fictional character in DC comics
Mister_Mxyzptlk_(circa_2017).png
Mr. Mxyzptlk
Mister Mxyzptlk (/ˌmɪksjɛzˈpɪtəlɪk/ MIKS-yez-PIT-əl-ik or /ˈmɪksɪlplɪk/ MIK-sil-plik), sometimes called Mxy, is a supervillain who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is usually presented as a trickster in the … Wikipedia
Factsheet
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Superman #30 (Sept. / Oct. 1944)
Factsheet
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Superman #30 (Sept. / Oct. 1944)
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Mister_Mxyzptlk
Mister Mxyzptlk - Wikipedia
2 weeks ago - Mxyztplk often looks for ways to ... only send Mxyztplk back to the fifth dimension but also anyone else who said it. To return to his/her home dimension, one has to say one's own name backward....
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DC Universe Online
dcuniverseonline.com › news › dc-universe-online-character-spotlight-mxyzptlk-2014
Character Spotlight: Mister Mxyzptlk! | DC Universe Online
March 5, 2014 - One way to return him to his home is by tricking him into saying his own name backwards. Not only will this return him to the fifth dimension, but it will also cause all effects of his magic to vanish with him.
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Fandom
superman.fandom.com › wiki › Mister_Mxyzptlk
Mister Mxyzptlk | Superman Wiki | Fandom
March 18, 2026 - His only weaknesses were that he could not stand being ridiculed and if he said or spelled his name backwards, Kltpzyxm (kil-tip-zee-zim [kɪltɪpzizɪm]), he was involuntarily sent back to his home dimension for a minimum of 90 days. Mxyzptlk would often look for ways to counter the latter weakness, but he always proved gullible enough for Superman to trick him time and time again. In the Golden Age, saying "Kltpzyxm" would not only bring Mxy back to the fifth dimension, but would bring anyone else saying it to the fifth dimension.
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Quora
quora.com › How-has-Mister-Mxyzptlk-been-tricked-into-saying-his-name-backwards
How has Mister Mxyzptlk been tricked into saying his name backwards? - Quora
So busy chasing Superman around ... into speaking his name backwards out loud, he simply says “Oh darn”, and “Pop”, back to the 5th dimension he went....
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IMDb
imdb.com › title › tt0713571 › quotes
"Superman: The Animated Series" Mxyzpixilated (TV Episode 1997) - Quotes - IMDb
Superman: A game has rules! Your stunts are just random idiocy! Mr. Mxyzptlk: Okay, I'll give you a rule! If you can make me say, spell or otherwise reveal my name backwards and I'll split, until our dimensions come into alignment again in...
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Superman Homepage
supermanhomepage.com › comics › special-reports › mxyzptlk.php
Superman: Special Reports
The following issue, Superman: Emperor Joker #1, retreats from that position a bit as Mxy explains his powers to Superman: "Stop me if you've heard this one. I am an imp from the 5th dimension. I used to drop in every 90 days or so to drive you mad. Ah, those were the good old days. We'd have some laughs at your expense - play some games like you tricking me into saying my name backwards - and I'd get sent home.
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Superman Homepage
supermanhomepage.com › tv › tv.php
Superman: The Animated Series - Episode Reviews
The only way Superman can rid himself of Mr. Mxyzptlk is for Superman to trick him into saying or spelling his own name backwards. Once he does, Mxy is forced to retreat to the fifth dimension and cannot return for 90 days.
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Alchetron
alchetron.com › Mister-Mxyzptlk
Mister Mxyzptlk ~ Everything You Need to Know with Photos | Videos
In the Golden Age, saying "Klptzyxm" will not only send Mxyztplk back to the fifth dimension but also anyone else who said it. To return to his/her home dimension, one has to say one's own name backward.
Published   February 5, 2026
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Fandom
neoencyclopedia.fandom.com › wiki › Mister_Mxyzptlk
Mister Mxyzptlk | Neo Encyclopedia Wiki | Fandom
January 9, 2026 - In most of his appearances in DC Comics, he can be stopped only by tricking him into saying or spelling his own name backwards (Kltpzyxm - "kel-tip-zix-um"), which will return him to his home in the 5th dimension and keep him there for a minimum ...
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Fandom
dc.fandom.com › wiki › Mister_Mxyzptlk_(Earth-One)
Mister Mxyzptlk (Earth-One) | DC Database | Fandom
March 14, 2024 - Mxyzptlk by making him watch newsreel footage of himself where the audio was looped backwards; when the recording said his name backwards in his own voice, Mxyzptlk was banished back to the Fifth Dimension.[13]
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In the original Pre-Crisis / Earth-Two continuity, Mister Mxyztplk didn't choose a weakness. Rather, he needed to use magical words to transport himself from his dimension to Earth and back again, and 'Klptzyxm' was the word that sent him home for a time.

SUPERMAN: Then perhaps you'll tell me what strange manner of being you are—and where you've come from?

MXYZTPLK: The answer is absurdly simple. I'm not from this world, you see—but a being from another dimension! ..If the truth be known, my full-time activity in this other world was in the nature of a court jester. Therefore I had no business poking my nose into the secret volumes of a brilliant scholar.. But, inquisitive individual that I am, I couldn't restrain my curiosity. Thus did I learn the two magic words, one of which would transport me to this dimension. And the other word if spoken aloud would return me to my world for a time!

Superman Vol. 1 #30 (October, 1944)


In later stories set within the Pre-Crisis / Earth-One continuity, it was established that Mister Mxyzptlk saying his own declared name backwards -- whatever it happened to be at the time -- would send him home... unless his declared name was a palindrome, that is, in which case saying it backwards had no effect, since it sounded the same as saying it forwards.

In one story, Mxy had his name legally changed to 'Maxy Z. Toplik' and Superman tricked him into saying 'Kilpot Zyxam,' which forcibly sent him home.

MXYZTPLK: What? How dare you insult me? For contempt of court, I hereby sentence you, Mr.--Mr.--what is your name?

SUPERMAN (in disguise): Kilpot Zyxam!

MXYZTPLK: Very well! 30 days--Mr. Kilpot Zyxam! I'll show you--suddenly, I--I have the strangest feeling!

SUPERMAN (revealing his costume): You bet you have--since I just tricked you into saying your name backwards and you're going back to your own dimension!

MXYZTPLK: But my name isn't--wait! You did trick me! I changed my name legally to Maxy Z. Toplik... and backwards...

SUPERMAN: ... It's Kilpot Zyxam! I knew I'd catch you off-guard if I got you angry!

Superman Vol. 1 #96 (March, 1955)

In another story, Mxy had his name legally changed to the palindrome, 'Mxypyxm,' so him saying 'Klptzyxm' no longer sent him home, and saying 'Mxypyxm' backwards had no effect either.

In this instance, Superboy blew particles of an alien mineral called 'Amnesium' at Mxy, causing him to forget the previous 48 hours. Superboy was then able trick Mxy into declaring that his name was 'Mxyztplk' and into subsequently saying that backwards, which forcibly sent him home again.

An implication of this story was that Mxy still needed to use magic words to transport himself from and to his home dimension; without his memory of the previous 48 hours, he was worried that he wouldn't be able to get home, since he didn't remember what he'd changed his name to, and therefore couldn't say it backwards.

SUPERBOY: I thought you were behind the trouble...I suppose it was you who set all those advertising balloons loose, too?

MXYZPTLK: Hello, Stuporboy! But what balloons do you mean?

SUPERBOY: Those balloons!

MXYZPTLK: You mean...the ones with letters painted on them that read "kltpzyxm"?

SUPERBOY: What...the balloon trick I set up worked and you said your name backward, but it didn't return you to your own world this time!

MXYZPTLK: Because my name is no longer Mxyzptlk! I had it legally changed to Mxypyxm, and that'll be my name until I declare I'm Mxyzptlk once more! When I say my new name backward, it's just the same as it is forward...Mxypyxm! Ha, ha!...Let's see you trick me now!

Superboy Vol. 1 #120 (April, 1965)


In the Post-Crisis / New Earth continuity, Mister Mxyzptlk was a self-described "gamester" and "gambler" who liked to challenge people -- especially Superman -- to various games. In order to make those games competitive -- and thus more fun for Mxy -- the rules of each game had to allow for a condition by which his opponent could win.

In his first Post-Crisis appearance, he challenged Superman to a name game, in which Superman had to get him to write, spell, or say 'Mxyzptlk' backwards -- i.e. 'Kltpzyxm' -- in order to win. Note that, in this continuity, Mxy didn't use magic words to transport himself from and to his home dimension, so him saying or writing 'Kltpzyxm' had no effect, in and of itself. It just meant that he lost the name game, per his own rules, and he promised he'd leave if he lost, so he did.

MXYZPTLK: You see, I'm a gamester, Superman. A gambler. And I think you can provide me with some of the challenge my own world has lost!

MXYZPTLK: Tell you what I'll do, Superman. I'll make this fair. I'll challenge you to the name game. All you have to do is get me to write, spell, or say my name backwards!

SUPERMAN: That's all, hm? Unfortunately, according to you, your name won't translate into any human tongue!

MXYZPTLK: True enough. True enough. But I do want you to have a sporting chance, Superman. So...let's make up a name! Right here and now!

[...]

MXYZPTLK: There you are, Superman! Mix-yez-pittle-ick!! From now on, I'm Mister Mxyzptlk!! Get me to use it backwards, and I'll return to my home dimension...and all the effects of my visit will vanish with me!

Superman Vol. 2 #11 (November, 1987)

In later Post-Crisis appearances, Mxy challenged Superman to new games where Superman had to meet other conditions to win, like getting him to paint his own face blue (Adventures of Superman Vol. 1 #441). He also challenged Lex Luthor to a couple of games, like one where Luthor had to get him to shave his own head bald (Superman Vol. 2 #31).

In his first few Post-Crisis appearances, Mxy always told the truth because he literally didn't know how to lie. It was only after interacting with Luthor for the first time that he learned the art of deception. In a subsequent game with Superman, he challenged him to best the Flash in a footrace, but the stated win condition was a lie; Mxy had only planned to leave if Superman lost the race, which he did, but not on purpose (Adventures of Superman Vol. 1 #463).

Later still, Mxy challenged Superman to another game, and refused to leave when Superman met the stated win condition.

SUPERMAN: I remember how this works--you set the rules. If I can somehow get you to do something you come up with, you'll voluntarily return to the Fifth Dimension!

MXYZPTLK: You reading off cue cards or what?? Okay, okay...here's the challenge--get my guards to spell "Mxcorp" backwards, and I'll oblige you!

SUPERMAN: Well? There it is--read it and weep! I know I'm not the only person who'll be happy to see you go back to the Fifth Dimension, Mxy!

MXYZPTLK: Hmmm... "Twister" went out of vogue years ago, Superdupe. I dare say this was -yawn- boring!

SUPERMAN: You set the rules--you gave your word... so leave already!

MXYZPTLK: This is so embarrassing. Don't you get it? That was--ta-da--my first lie! I guess the more you do it, the less awkward it feels when you get caught, eh?

SUPERMAN: You lied? How in the world do I get rid of you now?

Adventures of Superman Vol. 1 #496 (November, 1992)

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Superman Homepage
supermanhomepage.com › comics › comics.php
Mr Mxyzptlk - Superman Comic Books
The following issue, Superman: Emperor Joker #1, retreats from that position a bit as Mxy explains his powers to Superman: "Stop me if you've heard this one. I am an imp from the 5th dimension. I used to drop in every 90 days or so to drive you mad. Ah, those were the good old days. We'd have some laughs at your expense - play some games like you tricking me into saying my name backwards - and I'd get sent home.
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Comic Art Fans
comicartfans.com › gallerypiece.asp
Superman #563 p20 (Mr. Mxyzptlk says his name backwards), in Robert C's Superman (Mr. Mxyzptlk, Brainiac, Supergirl, etc) Comic Art Gallery Room
March 8, 2022 - Thanks to Gary for parting from this (mostly as a kind gesture to me). Gary's description: An iconic page featuring Superman tricking his nemesis Mr. Mxyzptlk into saying his name backwards and forcing him to return to his own dimension. From the story entitled, "Mr.
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TV Tropes
tvtropes.org › tv tropes › characters in superman – mister mxyzptlk
Characters in Superman – Mister Mxyzptlk - TV Tropes
August 3, 2022 - So he sets rules for their encounters that he rigidly adheres to, the most well-known being that if Superman can get him to say, spell, write, or otherwise communicate his own name backward, he leaves and can't return for 90 days.
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Pinterest
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Mister Mxyzptlk | Dc comics wallpaper ...
July 30, 2016 - Not actually evil, he does no long-term damage although he constantly seeks to pester and prove he's smarter than the Man of Steel. He cannot be made to return to his home dimension until he's tricked into saying, "Kltpzyxm", his own name backwards.
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Nerdist
nerdist.com › home › articles › james gunn confirms interdimensional imp in superman wasn’t who we thought it was
James Gunn Confirms Interdimensional Imp in SUPERMAN Wasn't Who We Thought It Was - Nerdist
But like clockwork, Mxy would always reappear 3 months later, and Supes would find a way to trick the imp into saying his name backwards. And it went on this way for decades. As silly and Rumpelstiltskin as all this was, it did force Superman to solve a problem with his super brain and not his super fists for a change. ... In the Silver Age, Mxy ditched the old suit and tie for a more Jetsons-esque sci-fi costume and started to appear more frequently. He was so popular that Batman got his own 5th-dimensional imp, Bat-Mite.
Published   February 26, 2026
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ComicsOnline
comicsonline.com › 2016 › 05 › comics-spotlight-mister-mxyzptlk
Mister Mxyzptlk Menace of the 5th Dimension - ComicsOnline
May 31, 2016 - The already strange name backwards appeared as Kltpzyxm pronounced Kel-tip-zix-um. If this was accomplished it would send Mxy back to his home in the 5th dimension for a limited time.