Max Tennyson

Magister Maxwell Tennyson, aka Grandpa Max as his grandchildren call him, is the paternal grandfather of Ben, Gwen, Kenny and father of Carl Tennyson and Frank Tennyson. He is a fairly overweight man in his late 60's with a keen sense for adventure and a strange taste in strange food. Max ends up taking the kids on a Summer Vacations' Roadtrip across the United States. Much to Ben's annoyance, Ben discovers that Gwen is joining them. Max travels in a motor home nicknamed the Rust Bucket, which he has modified with advanced technology. The Rust Bucket is a replica of a GMC Classic Motor home.

Max is a semi-retired legendary Magister rank Plumber, is the mentor of Ben, Gwen and Kevin and the Plumber Helpers. According to Azmuth, Max is widely considered the greatest plumber in the Milky Way Galaxy. Max is currently Magister of Earth.

Powers and Abilities Edit[]

Although Max doesn't have any super powers, he is very skilled in combat and can take on anyone who does have them as he is quite athletic for someone of his age. As a retired plumber, he has access to a variety of various plumber tools and weaponry which he uses skillfully. Aside from that, his experience from his plumber days made him knowledgeable on various species of aliens. He is also able to strategize well and is skilled in inventing new machines. In Moonstruck, it is shown that he is telepathically connected to his wife, Verdona.

Appearance Edit[]

Maxwell "Max" Tennyson in the original series wears a white shirt, covered by a red button up shirt with a floral design. He has grey hair and blue pants as well as black shoes.

In Alien Force Max's appearance did not change except for his blue pants have changed to brown, he has more wrinkles, a slightly darker shirt, and whiter hair.

Again in Ben 10: Omniverse his appearance has not changed that much except for his brown pants that have changed to white. He has whiter hair, more wrinkles and his eyes have been changed to little black dashes. His white shirt that he wore under his red button up shirt has changed to black. Also, his shoes are now grey at the top and black at the bottom.

Biography Edit[]

Backstory Edit[]

[1]Max at age 10 Not many details are provided on Max's childhood and background. InPermanent Retirement, Max's older sister, Vera Tennyson is introduced; she is seen as having her own weird taste in food, and is hinted as having knowledge that aliens are real. In Big Fat Alien Wedding, Max's older brother, Gordon Tennyson is introduced; in the events of the episode Gordon is also a Plumber, still on active duty, as is his wife, Betty Jean Tennyson, and their son, Joel Tennyson.

A ten-year-old version of Max was seen in the episode Don't Drink the Water.

In Under Wraps, Max mentions having spent his childhood summers on his Uncle Jedediah's farm, where he learned about the merits of hard work. [2]Max in his years as a plumberIn Last Laugh, a "not-quite-all-there" Max, under the effects of Zombozo's happiness-draining, mentions having been afraid of heights as a kid and then, when "enough was enough", Max "climbed up to the top of the water tower" and 'scared the fear' right out of him.

In They Lurk Below, it was shown that Max had a childhood friend called Donovan Grandsmith, who sums Max up as; "growing up he always was the worrywort...never the risk-taker", like himself. 30 years earlier, Donovan and Max had both been broke when Donovan offered Max a business opportunity which he turned down. Max later became a Plumber (Donovan thought Max was a plumber that works with plumbing), establishing that Max's career as a Plumber lasted for about 28 years before he retired (Max mentioned that after 28-years on the job, he'd never figured out who was behind the Bermuda Triangle).

In the episode The Return, it was revealed that Max had been an astronaut and would have been the first man on the moon, but left the program before the Apollo Moon mission. In his own words, Max said he just 'took his step for mankind in other ways'. It is later revealed that he did in fact go into space, just not with NASA.

It is unknown if Max's strange taste in food was acquired from his adventures to other planets during his career as a Plumber, or if its root can be found in his childhood.

It was revealed in Moonstruck that Max met Verdona when she was held captive by a Synthroid (a species of robotic aliens) that wants to use her Anodite powers as fuel for their planet. Max saved Verdona and Magister Labrid, the latter of whom recruited him as a Plumber.

Ben 10 Edit[]

Old thin cyborg Max.

5 of 6 Add photo Grandpa Max is a Plumber, who takes his grandchildren Ben and Gwen on a cross-country trip, during which Ben discovers an alien watch, the Omnitrix. His grandson uses the watch to become the superhero "Ben 10". Max helps his grandchild fight bad guys and aliens, he also teaches Ben to use the watch responsibly.

During their adventures, Gwen and Ben question Max's uncanny knowledge and the fact he doesn't seem to be bothered by all the weirdness they encounter. It is eventually revealed that Max and the alien warlord Vilgax are old enemies.

In the episode Truth, Max reveals he is part of inter-galactic police force known as The Plumbers and that he had fought and defeat Vilgax years before. During the episode he meets his old partner Phil. He discovers Phil stole the Null Void Projector, using it to make easy money, by freeing the aliens who the Plumbers had already captured, then fighting and catching them for profit.

In the episode Perfect Day, Max has received a wedgie from Cash and JT.

In the episode The Visitor, it is revealed the Omnitrix was originally sent to Max by the alien Xylene (who was Max's old flame) and accidentally ended up in the possession of his grandson, Ben.

Ben 10: Alien Force Edit[]

[3]Max in Alien Force In Ben 10: Alien Force, Max looks mostly the same, save for more wrinkles and a darker red shirt with whiter hair. In the episode Ben 10 Returns, he leaves a transmission for Ben stating that he is investigating renewed alien activity on Earth and claims that he has the Omnitrix. An image of a DNAlien flickers at the end of the transmission. It is conceivable from this, that Max was wearing an ID-Mask and that the DNAlien in the teaser was actually Max (the voice of the DNAlien is confirmed as Paul Eiding), implicating himself as a mole to distract the Highbreed from Ben (whom, with the Omnitrix, poses a greater threat). The message was probably in code, telling Ben to put on the Omnitrix once more. An earlier theory suggested that the hologram might have been that of a DNAlien who wanted to keep Ben out of their business, but instead made a big mistake.

In the episode Max Out, Max destroys a Xenocyte hatchery by detonating a Null Void Projector, which after removing its focusing lens, makes a "pretty good imitation of a hand grenade" and produces an explosion that covers over half a mile wide. Max appeared to have been killed in the blast, but was instead sent to the Null Void (episode: Voided), where he, calling himself "The Wrench", fought Dr. Animo, who was calling himself "D'Void". He has since appeared in the two-part episode War of the Worlds to aid Ben in his battle with the Highbreed along with the "Plumber Helpers". At the end he takes on the Plumber kids who fought with Ben as his[4]Max in Fusion Fallapprentices. He and the Plumber Kids also appear in the two-part episode Vengeance of Vilgax. [5]Max in a Magister suitIn the episode If All Else Fails, it is revealed that the Highbreed had infected him with a dormant seed which was part of a failsafe plan of the Highbreed. It is mistakenly activated by a Highbreed Officer, who was unaware that the Highbreed has called-off the war. Max is freed from the seeds' control by Ben, Gwen and Kevin. Also during the episode, he mentions he knew Kevin's father, Devin Levin.

In Above and Beyond, it is revealed by Pierce that Max is now the earth's Magister (an equivalent to 'Colonel', likely assigned as earth's Magister after the Highbreed conflict, during which the former Magister Labrid was killed). In the episode, Max set up a scenario in which Ben was to go on a rampage on board an orbiting Plumbers' space station. He then calls the Plumbers' Helpers to come and save him. They manage to defeat Ben, but the battle had caused the space station to fall out of orbit towards the city of London. The Plumbers' Helpers decide to activate the station's self-destruct, which would mean sacrificing their lives in the process. However, the space station doesn't explode. Instead, Max appears along with Ben, who reveals to the Plumbers' Helpers that the space station is a Plumber Training Facility and that Ben's "rampage" was set up to test them. Max also states that by putting "the safety of others ahead of their own lives", the Helpers will be admitted to Plumbers' Academy. [6]Max in Vilgax AttacksIn the season finale, The Final Battle, Max takes part in the fight against Vilgax. When Kevin returns to his human form, Max states that the Omnitrix kept him in his mutated form. Max aids Gwen in trying to stop the ship from crashing into Bellwood. After Ben escapes from Vilgax, he, Gwen, and Kevin share a group hug with Max.

Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Edit[]

Max has grown to his full potential and is now wiser than in any other series. Since Alien Force, he's been trying to be protective around Ben, Gwen and Kevin. He makes his first reappearance in the episode Hit 'Em Where They Live, it is revealed that Max has been protecting Ben's parents from being attacked by Ben's old enemies (due to Ben's secret being revealed to the universe). However he is injured while protecting Sandra from Sevenseven and is forced to inform Ben and his team of the problem. [7]Max healing on GalvanMax appeared again in Ultimate Aggregor and Map of Infinity, where he helps Ben, Gwen and Kevin stop Aggregor. However, in the beginning of Map of Infinity, Ultimate Aggregor's electrical shock damaged his entire nervous system, and must be replaced. Azmuth brings him along side with Ben and his team to Galvan Mark II, where Max is placed in a tube that would repair his nervous system after a few weeks. Max returns in Absolute Power with his Magister's Suit, his nervous system having been fully restored and helps Ben and Gwen in the battle to stop Ultimate Kevin. [8]Young MaxGrandpa Max returns in Moonstruck, where he reveals his past where he met Verdona to Ben, Gwen and Kevin (who sleeps after hearing the story). When he was about Kevin's age (16 or 17), he was a pilot in the air force. During a mission, he saw and followed a space ship. He blasted it but the space ship got away and Max's plane crashed. He talked to the Commander about the space ship, which made him an astronaut and gave him a mission to be the first man on the moon. While at a saloon, he met Verdona in her human form and fell in love with her. Suddenly a giant human robot came and attacked Verdona. Max saved her and left to a far away desert where the robot couldn't find them. Verdona explained to Max that she is not from earth, she is from another planet. The robot that chased them was a sentient robot called a Synthroid and it left a bracelet on Verdona's hand which made her unable to do most her powers except her telepathic powers. She revealed to Max that she was the one in the spaceship he saw before she read Max's mind. She told him that their minds are now linked. She also revealed that the Synthroid wants her to be a battery-like energy source for their planet (since she is an energy being). The Synthroid came back and kidnapped Verdona but Max used his mind to located Verdona (since Verdona said their minds are now linked). He (with a help from Magister Labrid) saved Verdona and destroyed the Synthroid. Verdona invited Max to her planet but Max denied the offer, saying that he has other things on earth. They kissed and Verdona left. The next Monday he went into the astronaut training eventually Max joined the Plumbers after Magister Labrid recruited him. He told Ben that was the story of how he and Verdona met later noting Max and Verdona getting married is another story and said good night to Verdona before he went to sleep. [9]Young Max and VerdonaMax appeared once more in Prisoner #775 is Missing when Area 51 was attacked and was furious when he learn of its alien prisoners being held there illegally and as a result had caused friction between Rozum and Max.

Ben 10 Omniverse Edit[]

He is currently the commander of bellwood plumber base and the earth.

Other Media Edit[]

Robot ChickenEdit[]

[10]Max in Robot Chicken stop motion animationMax Tennyson made an appearance in the fifth episode of the sixth season of Robot Chicken, "Hurtled from a Helicopter into a Speeding Train".

Alternate Timeline Edit[]

By the age of 80, Max has further modified his RV, grown a beard, and replaced one of his arms with a cybernetic prosthetic. Further in the same future (now 92), he has lost much of his weight due to his age and a steady diet of futuristic health food.

Appearances Edit[]

Ben 10[]

All Episodes

Ben 10 Shorts[]

Ben 10: Alien Force[]

Ben 10 Returns: Part 1 (Hologram only)
Kevin's Big Score (Hologram Only)
All That Glitters (Hologram Only)
Max Out (First Physical appearance and supposed "Death")
Voided
War of the Worlds: Part 2
Vengeance of Vilgax: Part 1
Vengeance of Vilgax: Part 2
Inferno (Hologram Only)
Fool's Gold
If All Else Fails
Above and Beyond
Vendetta
The Final Battle: Part 1
The Final Battle: Part 2

Ben 10: Ultimate Alien[]

Hit 'Em Where They Live
Ultimate Aggregor
Map of Infinity
Absolute Power: Part 1
Absolute Power: Part 2
Ben 10,000 Returns (Brief past self)
Moon Struck (17-18 years in flash back)
Prisoner #775 is Missing
The Ultimate Enemy: Part 2 (flashback)

Ben 10: Omniverse[]

Ben 10 Movies[]

Love Interests Edit[]

Verdona Tennyson Edit[]

Although she was stated dead in Ben 10: Race Against Time (probably because Ben and Gwen weren't ready to know that their grandmother is an alien), Verdona is the paternal grandmother of Ben, Gwen and Ken Tennyson. She is an Anodite, a free-spirited alien race from the distant planet Anodyne. Verdona left her home world in an unspecified time long before the original series even began to go to Earth for unknown reasons. She landed in St. Louis, Missouri where she met and fell deeply in love with Max Tennyson and the two courted each other and married, during this time she hid her Anodite heritage very well and blended in with society. They had two known children; Carl and Frank.. She then returned to Anodyne to reconnect with her Anodite background, but later returned to Earth to see if her grandchildren had inherited her powers and abilities. Only years later, she realized that her granddaughter, Gwen had inherited her Anodite abilities. She loved Max for his adventurous and rebellious nature, stating it was similar to Kevin. She also stated he had a "spark" all his own, however, this could simply be a reference to his personality and charm that attracted Verdona.

Xylene Edit[]

Xylene is an Uxorite from the planet Ringa Morr. She has the incredible power of telekinesis. During Xylene's early years she met Max Tennyson, who at the time was a Plumber. She wanted Max to go back to Ringa Morr with her, but Max declined it.

Toys Edit[]

4 inch Alien Collection Max Tennyson (Alien Force)

Trivia Edit[]

[11]Max's cameo in "Heroes United"*Max was a Magister for at least 5 - 6 years.

In the beta original series, Max originally wasn't a Plumber, he was just an average inventor.
The episode Ben 10,000 reveals that his birthday is in the summer.
According to Azmuth, Max is widely considered the greatest plumber in the Milky Way Galaxy.
According to Xylene and Azmuth, Max was supposed to get the Omnitrix, but when Ben found it, his DNA was close enough to Max's that it attached itself to his wrist instead.
In Ben 10: Alien Swarm, the kids call him "Max" instead of "Grandpa Max" or just "Grandpa."
Max will appear more in Omniverse than he did in Ultimate Alien and Alien Force, as confirmed by Derrick.^[1]
Derrick confirmed that Max in Omniverse is a reference to the comic book character Shazam.^[2]

References Edit[]

Gallery[]

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