Imps, Imps, Imps: The Many Miniature Magical Mischief Makers of DC Comics by Jerry Whitworth
When Mister Mxyzptlk made his debut in 1944 in the pages of Superman, he heralded a wave of magical allies and enemies of DC’s various heroes. An imp hailing from the Fifth Dimension, Mxyzptlk originally sought to conquer Earth but quickly became an annoyance to Superman every ninety days with the ability to remake reality as he sees fit. Just as Superman developed a family of friends and allies, Mxyzptlk would be joined by various other members of his race. The first of these annoyances was Bizarro Mxyzptlk, the creation of Bizarro No. 1’s son Bizarro Junior while playing with the Duplicator Ray (Super Friends introducing their version of the character as Mr. Kltpzyxm). Mxyzptlk V, the original’s descendant who troubled the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future (in the Legion of Super-Heroes cartoon, they faced a similar threat in Zyx) and Nzykmulk, the original Mxyzptlk’s older deranged cousin, followed in the ensuing decades. Superboy had to contend with the imp Gazook who became involved with fledgling hero Yellow Peri. Superman and Power Girl faced a godlike being from another dimension called Maaldor the Darklord. The Superman animated series in the ’90s finally delivered a romantic partner for Mxyzptlk in the vivacious Ms. Gsptlsnz. All-Star Superman introduced Klyzyzk Klzntplkz, a Fifth Dimension descendant of Superman, while Ultraman of the Anti-Matter Universe faced his own imp in Mixyezpitellik. As what occurred fairly regularly in the Silver Age, what was good enough for Superman was good enough for Batman bringing about the creation of Bat-Mite.
