Mikhail Mxyzptlk is a minor antagonist in the fourth season of the TV show Smallville, appearing as the main antagonist of the episode "Jinx".
Instead of a magical imp from a different dimension, he is a young teenager with the ability to control minds.
He was portrayed by Trent Ford.
Personality[]
Mikhail Mxyzptlk had the extraordinary ability to control a person's physical actions verbally and used this ability to pose one of the most formidable challenges Clark Kent ever faced in his early years. Mxyptlk's powers were so potent that he could even manipulate Kryptonians like Clark. Using high-frequency waves that were imperceptible to the human ear, Mikhail’s commands could influence actions from a considerable distance.
For example, his abilities allowed him to make Clark trip on a football field simply by saying the word “trip” all the way from the stands. Despite Clark's usual immunity to such powers, Mxyptlk forces Clark into a desperate struggle, pushing him to find a way to counter this new threat.
During a major football game for the Smallville Crows, Mxyptlk’s manipulation led to chaos on the field, injuring players and threatening the life of Chloe Sullivan.
Biography[]
Past[]
Mikhail came from a Balkan family line of people who lived near the Balkans who could "control the hand of luck". He was chosen as an exchange student through a scholarship set up by LuthorCorp and came to Smallville.
Jinx[]
During the decisive game to see who will go to the state championship involving the Smallville Crows, Mxyzptlk meets Chloe Sullivan in the deserted field house and bets 80 dollar on Smallville to win and Mikhail accepts her wager. Both of them return to the game, where the Crows were on the defense.
Mikhail mutters to himself and made the Crows player drop the ball. Clark Kent saves the fumble but when Mikhail uses compulsion by commanding Clark to trip, he stumbles into another opposing player severely injuring him, but the touchdown is good. The Crows win the game and go on to state. Mikhail was then awarded a LuthorCorp scholarship. Lex Luthor invited Mikhail to the mansion and questions why Lionel Luthor gave Mxyzptlk such a high award because he was a very poor student. He wants to know the potential Lionel saw in him and Mikhail replies that it was potential that doesn't show up on a report card.
Later Mikhail went to the Smallville Torch office to talk to Chloe. She tells him that they both get in was part of a investigation into a school of football betting ring and she wants to give Mikhail a very special one. He agreed, if she kept his name out of the article and put a big bet on the Metropolis Sharks next game.
Next Mikhail is seen waiting Chloe at the Torch office. She arrives with a armful of shopping bags. She talks about how he was anxious to win his bet and Mikhail suggests that it does not spoil the fun and stop writing the article. Chloe replies that his story is getting juicier by the minute and Mikhail pulls her closer. He uses his power to force her to kiss him and says she'll stop the article.
During the game, Chloe rewires the loudspeaker and Mikhail hears a high frequency and covers his ears. After Chloe had uncovered his ability, she used a radio transmitter to jam it. He tries to influence the players but it doesn't work. The Crows pull ahead and Mikhail gets up to investigate. He found Chloe and they struggle. The Crows are one touchdown away from winning but Mikhail appears during a timeout. He shows Clark Chloe's press pass and tells Clark that if they score another touchdown he will kill her. But Clark throws the last pass, using super-speed he run out of the field and shoved Mikhail into a locker before he can hurt Chloe with the knife and set free her friend.
He then returns to the field to finish the game. After Mxyzptlk was arrested, Lex Luthor gained custody of him and took him to a secret Level 33.1 beneath the Metropolis LuthorCorp Plaza building where, as Luthor said, Mxyzptlk's powers would return to him. Years later, it was revealed that Mikhail was the nephew of the Russian Prime Minister. When he meets with Lex Luthor to talk about the fallen Monitor in Moscow, Mikhail's uncle says he granted Lex the privilege of seeing him first out of gratitude because he helped his nephew with his metahuman condition.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- There are several differences in the Smallville version compared to the comic book version known as Mister Mxyzptlk such as Mikhail only possesses telepathy abilities then the vast magical powers his comic book counterpart has.
- Mikhail pronounces his name as Mix-ill-pit-ill-lick.
