Beyond Thunderdome - If Max had stayed on the plane

[Taipan]

He is described in the comic book as a hero of Water Wars. He used to be considered a hero, fighting wars to so that "The citizenry could sleep peacefully in their beds because rough men such as these did violence on their behalf".
That was before he formed a gang.

While true that he isn't portrayed anywhere as a hero anymore, it's not about the portrayal but how he sees himself and where that comes from.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lukig3HDLg

It is a very interesting aspect of all Mad Max movies: how ordinary citizens become villains. The same thing was said about the marauders in MM2 - they aren't inherently evil folks. They used to be normal people who out of necessity fled the cities in their home made buggies and formed gangs with questionable alliances to increase their chances of survival. It all went downhill from then on and by the time you see this hodge-podge gang of marauders led by Humungus, they barely resemble what they all used to be - ex cops, ex firefighters, Wez - vietnam vet, skinheads - notice how almost all of them cover their faces - it's to remove their humanity (hide their compassion) as much as possible. What happens after Humungus dies? They look as if they've woken up from this insanity and disband. Or maybe they'll go on to form a new gang because this survival strategy isn't as bad as going alone, who knows? What I'm saying is that villains in Mad Max world are far from one dimensional, and Immortan Joe isn't an exception.

[MWFV8]

It's a difficult one as it's entire possible for a villain to be perceived as a hero. In my opinion this is the case with Toe Cutter, Lord Humungous, Auntie, and Immortan Joe - they are worshiped for their efforts but covert completely the wrong values.

Max being introduced as a villain in Fury road was something Rob Ager put forward in his analysis videos - a sort of Wez type character that's lost all humanity, but something causes him to start coming back out of the madness. I like it.

[aussie muscle]

"we're all going to stay here" indicating that he wants to stay in the crack of the Earth

i think he means 'You're all going to stay here'.

[Turbofurball]

A fair point, after all we judge other's by their actions, but ourselves by our intentions!

[AquaCola]

Not sure I agree with your assessment of Joe - there's no point (including in the comics) where he's portrayed as anything but power hungry and treating other people as mere resources, in the way of a feudal era king or emperor.

There are some interviews and clips that really really really should have been on the DVD and one of them with Hugh explains Immortan Joe's character so well and the reasoning behind his actions.

1:20 - 1:57 in this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lukig3HDLg

[Mad Serge]

Taipan : except that Max isn't portrayed as a leader (unlike Auntie and Immortan Joe).