Superman Symbolism: What 10 Most Famous Villains Really Mean

10. Mister Mxyzptlk - His Obsession

Although Mister Mxyzptlk isn't exactly a villain, he certainly antagonises Superman an awful lot and he is certainly representative of one of the Man of Steel's own characteristics. Superman is obsessed with morality and justice and Mxyzptlk completely juxtaposes that by being obsessed with tormenting and toying with the Man of Steel. Such is Mxy's power, however, that Superman is helpless to do anything about it (unless he gets Mxy to say his own name backwards) and, as such, he kind of becomes one of the helpless people he so often comes to the rescue of and is so obsessed with saving. There is also a suggestion that Mxy may actually be a product of Superman's imagination (which could stem from the stress Superman is under, what with his responsibility as a superhero), given that he only ever seems to antagonise the Kryptonian and nobody else and, although we know that's not the case, it's certainly an interesting theory.