At what point did they change Mr Mxyzptlk?

[samurainoir]

I know that Mxy originally had a slightly different spelling and was more of an elf or imp-like guy.

At what point did he turn into the taller and more realistic version that was immortalized as a Mego Action figure? I mostly associate Curt Swan with this version... was it Swan that came up with the look of the Silver/Copper Age Mxy?

Which do you prefer?

[The Toyroom]

It gets a little screwy....According to Michael Fleisher's "Great Superman Book" he was Mr. Mxyztplk from 1944 until 1959, at which point he became known as Mr. Mxyzptlk.

But apparently his appearance changed to the modern version back in Action Comics #208 ('55) and his name had both spellings in this same issue. But it wasn't until '59 when the modern/Silver Age version of the spelling stuck.

Further more, "Who's Who" lists the Silver Age Mxy's first appearance as Superman #131, which is from '59 and when the name change was "official".

[kryptosmaster]

^^^^^^ Are you T.M. Maple reincarnated????

[Adam West]

Isn't there also some confusion over his name pronunciation?

I think on the (Superfriends maybe?) his name was pronounced (mix-el-plick) but I think the original pronunciation is something like (me-ixel-plit).

[The Toyroom]

The "modern" pronounciation is Mix-yez-pitel-ick (Mxyzptlk) whereas the "golden age" version is Mix-zit-plik (Mxyztplk). It was pronounced differently on the Superfriends and I also think on the Filmation 60s version.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I think the Super Friends just simplified it either for it's audience or so the actors wouldn't get tounge-tied saying it. I have a Superman Power Records where they pronounce it correctly, and I thought they were saying it wrong! Super Friends was gospel to me back then.

Another conundrum about Mxy. He was created for the comic books, but due to scheduling, he first appeared in the Superman comic strip, about 6 months before his comic debut!

Chris

[samurainoir]

Did they ever come up with an explanation about why Purple Bald Golden Age Mxy and the funny looking Byrne Revamp Mxy were running around at the same time before the latest rounds of Crisis'? I think Rucka was writing the former in one of the Superman titles, and Loeb had the latter in Superman/Batman.

As much as I really enjoyed Alan Moore's Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow, I'm glad that no one has ever revisited "Dark Mxy".

[The Toyroom]

Did they ever come up with an explanation about why Purple Bald Golden Age Mxy and the funny looking Byrne Revamp Mxy were running around at the same time before the latest rounds of Crisis'? I think Rucka was writing the former in one of the Superman titles, and Loeb had the latter in Superman/Batman.

I just chalk it up to him being a 5th dimensional imp who can change his appearance....rather than the real reason which is lazy editorial proofing.