When The Prankee Becomes The Prankster

[superfangirl1]

Superman Red & Blue #4
















Apparently, this is a sort of retelling of a silver age story

“It was Action Comics # 273 (February 1961) a story called "The World of Mr. Mxyzptlk!" Because of having to deal with Mr. Mxyzptlk, Superman misses a scheduled visit to Smallville Orphanage. Superman decides to teach the imp a lesson and harass HIM! Superman goes into the 5th Dimension and finds out that Mxy is running for mayor.


Superman's antics cause Mxyzptlk to lose the election. The imp tries several times to get Superman to say his name backwards, but when Superman finally DOES say NAM...REP...US Nothing happens! Then Superman turns and whispers something so softly that Mxy can't hear ..and disappears. Mxyzptlk can't figure it out.

What did Superman whisper to cause him to return to his own dimension? Not "Clark Kent", but his real name, Kal-El (Le Lak).”

Comments

[lizard_of_aus]

Yeah, I stumbled on the wiki page for the original Silver Age story long ago

All in all, I definitely prefer the True Name given here.

[blues32]

But that's not his name. His name is Kal-El. He answers to it still and it's the one his parents gave him.

[cainofdreaming]

The people who gave birth to him gave him that name. His parents named him Clark.

[blues32]

The name given at birth is the name that seems most likely to work in terms of magic and such. "Names hold power" and all that stuff.

[lizard_of_aus]

I'd argue that the name he identifies with most strongly is the one considered truest and holding the most power over him.

Not since the silver age have there been many interpretations of a Superman who considers himself a kryptonian first and a smallville boy second.

[scorntx]

Sometimes he identifies more as Clark Kent.

During Grant Morisson's Action Comics and a bit later on in Greg Rucka's Wonder Woman Rebirth, when he has to give his true name he uses Clark Kent and Kal-El.

The giant can of whipped cream is a nice touch. Very Silver Age.

Though if Clark's insisting he doesn't need glasses, how did Myx get him into that optician's office? Or was he using his fifth dimensional powers to just warp him there?
(But if his powers work on Supes while he's there, why not just use those powers to stop him?)

[blues32]

Because he wanted to mess with Mxy. Superman went to the office willingly, only to sit down and ask why he would need glasses instead of reading the chart as Mxysptlk wanted.

[bradygirl_12]

Love it when Clark used his heat vision to mess up Mxy's dinner! This is a fun story. 🔥 😍 🔥

[cygnia]

Superdickery!