Max was born in rural Louisiana to Steve and Emma Dillon, who owned a ranch. Max was not interested in farming, and instead, wanted to become an engineer. He moved to New York and graduated from a university in New York City, studying electrical engineering. He later got a job at Oscorp, working on the computers, lab equipment, and electricity there. Max was trying to fix some circuits, which had sparks flying off of them, but he was electrocuted and he fell off