Mr. Mxyzptlk

Not all the villains assembled were familiar to Doctor Doom. His message had gone far. Bridged the gap between dimensions. The bleed between multiverses. Echoed along eternities, where mathematics and philosophy blend and abstract concepts become real. Doom's message had been transmitted...and received.

Of all the far voyagers who had attended his conclave of vengeance, one defied all analysis. A tiny imp of a man, almost cartoonish in his proportions, with a small bowler set on his oversized head, a mischievous smile on his face. The gleam in his eyes reminded Doom of Loki and Mephisto, yet the sheer manic energy that radiated out from him, barely contained, was immeasurable. It was as if a Cosmic Cube had sprouted legs and a garish little clown costume.

Before any of the others could react, the figure popped out of existence, and reappeared at Doom's side. The tyrant of Latveria stared down at him.

"You know," the imp said, and one gloved hand stroked his chin. "This isn't in my regular line. Yet I see how this could be fun."

"Indeed," Doom said drolly. "Praytell, who are you, stranger? Why did you answer my call? I recognize you not, though I can see you are not human, despite your shape."

"Mr. Mxyzptlk," the imp said, and touched his hat. "From the Fifth Dimension. Well, our Fifth Dimension. Yours is a little drab, from what I've seen. In fact, so much of your multiverse is so serious and self-important! It could do with a little...fun."

One finger pushed forward and pressed against the hologram. To Doom's amazement, the rectangle of light bent as if made out of rubber, to snap back into place as soon as the finger was removed.

"She's gorgeous, really," Mr. Mxyzptlk mused. "But so...wrapped up in herself. Her reputation. She's stuffy. Serious. Like a certain someone I know back home. She could really use a chance to get loose. Live a little!"

"As you say," Doom said. His armor's sensors, calibrated to register even the power of gods and cosmic entities, were useless against this fifth-dimensional imp. One scale read infinity, the other read "potato." Even Doom's mystic senses, honed from a lifetime of study of sorcery, could only register the limitless magical potential of this being.

"Normally, I'd introduce myself to her," he said. "That's how I do things with me...friend...back home. But I like your style. You don't want to hurt her. Just turn her life upside down. Subtle! Like a pun. I love puns. I so rarely get to use them. Nobody gets fifth-dimensional puns."

Doom resisted the urge to ask him for one.

"If you wish to use your abilities to affect the doom of Susan Storm, I will be most grateful," the Latverian said. His head nodded. "Perhaps I could even help you with your 'friend' back home. If you wish."

"A swap! A trade! A capital idea!" Mr. Mxyzptlk grinned. With both hands, he tugged on the hologram. It stretched like taffy, until it formed a glowing rip in the nothingness that was limbo. "You are inviting me in, aren't you? Your universe has some tricky little rules about that sort of thing. Not that I couldn't get around it if I had to, but..."

"Enter freely, and of your own will," Doom replied. His voice echoed within the metal of his mask. Even he did not know exactly what he had just invited into his multiverse.

"Excellent. We'll start small. I think...a little tweak in her powers. She thinks she knows them so well. So focused on control! Imagine if that control were to slip..."

In the next instant, Mr. Mxyzptlk had stepped through the hole in space and time. Doom did not shudder within his armor. Did not feel doubt at his cause. Yet he began to plan for the worst eventuality. Not if Mr. Mxyzptlk succeeded or failed...but how to deal with him should he desire to stay.

An instant later, Doom strode through the rent in the fabric of reality. It would be best to keep an eye on his guest "Mr. Mxyzptlk."

If for no other reason than to see what happened to Sue Storm and her powers.