Summary
Highlights
Mandark, whose full name is Mandark Astronomo (later revealed as Susan), is the main antagonist in Dexter's Laboratory. He is Dexter's classmate, rival, and arch-nemesis, constantly seeking to prove his superior genius by destroying Dexter's Lab. Despite his evil aspirations, he is often distracted by his unrequited love for Dexter's sister, Dee Dee.
Mandark is depicted as a tall, thin, bespectacled boy with an oversized head and a black bowl cut with a white streak. He speaks in a high-pitched, rapid voice and is known for his fragmented evil laughter. His character was voiced by Eddie Dee, who noted Mandark resembles a caricature of himself and might be based on Dee's character from the film 'WarGames'.
Mandark's first appearance was in the episode 'Dexter's Rival', where he arrived as a new student at Huber Elementary. Initially, Mandark's intelligence surpassed Dexter's, and he also possessed a secret lab. His only weakness revealed was his love for Dee Dee, which Dexter exploited to have Dee Dee destroy Mandark's lab.
In 'Mandarker', Mandark seeks revenge after his lab's destruction. This episode reveals his loneliness and his sole aptitude for science. Over time, his telepathy was never mentioned again, and his intelligence seemed to diminish, becoming equal to, or even less than, Dexter's. He often became bumbling and incompetent, sometimes making situations worse, while always maintaining his unrequited love for Dee Dee.
The episode 'Mark 5' explored an alternative timeline where Mandark falls for Dee Dee's alter ego, Racer D. 'Sun, Surf, and Science' was a rare episode featuring Mandark without Dexter, focusing on his attempts to woo Dee Dee. Other episodes highlighted his pet duck Ducky, and his younger sister, Lalavava, who rivals Dee Dee in dance.
In the 1999 feature film 'Ego Trip', Dexter travels to a dystopian future where Mandark has become the world's most powerful and wealthiest person. Dexter and his future selves must team up to stop Mandark and his future versions, including Executive Mandark, Overlord Mandark, and Brain Dark.
The third season episode 'A Boy Named Sue' provides a reimagined origin story for Mandark. Born to hippie pacifists Wingbear and Oceanbird, he was named Susan. Dexter's mockery of his name led Susan to snap, build his lab, rename himself Mandark, and dedicate his life to destroying Dexter's Laboratory. This origin contrasts sharply with his initial introduction and established the Gothic design of his lab.
The canonicity of seasons 3 and 4 is often debated by fans, as series creator Genndy Tartakovsky was not involved. These later seasons introduced inconsistencies, especially regarding Mandark's character. Viewers are left to decide whether these details are canonical, but they offer further insight into his background.