The beginning of 2026 saw the official end of MTV, but many of us Gen X folk know it ended long before that.

This week, one of MTV’s ghosts was put in the spotlight as we lost another talented individual in the comic book world. Sam Kieth, creator of The Maxx, died this weekend at age 63.

For those of us who loved the gritty, dark world of the late 1980s and early 1990s comic books, The Maxx was a big, surreal, dark and somewhat huggable standout. It was certainly one of my favorite characters of the time. I still have my original Todd MacFarlane Maxx figure, complete with a little Isz beastie, on my bedstand reminding me of a time when the new characters were fresh and weird and creative.

Thanks to the MTV Animation division of the 1990s, many non-comic readers were introduced to The Maxx via their Oddities anthology series from 1994 which ran about two years. This was similar to their Liquid Television anthology that begin in 1991.

Both of Liquid Television and Oddities were aimed at presenting some adult-centric animated piece ranging from science fiction to gross-out comedy, but everyone had their favorites. Here are a few of my own picks from a time when comics, toons and MTV were at their most weird, wonderful and creative:

Aeon Flux

A dystopian punk look a two contrasting worlds through the exploits a sultry agent Aeon Flux. The live action movie is horrible, though. Don’t even compare the two. Thankfully, you can still find the original animated episodes.

This is Not Frank’s Planet

A couple of dudes arguing on a spaceship. I’ll just let you watch this lil’ standalone short, because is it both ridiculous and funny.

Stick Figure Theatre

This one is self-explanatory. Movies and music video clips drawn with stick figures on lined paper:

The Running Man

This segment from Yoshiaki Kawajiri was originally part of an anime anthology film, Neo Toyko, and is an example of how much incredible anime already was in the 80s and 90s.

Celebrity Deathmatch

Okay this one came a little later than the Liquid Television years, but it needs to be mentioned. This hilariously “offensive” and bloody stop motion series gave us celebrities fighting to the death. The color commentary was as funny as the bouts. I would love to see someone bring this one back with some of today’s big names. There are a few I’d love to toss in that ring for a good butt-whoopin’.

aaaand, of course…..

Beavis and Butthead

Mike Judge’s original guilty pleasure, that turned college and high school boys everywhere into the Great Cornholio.

Thank you, Sam Kieth, for creating such a one-of-a-kind character, and thank you, old school MTV, for making and/or sharing some of the best — and oddest — toons of the time.