But before we get into the madlad...

ItS yA bOi, RaId: ShAdOw LeGeNdS.

(Long explanation about Raid: Shadow Legends that nobody cares about.)

Now.

Who is "The Axe Killer of Maine"?

The Axe Killer of Maine was a serial killer who operated in Maine from 1983-1997, killing over 43 people.

The Axe Killer at the time was also one of 3 killers who operated in Maine at that time but we will get to them later.

The Axe Killer was described as being very much like a villain from a horror movie.

Victims who survived his attacks said that he not only looked like a horror serial killer straight from a film due to his distinct pointed nose metal mask but that he also seemed to act like one.

Victims and police noticed that the Axe Killer would behave in a very specific way and would only target specific victims who met the following criteria:

1. The victim had to be "able-bodied" (not physically disabled) and able to defend themselves.
2. He would not kill people who were pregnant, mentally disabled, physically disabled or elderly.
3. He would not murder children, animals or people who were parents or pet owners.
4. He would not break in via windows or kicking down doors, he could only get in if a way was left open by accident or intentionally.

The Axe Killer would also only kill his victims if the person didn't fight back or tried to talk him out of it.

Why the Axe Killer did all this was unknown until he was actually captured.

When the Axe Killer was captured, he was identified as a man called Rhodie Moorse and it was discovered that he had a large amount of his frontal lobe either severely damaged or missing.

Context:

The frontal lobes are important for voluntary movement, expressive language and for managing higher level executive functions. Executive functions refer to a collection of cognitive skills including the capacity to plan, organise, initiate, self-monitor and control one's responses in order to achieve a goal.

This means that the Axe Killer had very little to no control over his actions at any point.

Also, questioned on why the Axe Killer was so picky about his victims he said this:

"I don't like hurting people but its so hard to stop myself.

I stop myself as best as I can hence why I don't go after those people who are well... best left alone for reasons I'm sure you already know.

I had to draw a line some where, I know what I did is abhorrent, vile, wrong.

But I had no control, I had exhausted it all to stop myself killing everyone.

I'm sorry, I really am but what was I supposed to do hen my brain is damaged like this?"

Tests were done on Rhodie Moorse to verify his claim and it was confirmed that he does indeed have great difficulty in controlling his actions and impulses, proving his claims to be true.

Rhodie Moorse was put in an insane asylum and locked away for the rest of his life in 1997 and kept on medication.

But... Rhodie Moorse unfortunately passed away in 2005 from complications after having a liver cancer removed.

But what about the 2 other killers I hear you ask?

Well the 2 other killers identities remained unknown by the public but both were known for being different from Rhodie Moorse.

The first was called the Crowbar Killer.

This murderous monster was driven by a desire to simply just be a serial killer.

Yep, no other motive.

The Crowbar Killer just wanted to kill and that was it.

The Crowbar Killer also had a set of rules like the axe killer albeit with a few differences.

He would kill the disabled, elderly and victims who were not alone but wouldn't kill children or animals or pregnant women.

And he would also break windows and lock pick doors to get in.

But the Crowbar Killer had a very short run only lasting 2 years and having killed 23 people before he was killed by our next killer.

The Claw Hammer Killer.

Unlike the Axe killer, the Claw Hammer Killer was evil, plain and simple.

The Claw Hammer Killer loved to make his victims suffer and would attack anywhere and at time he wanted.

The Claw Hammer Killer was so evil he [redacted] and killed a 3 month old infant and forced the single mother to watch and then broke both of her arms with his claw hammer.

Sadly the mother killed herself shortly after despite surviving the attack.

The Claw Hammer Killer had more kills than both of the other 2 killers put together and even killed several police and detectives who were investigating who he was.

In fact, the Claw Hammer Killer was so feared that some even killed themselves in fear of being attacked and having to watch those they loved be tortured and killed in front of them.

That was until the Claw Hammer Killer had a run in with the Axe Killer in 1996.

The Claw Hammer Killer tried to kill the Axe killer out of nowhere but the Axe Killer was having none of it.

So the Axe Killer defended himself and battled against the Claw Hammer Killer for several minutes.

During the fight, several citizens attempted to help the Axe Killer take down the Claw Hammer Killer, only to be absolutely annihilated by his hammer.

But the fight ended when the Axe Killer managed to land a direct hit into the Claw Hammer Killer's face with his axe, killing him near instantly.

After this, the people of Maine were confused towards why the Axe Killer did this for years but only got an answer in 2004 when Rhodie Moorse was actually diagnosed with the liver cancer I mentioned earlier.

Knowing he would probably die, Rhodie Moorse said this:

"I killed the Hammer Killer for a reason, he was the only time I've actually wanted someone dead.

That monster had no reason for what he did, no excuse; he was evil plain and simple.

If he didn't attack me, I'm pretty sure I would have still killed him anyway."

Conclusion:

So, what have we learned from today's Madlad?

Well...

Some people are bad for sad reasons.

Some people are just bad.

And some are just evil.

Just a quick thing to break down the symbolism of the 3 killers.

The axe killer represents the golden age of horror films.
A killer we barely understood/knew about and only saw when he was about to strike, was actually attacking or had actual importance in that scene and was not just a badly done CGI model.

Monsters that inspired genuine fear and were drawn up from our darkest and deepest parts of ourselves.

The Crowbar Killer represents the more modern horror.
Stuff from around the 2000s and stuff like SCP, Creepypasta, etc.

The Claw Hammer Killer represents everything wrong with modern horror.
An over-reliance on gore and shock, had no actual substance to it and is of very little value.

Basically just really bad horror.