TV-Series
Description
Maiza Avaro is a central figure in the Baccano! narrative, an immortal whose long life stretches from the early 18th century to the 2000s. He was born as the eldest son of the noble Avaro family in the Italian city of Lotto Valentino, a station he deeply resented, particularly because of his name which he felt sounded like miser. In his youth, this rebellious streak led him to reject his aristocratic background and form a gang known as the Rotten Eggs in his city, using the alias Aile, a name he insisted his friends and associates use. His path changed when he witnessed the miracle of immortality performed by the alchemist Dalton Strauss; seeking not necessarily eternal life but the power to change his city, Maiza became Strauss's student and dedicated himself to the study of alchemy.
Maiza's most consequential act occurred in 1711 aboard the ship Advena Avis. Leading a group of fellow alchemists, he was the one who performed the summoning ritual that brought forth the demon Ronny Schiatto. The demon granted the entire group the elixir of immortality, the Grand Panacea, but shared the secret of its creation only with Maiza. This gift became a profound burden. Haunted by the potential consequences of the formula falling into the wrong hands, Maiza decided to keep the knowledge to himself. However, he made the fateful decision to share half of the secret with his younger brother, Gretto, whom he trusted implicitly. This choice led to tragedy when the power-hungry immortal Szilard Quates, desperate for the formula, devoured Gretto, mistaking him for Maiza. This event cemented Maiza's centuries-long guilt and his quiet, determined opposition to Szilard.
In terms of personality, Maiza is defined by a gentle and soft-spoken nature that seems at odds with his status as a member of the Martillo Camorra, a criminal organization, where he serves as the family bookkeeper. He perennially wears a kind expression and does not advocate for unnecessary violence, generally avoiding conflict when possible. His sincere and respectful demeanor has earned him the deep loyalty and affection of his fellow Martillo members, whom he considers his surrogate family after losing his own blood relatives. Despite his pacifist leanings, he possesses a formidable and sometimes brutal capacity for combat, which he unleashes only when absolutely necessary to protect himself or others. His primary motivation for much of the 1930s storyline is to stop Szilard Quates, both to avenge his brother and to prevent Szilard from using the incomplete formula to hunt other immortals. After Szilard is ultimately devoured by Firo Prochainezo, Maiza's goal shifts to a more hopeful one: traveling the world to locate and reunite the remaining surviving immortals from the Advena Avis, no longer living in fear of being hunted.
Key relationships define Maiza's actions and development. His most significant bond is with Firo Prochainezo, a young Martillo executive. Maiza acts as a mentor to Firo, and other characters note the strong resemblance between Firo and his late brother Gretto, with Maiza likely seeing in Firo a second chance at a familial bond. The Martillo family initiation ritual includes a knife duel with Maiza, who remained undefeated for years until he fought Firo, graciously conceding victory and welcoming him into the family. His relationship with his primary antagonist, Szilard Quates, is one of centuries-old caution and confrontation, with Szilard being the embodiment of the greed and horror that Maiza feels he inadvertently unleashed. Furthermore, the demon Ronny Schiatto chose to remain in the human world disguised as a Martillo family member, partly at the request of the immortal Elmer Albatross, to be a companion to Maiza after the loss of his brother.
Maiza is a character who develops from an angry, prideful young noble into a figure of remarkable patience, wisdom, and compassion. Over three hundred years, he has cultivated incredible self-control and a capacity for forgiveness, never succumbing to the boredom or despair that plagues some other immortals. He has learned to appreciate life and continues to take joy in exploring the world and spending time with his found family.
Maiza possesses several notable abilities. As an original immortal who drank the Grand Panacea, he cannot age, fall ill, suffer injury, or die by any conventional means; the only way to kill an immortal is for another immortal to devour him. Beyond his immortality, he is exceptionally skilled with a knife, a talent so respected that it became a test for new Martillo executives. He is also a capable unarmed combatant and possesses great physical strength. Perhaps his most defining non-immortal ability is his sharp intellect, particularly with numbers, planning, and leadership, which suits his role as the family's bookkeeper and makes him a reliable and stabilizing force for those around him.
Maiza's most consequential act occurred in 1711 aboard the ship Advena Avis. Leading a group of fellow alchemists, he was the one who performed the summoning ritual that brought forth the demon Ronny Schiatto. The demon granted the entire group the elixir of immortality, the Grand Panacea, but shared the secret of its creation only with Maiza. This gift became a profound burden. Haunted by the potential consequences of the formula falling into the wrong hands, Maiza decided to keep the knowledge to himself. However, he made the fateful decision to share half of the secret with his younger brother, Gretto, whom he trusted implicitly. This choice led to tragedy when the power-hungry immortal Szilard Quates, desperate for the formula, devoured Gretto, mistaking him for Maiza. This event cemented Maiza's centuries-long guilt and his quiet, determined opposition to Szilard.
In terms of personality, Maiza is defined by a gentle and soft-spoken nature that seems at odds with his status as a member of the Martillo Camorra, a criminal organization, where he serves as the family bookkeeper. He perennially wears a kind expression and does not advocate for unnecessary violence, generally avoiding conflict when possible. His sincere and respectful demeanor has earned him the deep loyalty and affection of his fellow Martillo members, whom he considers his surrogate family after losing his own blood relatives. Despite his pacifist leanings, he possesses a formidable and sometimes brutal capacity for combat, which he unleashes only when absolutely necessary to protect himself or others. His primary motivation for much of the 1930s storyline is to stop Szilard Quates, both to avenge his brother and to prevent Szilard from using the incomplete formula to hunt other immortals. After Szilard is ultimately devoured by Firo Prochainezo, Maiza's goal shifts to a more hopeful one: traveling the world to locate and reunite the remaining surviving immortals from the Advena Avis, no longer living in fear of being hunted.
Key relationships define Maiza's actions and development. His most significant bond is with Firo Prochainezo, a young Martillo executive. Maiza acts as a mentor to Firo, and other characters note the strong resemblance between Firo and his late brother Gretto, with Maiza likely seeing in Firo a second chance at a familial bond. The Martillo family initiation ritual includes a knife duel with Maiza, who remained undefeated for years until he fought Firo, graciously conceding victory and welcoming him into the family. His relationship with his primary antagonist, Szilard Quates, is one of centuries-old caution and confrontation, with Szilard being the embodiment of the greed and horror that Maiza feels he inadvertently unleashed. Furthermore, the demon Ronny Schiatto chose to remain in the human world disguised as a Martillo family member, partly at the request of the immortal Elmer Albatross, to be a companion to Maiza after the loss of his brother.
Maiza is a character who develops from an angry, prideful young noble into a figure of remarkable patience, wisdom, and compassion. Over three hundred years, he has cultivated incredible self-control and a capacity for forgiveness, never succumbing to the boredom or despair that plagues some other immortals. He has learned to appreciate life and continues to take joy in exploring the world and spending time with his found family.
Maiza possesses several notable abilities. As an original immortal who drank the Grand Panacea, he cannot age, fall ill, suffer injury, or die by any conventional means; the only way to kill an immortal is for another immortal to devour him. Beyond his immortality, he is exceptionally skilled with a knife, a talent so respected that it became a test for new Martillo executives. He is also a capable unarmed combatant and possesses great physical strength. Perhaps his most defining non-immortal ability is his sharp intellect, particularly with numbers, planning, and leadership, which suits his role as the family's bookkeeper and makes him a reliable and stabilizing force for those around him.