Gwen the Fair allows Max to see Freak for a short while, it is obvious that Freak is discouraged about his medical situation. "I'm growing on the inside but not the outside," he says.

Max Kane's internal conflict concerns his identity and self-esteem. As the son of Killer Kane, Max struggles to overcome his negative reputation and develop his own identity. Max even recognizes that his own grandparents fear him because he resembles his murderous father. At the start of the story, Max is an introverted boy with low self-esteem and few friends. However, Max develops a meaningful friendship with his close friend Kevin "Freak" and gains confidence. Kevin's internal struggle concerns his health and hope that he will survive his debilitating disease. He has faith that he will get a new bionic body and continue living. In order to cope with his tragic condition, Kevin uses his imagination to create a vivid fantasy world.

Kevin's external conflict concerns his disability, which severely limits his physical capabilities. Another external conflict concerns Max and Kevin's struggle to avoid violent bullies like Tony D. Max; Kevin's struggle to defeat Killer Kane after he kidnaps Max is another external conflict in the story.

Max has to deal with the conflict generated by his father, a convicted murderer who strangled his wife—Max's mother—to death. Initially, this is an internal conflict because Max has spent his whole life trying to deal with the constant sense that his old man's about to come get him in the middle of the night and carry him off. This explains why Max has never once felt safe, never felt as if he truly belonged anywhere.

In turn, this internal conflict leads to an external conflict after Killer Kane's released from prison on parole and does indeed come for his son. Because now Max has to survive the terrible ordeal of being kidnapped by a crazed psychotic killer. Max has been preparing for this moment his whole life, but as he soon realizes, thinking about such a horrible experience is one thing, but actually going through it in real life is a different matter entirely.

Kevin is a great character. He's almost perpetually positive and incredibly smart, and he's got an imagination that knows no bounds. Despite all that he has going for him, he has a disease that is killing him. This disease gives Kevin an internal and external conflict. Externally, he is fighting the disease. His own body fights to keep him alive, and medical staff are doing what they can as well. Internally, he struggles with knowing that in all likelihood he is going to die. Kevin also has external conflicts with people around him. He is seen as an odd kid, and making friends has never been easy for him. Fortunately, Max shows up in his life; however, that brings a different external conflict. Kevin has to figure out a way to rescue his friend from Max's crazy father.

External conflicts refer to the obstacles, struggles and trials that exist outside of a character. Internal conflicts, on the other hand, have to do with a character's inner (conflicted) feelings, making difficult choices, or indecisiveness. For Kevin in Freak the Mighty, his biggest external conflict is his disabled body which limits his capacity to move and to grow normally; or, it can be termed man vs. nature. Freak's internal conflict centers around his hope to obtain a bionic (robotic) body one day in order to keep on living; or, this can be termed man vs. self. Max, Freak's best friend and daily horse, doesn't quite understand what his friend actually faces, which is death (nature again). After Kevin tells Max about his inner hope to receive a bionic body from the medical research center, he also explains his physical situation as follows:

"No one stays like they are. . . Everybody is always changing. My problem is, I'm growing on the inside but not the outside" (89).

This explanation in no way defines what is medically wrong with Kevin. However, his internal and external conflicts collide here because his brilliant mind could take him anywhere in the world, but his body won't let him. Internally, Kevin chooses internally to face life with hope, confidence and happiness even though his external conflict, which is his body (and/or nature), will eventually die.

There are two main problems in Freak the Mighty: one has to do with the villain of the novel and the other has to do with Kevin’s birth defect.  

The first main problem has to do with the villain of the book: Kenny “Killer” Kane (Max’s father). This character darkens the entire book; however, we first begin to realize what a scary character Kane is through Max’s reaction to the principal’s news that Max’s dad is about to get out of jail on parole. As a result of this news, Max falls into hysterics, which eventually leads to a loss of memory about the whole incident. Kenny “Killer” Kane remains an ominous and unseen figure until the end of the book where we see exactly what an evil character Kenny “Killer” Kane truly is. Kane kidnaps Max while we learn that Kane truly did kill Max’s mother.

The other main problem in the book is that Kevin has a severe birth defect. As a result, Kevin’s legs are severely deformed. Kevin cannot get around without braces and crutches. The positive effect of Kevin’s condition is that Max and Kevin are able to create the unified character of “Freak the Mighty.” When Kevin gets around on Max’s shoulders, the two become a force to be reckoned with. More serious than the issue with Kevin’s legs, though, is the fact that Kevin’s heart is “too big for his body.” This causes Kevin’s eventual death.

In Freak the Mighty, Rodman Philbrick’s 1993 young adult novel, the main conflict exists between Max and his father, Kenneth “Killer” Kane.

Throughout the narrative, the reader learns that Max’s father strangled his mother to death. This murder has put “Killer” Kane in prison, but he still provides significant tension in Max’s life from behind bars.

First, Max has terrible self-esteem. He refers to himself as a big butthead and hates that physically he looks similar to his father. Max lives with his grandparents, Grim and Gram, and they are constantly worried that he will grow up to be an outlaw and murderer like his father. Max fears that because he has the same DNA as his father, he could grow up and become nefarious, which significantly impedes his adolescent development.

When Max and Kevin return Loretta’s purse, Loretta and Iggy consider messing with the boys, but even they are too afraid of what “Killer” Kane would do to them if he learns they hurt his son. This speaks to how prevalent and prominent just the idea of Max’s father is.

The tension in this conflict builds when “Killer” Kane is released on parole and kidnaps Max to make him his assistant. Max is tied up because his father cannot completely trust him. Max reveals, both to his father and the reader, that he witnessed the murder of his mother, which prompts “Killer” Kane to try to strangle Max. This scene represents first time Max has truly stood up to his father and fought back in the face of evil.

This book is loaded with conflicts throughout the story. Some of these conflicts are internal conflicts, and some of them are external conflicts. Quite a few of the conflicts are minor. However, choosing the one, single main conflict is determined by opinion. I would like to provide what I believe is the central external conflict and the central internal conflict.

The main external conflict is the conflict that exists between Max and his dad. Max's dad killed his wife, and Max witnessed it. Max fears his dad, and he fears what his dad may do to him some day. Killer Kane is eventually released from prison, and he kidnaps Max. This is the main external conflict. Max has no desire to go anywhere with his father, but his father will not release Max back to Grim and Gram.

I believe that the story's main internal conflict is the conflict that exists in Max's mind. He has huge self-confidence issues. He calls himself a goon and a dumb butthead multiple times. He sees zero potential in himself, and he is afraid to even work at it. He might look like a big, strong, confident kid, but he is a complete emotional and mental train wreck of a kid. The only person that seems to be able to offer any kind of help is Freak, and readers see great improvements in Max as long as Freak is in the picture.

There are many internal and external conflicts in Rodman Philbrick's novel Freak the Mighty. An internal conflict is when a character fights a battle within himself/herself. For example, someone might be conflicted because even though they know it is wrong to lie, it is the only way they can think of getting what they want. An external conflict is between a character or characters and one or more external force. This can be another character, a group, a natural disaster, technology, the supernatural, or an animal. This is not a comprehensive list.

Freak the Mighty is told from Max Kane's point of view. He shares his internal conflict over his identity. He is the son of Killer Kane, and as a result, he feels that his worth as a person is diminished. This is an internal conflict for him.

Max lives with his grandmother and grandfather and does not seem to be too close with them. There is a conflict because they are his mother's parents: they fear him somewhat because he looks so similar to his father, the one who murdered their daughter. This is mostly an internal conflict for Max, because it is never spoken about. He notices this about his grandparents, but outwardly, they take care of him. It is another example of how and why he wrestles with his identity.

Another internal conflict Max experiences is when Kevin dies. He believes Kevin completely when he tells him the story about the experimental treatment that will give him a new body. When Kevin dies, he cannot reconcile that fact with his belief that Kevin was going to be fixed.

One external conflict in this novel is the conflict between Tony D. and his gang. Kevin throws insults at the bullies because he feels brave with Max beside him. In essence, he picks a fight with Tony D., and this is really how Max and Kevin bond as Freak the Mighty.

Another external conflict is when Killer Kane requests to see Max. Max does not want anything to do with his father. He has flashbacks of his mother's troubles with his father, although, at the time of the flashbacks, he was very young.

Killer Kane kidnaps Max, which is another external conflict. He ties him up, but Loretta helps him escape. Before he can run, Killer Kane catches them and tries to strangle Loretta. This is another external conflict—man versus man. Max lunges at his father in order to stop him from killing Loretta.

There can definitely be more than one conflict in a story.  In fact, novels usually have a bunch of them! 

Conflicts can be either internal or external.  An internal conflict is an inner struggle the character has, usually about a fear or making a decision.  External conflicts, on the other hand, are problems the character has with outside influences.

The main conflicts in the story are internal.  Both boys are struggling with the inadequacies of their own bodies or minds. In other words, Max has to learn to deal with being “slow” and Kevin has to learn to deal with not having a body that works.  The external conflicts are between Max and Kevin and the bullies.

The protagonist in Freak the Mighty is actually the amalgamation of two characters: Max and Kevin.  Kevin, of course, is the small, intelligent child with many birth defects who always puts himself into imaginary worlds in order to get by.  Max is the large, strong boy who has Kenny "Killer" Kane as a father and is always accused of having less than average intelligence.  Together they make up the protagonist: Freak the Mighty.  (The two create this term when Max puts Kevin on his back in order to escape their first small conflict against Tony's gang.)  Although there are many smaller conflicts in the book, the two major ones are discussed below.

The first conflict of note is that of Freak the Mighty vs. Kevin's deformity.  The two combat this issue through the creation of their dual character, "Freak the Mighty."  For example, as Max and Kevin try to escape from Tony D. and his gang (which is one of the smaller conflicts in the book), we can see the creation of the dual character of Freak the Mighty.  Max puts Kevin on his back in order to help him get around.  Together (with Kevin's brain and Max's brawn), the two escape Tony D. and do many things.

Another important conflict of note is between Freak the Mighty and the villain of the novel.  I would call this conflict Freak the Mighty vs. Max's father.  The darkness of Kenny "Killer" Kane envelopes the entire novel, but comes to a head near the end when Kenny kidnaps Max on Christmas Eve.  With the help of both Loretta Lee (who cuts Max free) and Kevin (who squirts Kenny with "acid"), Max is freed from his predicament.  As a result, Kenny "Killer" Kane is put back in jail where he belongs.

This is a tricky question because there are many conflicts in the book, some of them large and some of them small.  There are, however, two major conflicts: Freak the Mighty vs. Kevin’s disability and Freak the Mighty vs. Kenny “Killer” Kane. In a way, both Kevin’s birth defect and Max’s father serve as villains in the book.

The first conflict to discuss is Kevin’s disability vs. Freak the Mighty. The character of “Freak the Mighty” is actually the dual character of Kevin and Max. By creating and sustaining this dual character, Max and Kevin create the solution to the conflict. The first example involves the boys’ eighth grade year. Max is afraid to speak in front of the class. When Kevin defends him, they bond together and proclaim their dual name. Instead of continuing their jeers, the classmates continue the chant of “Freak the Mighty.” Another example of this is when Kevin and Max run from Tony D. and his gang of thugs. Kevin climbs on Max’s back in order to increase his speed. Together they outrun and outwit the gang. Just because Kevin dies from his birth defect in the end does not mean that his defect “wins” in regards to the conflict. Kevin lives on in the form of Max’s written stories that Max vows to write. This is the ultimate resolution of the conflict.

There is also a literal villain in the book: Max’s father, Kenny “Killer” Kane. We can tell Kane is going to cause a problem for Max when he has a fit in the principal’s office when told about Kane’s parole. Kane wreaks all sorts of havoc in the book, but the defining moment of the conflict is when Kane kidnaps Max. If the conflict is Freak the Mighty vs. Kenny “Killer” Kane, then the resolution happens when Kevin appears and squirts Kane with “acid.” Max is freed (with the help of Loretta), and Kane is put back in jail.

The two boys, Kevin and Max, face a number of conflicts during their trials and tribulations in Freak the Mighty. Kevin faces his extensive physical problems in the most positive way possible, often using his good humor and intellectual skills to avoid further predicaments. By teaming with Max, the two boys create Freak the Mighty, allowing both boys self-confidence and powers--physical and mental--that they would not have been able to experience alone. Max seems to have a tougher time dealing with his own problems. A depressed loner, he is brought out of his shell by Kevin, and things get better both at home and school. He still has problems dealing with the knowledge concerning the death of his mother, and Max still has to deal with bullies. More importantly, things really become complicated with the arrival of his murderous father: When he is abducted by his dad, it is Kevin who comes to his rescue. Max has yet another conflict with which to deal when Kevin dies, leaving him friendless once again. Max's grandparents make it clear that quitting school is not an option, even though he "hated every minute of it." But, when Max meets up with Loretta shortly after Kevin's death, she reminds him that being a "nothing is a drag, kid. Think about it." Max takes her words to heart, and taking the empty book from the pyramid box, Max begins writing his story--and that of Freak the Mighty.

... I'm feeling okay about remembering things. And now that I've written a book who knows, I might even read a few.
     No big deal.

Hmmmmm, I am not really sure that "person vs. supernatural" is actually a good description of the conflict in this book; however, I will do my best to help you answer the question.  The reason why I feel that way is because the only semblance of a supernatural presence is the imagination that exists between Kevin and Max. 

It is this imagination (that of Freak the Mighty, that IS Kevin and Max) that allows the two to have many adventures and much fun together.  It is Kevin, especially, who is good at imagination. 

Pain is just a state of mind. You can think your way out of everything, even pain.

There is an adventure when the two "fight dragons."  There is an adventure when the two enter the hospital's research ward in order to discover the robotic bodies that one day will belong to Kevin so that he can get around better due to his disability.  There is the "real" adventure where Kevin tries to rescue Max by threatening with a squirt gun that he claims is filled with acid (but is actually a soap and spice mixture).

In short, I think the best answer to your question would involve Max's violent family members vs. Kevin's vivid, supernatural imagination.  That is a true conflict, especially in the case of Kevin squirting Kenny in the eyes with the burning spice and soap mixture!  This is truly a conflict; however, it can't really claim to be "supernatural" because it has nothing to do with ghosts or spirits or any other anti-natural phenomena.

One conflict in the book Freak the Mighty is the internal conflict experienced by the narrator, Max. At the beginning of the book, Max has low self-esteem, believes that his grandparents don't love him, and internalizes the fear that others have of him due to his serial killer father. Max also has a learning disability, and as a result he believes himself to be stupid. When Kevin enters his life, the close friendship between them and the means through which they help one another overcome their limitations convinces Max that he has worth an value.

An external conflict in the text exists between Max and his father. Max fears his father, and his grandparents worry that Max will grow up to be like him. Shortly after Max's father is released from prison, he breaks into Max's room and kidnaps him with the intention of forcing Max to become his assistant. Soon after, Max's father gives up on this plan and decides to murder him by strangling him, just like he had killed Max's mother. This conflict is resolved when Kevin shows up and shoots Max's father in the eyes with a squirt gun full of vinegar and spices. Kevin had also called the police, who enter the apartment to arrest Max's father once again.

There are numerous conflicts in Rodman Philbrick's Freak the Mighty. First, Max is very uncomfortable with who he is (both internally and externally). As a large boy, he is very uncomfortable with his size (compared to others his age). He is also uncomfortable with his own person (given his father's imprisonment). 

Kevin also faces conflict. He has a growth condition which keeps him very small. Like Max, this bothers Kevin both internally (how he feels about his size) and externally (how he looks on the outside). 

As Freak the Mighty, Kevin and Max face an external conflict--Tony D. Tony D does not like the boys and goes out of his way to cause trouble for them (even chasing them into a lake at one point). Max also faces his kidnapping by his father (another external conflict).