A Look Back, Part 1” (13) #440: “I Slap Floor” (14) #500: “500” (15)

Richard Maxwell has been mentioned in 5 episodes.

#160: “A Rathbone of Contention” (1) #329: “The Return” (2) #334: “The Final Conflict” (3) #424: “Blackgaard's Revenge, Part 1” (4) #763: “The Ties That Bind, Part 13” (5)

Richard Maxwell has appeared in 2 comic story arc(s).

EIO: The Acolyte EIO: Single Comic Strips - 2023