In the universe of DC, heroes like Superman and Batman constantly have to deal with powerful villains. One of the most annoying is also one of the most dangerous, at least if he were to use his powers correctly.
Which villain is it? Mister Mxyzptlk made his debut in 1944 in Superman Nr.30
. At first glance, he doesn’t look very threatening at all. He wears an orange onesie, has a partially bald head, and a small purple hat and shoes.
So he doesn’t look particularly threatening, but Mister Mxyzptlk is one of the most powerful beings in the entire DC universe, hailing from the fifth dimension and having a particular problem with Superman.
There is only one way to defeat him: To outsmart him
What abilities does Mister Mxyzptlk have? Mister Mxyzptlk comes from the fifth dimension. This is a place that exists outside the normal rules and universes. In the fifth dimension, for example, different physical rules apply than those we know.
The inhabitants of this dimension are mostly called goblins
. Due to his origin, Mister Mxyzptlk is considered an omnipotent being, capable of almost anything one can imagine. He can manipulate himself, but also everything else. This makes him reminiscent of The Impossible Man by Stan Lee.
In addition, he has abilities such as teleportation, immortality, molecular reconstruction, or even simply changing physical and logical rules. Like Deadpool, he enjoys breaking the fourth wall.
Here you can watch a scene with Mister Mxyzptlk from the animated series Superman: The Animated Series:
Does Mister Mxyzptlk have weaknesses? Although he is virtually unbeatable, he can be outsmarted. On the one hand, he is not fundamentally evil. He loves jokes and enjoys being on Earth because it entertains him. With his powers, he could theoretically erase the entire multiverse without breaking a sweat.
Due to his nature, it is possible to trick him because his powers have limitations that he imposes on himself. If one exploits these, he is sent back to the fifth dimension and can only return after 90 days. Additionally, all his actions are undone.
One of the most well-known limitations is: If he says his name backward, he is banished. In the video above, you can see how Superman tricks him.
Mister Mxyzptlk is actually not a dangerous villain, but his enormous powers make him unpredictable, especially when he wants to annoy
Superman or other heroes. In the upcoming Superman film, Mr. Terrific will make his first appearance. In the comics, he founded a team reminiscent of the Fantastic Four: They are a copy of the Fantastic Four, but thanks to James Gunn and Superman, we might one day see them in theaters or on TV.
