Hero, champion, plumber, Magister, the Legendary Plumber, etc…
Most would be swelled with pride at those titles and when in doubt reflect on them and know that they have done the best. That they have earned them through sweat and blood, earned them with dedication and valor. Max Tennyson is not most people.
Make no mistake there is a sense of pride and accomplishment as receiving these titles. Max is proud of the good work he has and how it has inspired, and he hopes, continue to inspire others to do good throughout the universe. However there is also a sense of taint-ness to it all because most celebrate him, when he feels that they shouldn't.
They should celebrate the dead. The fallen, his comrades in arms who he was helpless to save, the ones who gave their lives so that he could move forward and continue mission to save others. He thinks of Devlin and the countless others who've sacrificed themselves and wishes that they were alive to receive the awe and praise that they deserve.
When they get too much the accomplishments taste like ash in his mouth and he wants to scream that people like Devlin are the real heroes. He doesn't because he's too polite, but sometimes he wonders how everyone would react if he just gave in.
Hero, champion, plumber, Magister, the Legendary Plumber, etc…
Most would think those titles as the greatest accomplishments of their lives, but Max knows his greatest titles are: Father and Grandfather, which are filled with regret and wonder in turn.
He knows that while he did his best, he wasn't the best father. Even if he was fighting to ensure the Earth's safety, to ensure his sons safety, he was ultimately too busy and away from home for their tastes, too hard to connect to as well. He knows that Carl has resentment towards him for it and he's honesty not sure if it was overcome or just well hidden for Ben's sake. With Frank Max honesty hates his son's poker face because he can't tell exactly Frank feels on the subject. He wonders if things would have been different if he had told them the truth and they didn't figure it out, if he ensured they spent more time together.
Regardless he's proud of the men they have become, and while he does regret not being there as much for them, he can see that he has made them better. It's in the way that they maintain a balance between work and family, in the way the way Ben, Ken, and Gwen never seem to complain about a lack of quality time. While it makes him proud, he can't deny the pain he felt the day he saw a young Ben look at Carl with pure adoration and hero worship and couldn't remember his sons looking at him like that.
Grandfather is the title that Max has become the most used to it and if he's honest with himself he's favorite. To have those little eyes look up with him and laugh as Max regales with tale after tale. However as Ben and Gwen become more involved in alien life the line between Grandfather and Magister start to blur and cross with another. It's one of his deepest regrets that he can't save then from these dangers, especially because he guiltily feels glad that they are involved for it allows for him a deeper way to connect with them. The guilt grows stronger as the battles become harder and he honestly doesn't know how to react with Vilgax calling Ben by his name because he has no idea of the significant of it.
Hero, champion, plumber, Magister, the Legendary Plumber, Farther, Grandfather….Max Tennyson is all of this but simply human, faults and all.
Author's Note: This was filled with my head canon elements (Max working as a plumber while Frank and Carl were kids), and also includes a subtle mention of my fanfic The Warlord's Respect at the end here.