He is depicted as a mentally ill former history professor who is obsessed with Greek mythology and believes himself to be the god Zeus, becoming a crime lord in Gotham City.

Batman's concern is vindicated when Maxie escapes to form a team of Greek mythology-based superhuman agents called the New Olympians.

He attempts to kidnap Olympic athlete Lacinia Nitocris and force her to marry him before being defeated by Batman and the Outsiders.

After Batman rescues Zeus from the Joker, he temporarily restores his sanity using antipsychotics and convinces him to turn himself in to the police.

In The New 52 story Batman Eternal, Deacon Blackfire's ghost possesses Maxie Zeus in an attempt to resurrect himself.