This episode is truly epic and is one of my very favourites in the series, it just hits about every note right. I love the apocalyptic feel of everything with the constant impressive animated lightning wind and shadow effects, and Skullmaster is exceptionally wrathful and sneaky in this one! He gets some of his best lines ever and we get to see just how much of a master of manipulation he truly is. It's interesting to learn the revelation that, because he is specifically the one that's foretold to do so, only Max and no one else may ever destroy Skullmaster or else it would lead to complete chaos in the cosmic balance and destruction on Earth... But isn't that what Skullmaster is bringing about? Anyway, what this means for our heroes is that, they must briefly switch character roles and must in fact try to *save* Skullmaster's albino hide from certain doom! Or so the situation appears... The scene where Skullmaster ends up apparently leaping into his own demise because he just can't contain his hatred for Max is so hilarious, the way Max implores that can't they all just get along this once for a little while and Skullmaster just gives him this incredulous look for a second and roars "No!", dives at him and is vaporised! I even like how it takes the minor supporting baddie of the dim-witted tiny red demon Warmonger, a character I haven't cared to mention up till now because I find him a little boring as he's only really Skullmaster's chief underling/grunt and nothing more. But this story does give him a little more character and ambition than usual when, after being especially treated like crap by Skullmaster one day, he seizes the opportunity to take control of an extremely powerful beast and immediately orders it to destroy his abusive master - but nothing in this story is what it seems, and it's revealed right at the end of the episode when a dejected Warmonger returns to his former-master's lair only to find him alive and well on his throne, that it was all an elaborate ruse to trick Max into using a precious page of power that really could have ended him. It really was one well-thought out scheme, Skullmaster is smart, our heroes had best not be underestimating the scope of his diabolical genius! And Skullmaster's so twisted that he's not even angry at Warmonger for his betrayal, but is in fact proud of such devious behaviour! And I think they may have mixed up this episode's place in the order as that awesome final scene was clearly setting up the events to come in the Armageddon two-parter that closes the series. The thing I love the most about this thrilling episode is the character of the Titan Hydra, who is adapted from the Battle Warriors action figure play-set "Mighty Max Head to Head with Hydra", and they made amazing use of the creature. His power to reverse the elements and transform matter is really visually interesting and inventive, the scene where they're surfing with a wave of fire right behind them and Norman says "Cowabunga!" was really funny! And the booming dual-voice effect with the two heads of Hydra sounded incredible, it really sounded like this ancient being was gigantic. I also really loved the philosophising of Hydra as his two-toned dragon heads eternally debated whether good or evil should triumph. Quite powerful and profound words for an animated show at the time.. And it was also good to see Max take a more active hand in the struggle for a change, when for a little while he gains some magical firepower of his own! Freaking fantastic episode!!!
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