<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




THE STATE OF TEXAS
                                        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: 
COUNTY OF DALLAS



         That the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Lynne P. Ciuba,
H. R. Smith and David A. Wadsworth, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney or attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, to sign on his behalf
as a director or officer, or both, as the case may be, of Maxus Energy
Corporation (the "Corporation"), the Corporation's Form 10-K Annual Report
pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, and to sign any or all amendments to such
Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney or attorneys-in-fact, and to each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney or attorneys-in-fact or any of them or their substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


January 15, 1996


                                                /s/ ROBERTO MONTI
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                    Roberto Monti
<PAGE>   2
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




THE STATE OF TEXAS
                                        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: 
COUNTY OF DALLAS



         That the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Lynne P. Ciuba,
H. R. Smith and David A. Wadsworth, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney or attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, to sign on his behalf
as a director or officer, or both, as the case may be, of Maxus Energy
Corporation (the "Corporation"), the Corporation's Form 10-K Annual Report
pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, and to sign any or all amendments to such
Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney or attorneys-in-fact, and to each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney or attorneys-in-fact or any of them or their substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


January 15, 1996


                                                  /s/ W. MARK MILLER
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                      W. Mark Miller
<PAGE>   3
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




THE STATE OF TEXAS
                                        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: 
COUNTY OF DALLAS



         That the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Lynne P. Ciuba,
H. R. Smith and David A. Wadsworth, and each of them, her true and lawful
attorney or attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for her and in her name, place and stead, to sign on her behalf
as a director or officer, or both, as the case may be, of Maxus Energy
Corporation (the "Corporation"), the Corporation's Form 10-K Annual Report
pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, and to sign any or all amendments to such
Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney or attorneys-in-fact, and to each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney or attorneys-in-fact or any of them or their substitute
or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


January 15, 1996



                                                /s/ LINDA R. ENGELBRECHT
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                    Linda R. Engelbrecht
<PAGE>   4
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

THE STATE OF TEXAS
                                        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: 
COUNTY OF DALLAS



         That the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Lynne P. Ciuba,
H. R. Smith and David A. Wadsworth, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney or attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, to sign on his behalf
as a director or officer, or both, as the case may be, of Maxus Energy
Corporation (the "Corporation"), the Corporation's Form 10-K Annual Report
pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, and to sign any or all amendments to such
Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney or attorneys-in-fact, and to each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney or attorneys-in-fact or any of them or their substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


January 15, 1996



                                               /s/ CHARLES L. BLACKBURN
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                   Charles L. Blackburn
<PAGE>   5
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

THE STATE OF TEXAS
                                        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: 
COUNTY OF DALLAS



         That the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Lynne P. Ciuba,
H. R. Smith and David A. Wadsworth, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney or attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, to sign on his behalf
as a director or officer, or both, as the case may be, of Maxus Energy
Corporation (the "Corporation"), the Corporation's Form 10-K Annual Report
pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, and to sign any or all amendments to such
Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney or attorneys-in-fact, and to each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney or attorneys-in-fact or any of them or their substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


January 15, 1996



                                                  /s/ CEDRIC BRIDGER
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                      Cedric Bridger
<PAGE>   6
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




THE STATE OF TEXAS
                                        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: 
COUNTY OF DALLAS



         That the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Lynne P. Ciuba,
H. R. Smith and David A. Wadsworth, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney or attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, to sign on his behalf
as a director or officer, or both, as the case may be, of Maxus Energy
Corporation (the "Corporation"), the Corporation's Form 10-K Annual Report
pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, and to sign any or all amendments to such
Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney or attorneys-in-fact, and to each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney or attorneys-in-fact or any of them or their substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


January 15, 1996



                                                  /s/ GEORGE L. JACKSON
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                      George L. Jackson
<PAGE>   7
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




THE STATE OF TEXAS
                                        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: 
COUNTY OF DALLAS



         That the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Lynne P. Ciuba,
H. R. Smith and David A. Wadsworth, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney or attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, to sign on his behalf
as a director or officer, or both, as the case may be, of Maxus Energy
Corporation (the "Corporation"), the Corporation's Form 10-K Annual Report
pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, and to sign any or all amendments to such
Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney or attorneys-in-fact, and to each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney or attorneys-in-fact or any of them or their substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


January 15, 1996



                                                      /s/ NELLS LEON
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                          Nells Leon
<PAGE>   8
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



THE STATE OF TEXAS
                                        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: 
COUNTY OF DALLAS



         That each undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Lynne P. Ciuba,
H. R. Smith and David A. Wadsworth, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney or attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, to sign on his behalf
as a director or officer, or both, as the case may be, of Maxus Energy
Corporation (the "Corporation"), the Corporation's Form 10-K Annual Report
pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, and to sign any or all amendments to such
Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney or attorneys-in-fact, and to each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney or attorneys-in-fact or any of them or their substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


January 15, 1996



                                                    /s/ JAMES R. LESCH
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                        James R. Lesch
<PAGE>   9
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




THE STATE OF TEXAS
                                        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: 
COUNTY OF DALLAS



         That the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Lynne P. Ciuba,
H. R. Smith and David A. Wadsworth, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney or attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, to sign on his behalf
as a director or officer, or both, as the case may be, of Maxus Energy
Corporation (the "Corporation"), the Corporation's Form 10-K Annual Report
pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, and to sign any or all amendments to such
Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney or attorneys-in-fact, and to each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney or attorneys-in-fact or any of them or their substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


January 15, 1996



                                                 /s/ P. DEXTER PEACOCK
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                     P. Dexter Peacock
<PAGE>   10
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




THE STATE OF TEXAS
                                        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: 
COUNTY OF DALLAS



         That the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Lynne P. Ciuba,
H. R. Smith and David A. Wadsworth, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney or attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, to sign on his behalf
as a director or officer, or both, as the case may be, of Maxus Energy
Corporation (the "Corporation"), the Corporation's Form 10-K Annual Report
pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, and to sign any or all amendments to such
Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney or attorneys-in-fact, and to each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney or attorneys-in-fact or any of them or their substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


January 15, 1996



                                                    /s/ R. A. WALKER
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                        R. A. Walker