The Super-Men (and -Women) of All-Planets

[Jim Kelly]

In the comics, the initial stories never indicate which dimension Mr. Mxyztplk is from, however from the way Mxy and his fellow imps talk it seems like their world is several dimensions beyond our three dimensions.

The third adventure featuring Mxyztplk in the comic books, in SUPERMAN 33 (March-April 1945), does identify the world itself as Zrfff. In this story, “Dimensions of Danger” (by Don Cameron, Ira Yarbrough and George Roussos), nosey Lois finds that Clark has written down the word “Klptzyxm,” and pronouncing it aloud she is whisked off to Zrfff. Superman does the same in order to save the girl reporter.

When Mr. Mxyztplk meets Lois Lane’s niece, Susie Tompkins, he recognizes her gift for imagination and turns all her fibs into truths--SUPERMAN 40 (May-June 1946)--1st story, “The Mxyztplk-Susie Alliance” by Don Cameron, Ira Yarbrough and Stan Kaye--cover by Wayne Boring and George Roussos.




A few stories later, “The Cross-Country Chess Crimes”--in ACTION COMICS 112 (September 1947)--finally identifies which dimension Mxyztplk is from: the 6th Dimension!

However, Alvin Schwartz and Win Mortimer offer the next Mxy yarn, the 1st story in SUPERMAN 51 (March-April 1948), which establishes once and for all that Zrfff is in the 5th Dimension. This is “Mr. Mxyztplk Seeks a Wife,” where the King of Zrfff is anxious to marry off his ugly daughter, but as no one will ask for her hand, his majesty commands his jester--Mxy--to marry her highness. Our favourite imp explains that he can’t marry the King’s daughter because he’s already engaged to marry Lois Lane on Earth.



Mxy then comes to Earth and tries to get Lois to marry him, but the journalist issues a challenge--saying that if Mxyztplk proves to be a better reporter than her, she will marry him. The magical imp rises to the challenge, stealing an interview with recluse millionaire Seymour Salmon away from Lois Lane.

Next, the pop-eyed pixie gets the scoop on an experimental rocket. And finally Perry White insists that as “ace reporters . . one of you ought to be able to get an interview with Superman! Get him to answer at least three questions!”

Before Lois can begin to interview the Man of Tomorrow, Mxyztplk pulls a prank drawing Superman into action. In the middle of their struggles, Mxy asks three questions without Super realizing he’s being interviewed. The third question is “My goodness--where do you get your strength?” To which the Man of Steel replies, “From eating atom bombs, pest.”

Having proved he’s the better reporter, the marriage of Mr. Mxyztplk and Lois Lane must go ahead. But as the couple exchange their wedding vows, Super objects to the lawful union by calling out Mxyztplk as an impostor, named Klptzyxm. When the Mr. says his name is not Klptzyxm, he’s forced back to the 5th Dimension. What happens there with the King’s daughter on Zrfff, the story doesn’t say.