Author: Maximilian

  • Becoming Alpha

    Becoming Alpha

    There’s a lot of pressure on young men to become “alpha” these days, and no shortage of greasy snake oil salesmen willing to offer them a solution. In an age of incel-fluencers like Andrew Tate, it’s easy to see how the burgeoning male mind in a confusing time of life can become sucked into the noise.

    The similarities of this 3 day experience to Marine Corps bootcamp are no accident, as one of the chief architects of the most infamous of these programs  is a Marine veteran himself. Who else would know better than a Marine the drifting angst of lost young men.

    I do think there’s a real conversation to be had around the ideas of manhood and the struggles that young men face today, but these “alpha male” courses, workshops, books, brands and faces are not after that. They are after a few bucks in any way they can make it. Grifters that can smell blood in the water. Podcasting and influencer culture have given rise to an entire economy of men seeking men to preach and to listen.

    For what it’s worth to any young men reading this, sweaty influencers yelling at you for 3 days isn’t going to make you an alpha. It may, however, make you a few pounds lighter after losing $18,000 from your wallet.

  • 33 – Animated Short Film

    33 – Animated Short Film

    The story of a man and his young clone on a voyage into the unknown… My sci-fi 2D original animated short film “33” is now available to watch publicly on YouTube!

    Written, directed, hand-animated, and voice acted by yours truly and winner of Best Animated Short at the Santa Monica International Film Festival in 2025. I wrote “33” after my son was born during COVID, where I spent a lot of time isolated with a young baby as a new father. The experience caused me to reflect a lot on the idea of generations, with a lot of introspection on myself. When I looked into my son’s eyes, I often saw my own looking back at me.

    I wrote the script in Final Draft myself, then storyboarded and formed an animatic using ToonBoom Storyboard Pro.

    I designed the characters myself using Procreate on iPad Pro. I was going for a kind of realist American animation vibe that somewhere in between Disney and anime. The costume design was really just “futurist gray pajamas” for the most part.

  • Rest in Peace

    Rest in Peace

    So few of us can stay so true to ourselves until the very end. It takes honor, courage and commitment to maintain this level of professionalism until the final breath.

    Marines of all ranks and strides have found themselves victim to the ire of Staff NCO’s at some point or another. However, the First Sergeant takes the cake as the least likable of them all in an average organized setting. They often find themselves in the predicament of being the highest enlisted authority, while also not being so high to be out of sight (like a Sergeant Major, for instance). As such, they are more common to run into and terribly easy to cross at the wrong moment.

    Rest in peace, First Sergeant. May you find Marines to yell at standing post along the streets of heaven.

  • Civil War

    Civil War

    There’s a great many jobs one can do in the military–more than you’d probably think. Hell, did you know there’s a “Water Support Technician” MOS (1171) in the Marine Corps? Who would have thought that something so POG-y and lame could actually exist amongst the war fighting infantry?

    Not me.

    There’s so many different jobs and occupational fields that of course it’s created a kind of rift between different enlisted Marines. There’s the infantry, and then there’s the POG’s (personally I put air wing into a 3rd category, but that might just be me).

    As we’ve discussed before, they’re not all treated equally. Each group has their own culture and subcultures within it, often rarely even interacting with one another. The average grunt almost never works directly with Marines outside of the infantry, leading to natural rivalries and notions between them.

    In personal news, I’ve officially left the LA area and relocated back to the San Francisco Bay Area! Not the craziest move, but enough to gain some peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of LA. I want to do a longer post or video on what’s been going on with everything, but maybe that is something for the TL Patreon.

  • ICE Cold Summer

    ICE Cold Summer

    The boys are back in town and the summer is really heating up in Los Angeles, with Marines deployed to the streets of one of America’s most important cities in a move that has inflamed tensions on all sides of every aisle. It’s a turbulent time with emotions running hot in every direction.

    At the very least, one thing we can agree on is that marriage visas, pregnancy rates, and 25% APR car loans are about to spike across LA County in the immediate future.

    As a Marine veteran living in Los Angeles, I will tell you that the place is in fact not a warzone (I’ve been to those too). Los Angeles is a massive sprawl and it’s hard to fathom if you’ve never been here, but the protests are limited to a relatively small area near downtown. I don’t think anyone wants… well… any of this to be going on.

    One can only hope that cooler heads prevail.

  • It’s Complicated

    It’s Complicated

    Marines have developed many reputations around the nation over the years. They are fierce warriors, stalwart citizens, and renown lovers. That last point has led to many broken hearts, divorcees and single moms across the land.

    Marines are passionate people of fiery hearts and souls. Relationships are hard, and the things that make Marines great warriors aren’t necessarily the things that make great partners for more than a weekend.

    It’s no wonder the divorce rate in the Marine Corps is the highest of all the military branches (and higher than the national average). Then again, a lot of this can probably be chalked up to age. Marines at their peak are around 18-24 years old, which is about the same age as your average frat-guy.

    As the old adage goes: if the Corps wanted you to have a wife, they would have issued you one.

  • November 10th

    November 10th

    Most of the time, being a Marine is just kind of miserable by design. Grueling hours, treatment, food, haircuts and overall vibes can be a huge bummer. However, one day a year, Marines celebrate their birthday, and it is a magical day of jubilant celebration and wonder.

    I’ve heard that the other branches have birthdays as well, but no one cares. The Marine Corps Birthday is basically a national holiday at this point, and the Marine Corps Birthday Ball is a tradition of legend that all other branches seek to emulate (but fail).

    At least once a year, being a Marine is awesome.

    Happy 249th Birthday, Marines.

    If you happen to be at Camp Pendleton today, swing by the main PX to say what’s up to yours truly.

  • Camp Pendleton Birthday Bash

    Camp Pendleton Birthday Bash

    Hey Camp Pendleton! I’ll be there tomorrow to celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday with you all and give away a Marine Corps Birthday present of a brand new PS5 to one lucky devil dog in partnership with the MCX.

    Come on out and say what’s up at the Pacific Views MCX from 1100-1500, Nov 10 2024.

  • The Bennies

    The Bennies

    All Marines enlist for a variety of different reasons. Perhaps you wanted to serve your country patriotically or make your parents proud. Maybe you wanted to see action and adventure around the globe. It could be that you’re 5’3 and full anger and rage, in which case you will probably become a Drill Instructor.

    However, for many, the reason is much more practical: the bennies. The benefits of enlisting in the military at large are well-known and beloved. The GI Bill alone might make the purchase price worth it depending on whether you are able to EAS in one piece. There’s even a few more benefits that can be a huge help later down the road of your life, such as the VA Home Loan or VA healthcare and disability.

    The cost? Just 4 years of your life, body, and sanity at the disposal of Uncle Sam.

    For me? I enlisted because I wanted to be a better artist. However, the GI Bill is probably single greatest asset you have to your name after flying back to your Home of Record at the end of your enlistment.

    Use it.

    Hell, I’m a New York Times bestselling author and even I’m still using my GI Bill right now!

  • The Marine Corps Way

    The Marine Corps Way

    PT, PT, every day. Build my body the Marine Corps way. What is the Marine Corps way? There’s certainly more to being a Marine than PT and being incredibly attractive.

    PT is only a small part of the equation. After all, Marines only really PT in the morning for about an hour. The rest of the day is spent:

    • doing dumb shit
    • standing by
    • cleaning rifles
    • doing more dumb shit
    • thinking about regrets
    • standing by
    • cleaning your room
    • safety stand-down
    • doing some more dumb shit
    • drinking alcohol
    • annoying your roommate

    And more.

    Marines are complex creatures made of complex secret-government recipes that have created the world’s most fierce fighting force.

    Build your body the Marine Corps way.