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Maximilian "Max" Alonzo Ernesto Russo is one of the main characters in Disney Channel Original Series Wizards of Waverly Place. He is the youngest child and son of Theresa and Jerry Russo. He is Justin and Alex Russo's younger brother. He is a former wizard and the youngest of the Russo siblings. Like his brother and sister, he is half Mexican from his mother, Theresa, and half Italian-American from his dad, Jerry. In the series' finale, Alex became the Russo Family Wizard and Justin a full wizard due to becoming the Headmaster of Wiz Tech. As compensation for being the only sibling to become mortal, Max obtains the Sub Station which he seems very happy about.

Background[]

Biography[]

Max often uses his siblings' situation to his benefit. For example, when Alex used magic to go to the Crazy Ten Minute Sale, Max used that time to tell his dad, Jerry, that he had broken his wand. Max is shown to have a C+ in Wizard Class which makes him average. He has a few strange habits such as putting marshmallows with asparagus and using his mom's dress as a Darth Vader cape. In fact, this unusual way of thinking allowed him to outsmart (or as Alex said "out-dumb") a genie into undoing her twisted wishes.

It is unknown if Max has lived in Waverly Place his whole life but it is known that he has Hispanic heritage from his mother's side. His mother often tries to get the kids to learn about their Latino heritage. From his father's side, he inherited his wizardry skills. It is likely that he is also half Italian from his father, due to the last name Russo and the fact that Alex has stated that they are only half Latino.

It is revealed that Max likes Chinese food and pineapple in "Potion Commotion".

Max is known to play soccer as Justin is seen practicing kissing on Max's soccer ball in the episode "First Kiss". He also likes to make strange sandwiches (which is useful, as his parents own a sandwich shop), and he loves to eat them even more.

Max is a witty, cheeky boy when covering for his sister he manages to get sneakers off of her for it. His shoe size is a size 5. He is quite smart and always tries to "bend situations to his benefit"; when his sister was in trouble he used the opportunity to tell his dad that he broke his wand. He did not get in much trouble as his dad was busy with his sister.

Max has little regard for safety or forethought. When reading up on the conscience spell, he deliberately ignored the 'please read' notice that went with it listing the dangers, which resulted in his conscience taking on physical form. He has also shown a dark side to himself that equals or even surpasses Alex. He blatantly told his conscience that when it comes to a choice between right and wrong, he prefers wrong. He would rather sabotage his brother in the contest than study, even when Alex chose to study. When Conscience tried to warn him about the dangers of summoning monsters from Justin's handbook Max completely ignored his warnings of mass chaos and danger and did so anyway.

In Season 2, he starts to "work" for his money with his best friend, Alfred. An example is in "Smarty Pants", in was he puts water in bottles for sell it; and in "Beware Wolf", he cared dogs.

Apparently, he has a crush on Gigi, which can be seen in "Graphic Novel" and has his first date in "Alex Does Good".

Maximan is a superhero that Max played in the episode "Alex's Brother, Maximan." He wore a cape with sharks on it, his underwear, long blue pants, and a yellow long sleeve shirt that with a big M on the front. His dad pretended to be a burglar, and Alex and Justin came to help Max with climbing up a wall outside of the sub station.

Personality[]

At age 16, he is the most mischievous, determined to take his magic "to the Max". When he's not dodging homework and vegetables, Max plays practical jokes on his siblings. His first spell was "Comakus Pancakus" to conjure up a stack of pancakes.

Powers and abilities[]

Max was a fun wizard and sometimes uses magic irresponsibly, but on the whole, he prefers to cause havoc without magic. He lost his powers in the series finale due to losing the Family Wizard Competition.

He is quite mischievous and quick to use magic in a situation, like his sister, and it often leads to disaster. However, in the end, he makes things right with his abilities and help from his siblings.

In the episode "Potion Commotion", he gets his full powers. He has to wear a horrible looking hat for four days until his powers were in control. In that episode, he also uses the spell "Levitatus Liquidatus" to make a can of liquid float. It is also shown in previous episodes that he is behind in learning spells while his siblings are way ahead. For example, in "Potion Commotion", he is learning wizard training exercise #5 while Justin and Alex are learning lesson #372. He also tries to break set records, like in "Pop Me and We Both Go Down" when his dad's trophy pulls off his underwear and runs away with it, Max says he wore those underwear for a long time, possibly a week. In the later episodes, he starts to use more magic, such as Pound for pound you're a clown to use on Justin, which backfired and turned him into a clown), Roomius fixus (turned Alex's room to normal size), and also many more spells in My Tutor, Tutor.

In the episode "Three Maxes and a Little Lady", Alex and Justin turn Max into a little girl form, making his/her name Maxine Russo.

Trivia[]

  • None of the Russos wanted Max to become the family wizard. Judging from his parents' reaction when told that would be the likeliest result.
  • Max was the only one of the Russo Trio to not keep their powers, as Alex became the Russo Family Wizard and Justin became the new Headmaster of Wiz Tech thus gaining full wizard abilities.
  • Max is Kelbo, Justin is Jerry, and Alex is Megan in terms of personality.

Gallery[]


v - e - d
Wizards of Waverly Place logo
Media
Wizards of Waverly PlaceWizards of Waverly Place: The MovieThe Wizards Return: Alex vs. AlexWizards on Deck with Hannah MontanaSoundtrackVideo GameDisney Channel All Star PartyThe Suite Life on DeckSpellboundWizards
Characters
Alex RussoJustin RussoMax RussoHarper FinkleTheresa RussoJerry RussoZeke BeakermanHershel LaritateMason GreybackJuliet Van HeusenProfessor CrumbsDean MoriartyFelixMonotone WomanChancellor Rudy TootietootieSteve NicholsGigi HollingsworthThe WannabesRileyFrankie/JoeyKelbo RussoJoeyRosieGorogTalia RobinsonMiranda HampsonT.J. TaylorOfficer LampDr. EviliniRonald Longcape Sr.Ronald Longcape Jr.Alucard Van HeusenChase RiprockBrad SherwoodJerko PhoenixSusanRuby DonahueIsabellaJenny MajorheelyJennette BrocolletiDaphneTutor HatchbackMegan RussoGeorgeWarren NicholsNancy LukeyLisa CucuyDominicEvil Alex

Guest Characters: Zack MartinCody MartinLondon TiptonBailey PickettMarion Moseby

Episodes
Season 1: "Crazy 10-Minute Sale" • "First Kiss" • "I Almost Drowned in a Chocolate Fountain" • "New Employee" • "Disenchanted Evening" • "You Can't Always Get What You Carpet" • "Alex's Choice" • "Curb Your Dragon" • "Movies" • "Pop Me and We Both Go Down" • "Potion Commotion" • "Justin's Little Sister" • "Wizard School" • "The Supernatural" • "Alex in the Middle" • "Report Card" • "Report Card" • "Alex's Spring Fling" • "Quinceañera" • "Art Museum Piece"

Season 2: "Smarty Pants" • "Beware Wolf" • "Graphic Novel" • "Racing" • "Alex's Brother, Maximan" • "Saving WizTech" • "Harper Knows" • "Taxi Dance" • Baby Cupid" • "Make it Happen" • "Fairy Tale" • "Fashion Week" • "Helping Hand" • "Art Teacher" • "Future Harper" • "Alex Does Good" • "Hugh's Not Normous" • "Don't Rain on Justin's Parade – Earth" • "Family Game Night" • "Justin's New Girlfriend" • "My Tutor, Tutor" • "Paint By Committee" • "Wizard for a Day" • "Cast-Away (To Another Show)" • "Wizards vs. Vampires on Waverly Place" • "Wizards vs. Vampires: Tasty Bites" • "Wizards vs. Vampires: Dream Date" • "Wizards & Vampires vs. Zombies" • "Retest"
Season 3: "Franken Girl" • "Halloween" • "Monster Hunter" • "Three Monsters" • "Night at the Lazerama" • "Doll House" • "Marathoner Harper" • "Alex Charms a Boy" • "Wizards vs. Werewolves" • "Positive Alex" • "Detention Election" • "Dude Looks Like Shakira" • "Eat to the Beat" • "Third Wheel" • "The Good, the Bad, and the Alex" • "Western Show" • "Alex's Logo" • "Dad's Buggin' Out" • "Max's Secret Girlfriend" • "Alex Russo, Matchmaker?" • "Delinquent Justin" • "Captain Jim Bob Sherwood" • "Wizards vs. Finkles" • "All About You-Niverse" • "Uncle Ernesto" • "Moving On" • "Wizards Unleashed" • "Wizards Exposed"
Season 4: "Alex Tells the World" • "Alex Gives Up" • "Lucky Charmed" • "Journey to the Center of Mason" • "Three Maxes and a Little Lady" • "Daddy's Little Girl" • "Everything's Rosie for Justin" • "Dancing with Angels" • "Wizards vs. Angels" • "Back to Max" • "Zeke Finds Out" • "Alex Magic Unmasked" • "Meet the Werewolves" • "Beast Tamer" • "Wizard of the Year" • "Misfortune at the Beach" • "Wizards vs. Asteroid" • "Justin's Back In" • "Alex the Puppetmaster" • "My Two Harpers" • "Wizards of Apartment 13B" • "Ghost Roommate" • "Get Along, Little Zombie" • "Wizards vs. Everything" • "Rock Around the Clock" • "Harperella" • "Who Will Be the Family Wizard"

Locations
Waverly Sub Station • Russo LairTribeca PrepWizTech
Songs
Everything Is Not What It SeemsA Year Without RainMagic
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