Comic Book Flashback: A Couple Of Funny Books

A while back I mentioned that I wanted to write about some older comic books I had recently re-read. Luckily for you, the time is now! Both of these were released in 2000 and, while falling generally into the superhero genre, are far from serious. Both involve Superman and Batman as well as a certain imp from the Fifth Dimension. And one of the stories, when I first heard of it, made me giddy as a schoolgirl. I think I literally squealed. But first...

Superman and Batman: World's Funnest: Actually, our heroes aren't the subject of this one. Instead, it stars their strange little magical nemeses, Mr. Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite. It starts with a scene in a typical Silver Age story, where Superman, Batman and Robin have captured Lex Luthor and the Joker. It's typical right down to Lois Lane, in her pink outfit with the pillbox hat, pining away for her Man of Steel: "Sigh! If only I could trick Superman into a loving, honest marriage..." Then weird things begin happening, and Mxy and Bat-Mite both appear. They begin fighting, and in doing so their magical attacks end up killing Superman, Batman, Robin, Lois...well, the entire universe. Then they move on to the next universe, and repeat the process. Before long we see the two destroy all kinds of universes -- the DC Animated universe (as in the Superman/Batman/Justice League cartoons from the 1990s on), the "Batman: Dark Knight Returns" universe, the "Kingdom Come" universe, even that strange little place that spawned the Super Friends. Eventually, nothing is left but Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite, who collapse into laughter. On the final page everything is back to where we started. "Same time next Tuesday?" "You're on!"

Superman & Bugs Bunny: Yes, you read that correctly! Two of my favorite characters in a four-issue miniseries. This one begins with two parallel stories: in Metropolis, a typical day of investigation for Daily Planet reporters Lois Lane and Clark Kent is turned upside down by the arrival of Mr. Mxyzptlk and his mischief. Mxy is easily tricked by Clark into saying his name backwards, which sends him back to the Fifth Dimension. Meanwhile, in the world occupied by the Looney Tunes, the usual Elmer Fudd-hunting-wabbits routine is interrupted by the Do-Do, fresh from Wackyland, lamenting the fact that everyone in the Looneyverse is weirder than he is, thus making his trickery a waste of time. The Do-Do has a dimensional transporter but it's not working. Bugs gets an idea, and picks up a Superman comic book, telling the Do-Do it's from "Od-Od comics" -- Do-Do backwards. Do-Do repeats the phrase and his transporter works. En route to their dimensional destinations, Mxy and Do-Do collide and compare notes. Mxy decides he wants to go to a place without superheroes, and they create a new device. Mxy travels to the Looneyverse. It doesn't go well for him.

Mxy: How can I cause mischief in a world full of Tasmanian Devils and ducks who drop anvils on people?
Do-Do: That's why I left there!
Mxy: Now I know how Superman feels when I'm around! I wonder how he'd fare against a Tasmanian Devil? If he thinks I'm bad, he oughta --THAT’S IT! The most fiendish, devious, rotten, sneaky and malicious evil notion EVER!
Do-Do: I think someone already invented talk radio!

Using their device, they move all of the Looney Tunes into Superman's world. Hilarity ensues. Then Mxy has another idea, and uses the machine to cross a couple of characters. This results in...Super-Fudd. Then Do-Do does the same and we meet Bat-Duck. The entire Justice League of America gets involved, and eventually the JLA and the Looney Tunes team up, stopping a plot by the Toyman. As Mxy is about to merge the two universes together permanently, Bugs tricks Mxy into going on the Internet to brag about his brilliant plan -- at www.kltpzyxm.com. Buh-bye, Mxy. Do-Do reprograms the machine to send everyone back where they belong...except for a certain singing frog.