Mr. Mxyzptlk (mix-yiz-pittle-ick): The History of Superman's Most Powerful Villain

Mr. Mxyzptlk (mix-yiz-pittle-ick) is one of Superman's most popular villains. Filling the trickster archetype found in ancient mythology, he visits Superman every ninety days in the hopes of getting his gourd. While Mxyzptlk is fond of practical jokes, his power level makes him a very dangerous enemy.

Mister Mxyzptlk

Mxy first appeared in Superman #30 published in 1944. A creation of the creator of Superman, he was a funny little man in a derby who walked up and down the streets of Metropolis looking for a man name McGurk. When Clark Kent goes to a viewing of The Thinker Mxy busts in and addresses the statue as McGurk and the statue follows Mxyzptlk out of the museum. Superman gives chase and Mxyzptlk informs him that he is an imp from the 5^th dimension who likes to cause mischief. To return thing to normal Superman must trick him into saying his name backwards (Kltpzyxm) and he'll go back to the 5^th dimension for ninety days, an inversion of the legend of Rumpelstiltskin. In fact, the imp takes credit for any story about a leprechaun, imp, or genie in human history.

Mxyzptlk turns Evil

In the story Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? By Alan Moore Mr. Mxyzptlk tires of his jokester persona and becomes a being of pure evil. His aspirations eventually bring down the majority of Superman's supporting cast, super-villains, and secret identity of Clark Kent. In a cunning move Superman brings him down by turning a Phantom Zone projector (a device used to send people into the Phantom Zone as seen in Superman II) while the imp is saying his name backwards. Mxy is spilt between dimensions and destroyed.

Mxyzptlk on Smallville

Mxyzptlk was re-imagined for the television series Smallville in Season 4. Dubbed Mikhail Mxyzptlk he was seen in the episode entitled "Jinx." He was played by actor Trent Ford and was a foreign exchange student sponsored by LuthorCorp who created an illegal gambling ring at Smallville High. Instead of the almost-godlike powers he displays in the comics he is able to subtly affect the outcome of sporting events by having players trip or drop the ball. At the end of "Jinx" Mikhail loses his super powers, although several extra-episode works mention that Lex Luthor did restore them.

Mxyzptlk on Television

Mxy was voiced on the super friends by Frank Weller and concentrated on annoying all the heroes instead of just Superman. Michael J. Pollard gave us the first live-action version in the short lived The New Adventures of Superboy. Howie Mandell took up the mantle on Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman in the Holiday episode "'Twas the Night Before Mxymas." He also appeared in two episodes of Superman: The Animated Series, and teamed up with Bizarro in the episode "Little Big Head Man." In the Superman Returns video game Mxy narrates the menu for mini games.

Mxy and Final Crisis

In the DC Comics universe Mxyzptlk has formed a mysterious allegiance with Darkseid, a New God. While the extent of this relationship remains to be seen, good money is on Mxy being heavily involved in the upcoming Final Crisis and has already made several appearances in the lead-in title Countdown to Final Crisis.

Many would argue that next to Lex Luthor and Bizarro Mr. Mxyzptlk is Superman's most popular villain. Whether that's because of his use in a variety of mediums or his mythic heritage is unsure, but with God-like powers and a grand sense of humor Mxy will be tormenting Superman for years to come. Kltpzyxm!