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Brainiac 5

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Brainiac 5
Cover to Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #1 (2009).
Art by George Pérez.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceAction Comics #276
(May 1961)
Created byJerry Siegel
Jim Mooney
(based on Brainiac by Otto Binder and Al Plastino)
In-story information
Alter egoQuerl Dox
SpeciesColuan
Place of originColu
Team affiliationsLegion of Super-Heroes
Notable aliasesBrainiac 5.1
B-5
Brainy
Abilities

Brainiac 5 (Querl Dox) is a superhero appearing in comics published by DC Comics. He is from the planet Colu and is a long-standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries.[1]

Brainiac 5 has been substantially adapted into other media, primarily in association with the Legion. He is voiced by Adam Wylie in Legion of Super Heroes (2006) and portrayed by James Marsters and Jesse Rath in Smallville and the Arrowverse respectively. A gender-swapped alternate universe variant of Brainiac 5 appears in the fifth season of Supergirl, portrayed by Rath's sister Meaghan Rath.

Publication history

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Brainiac 5 first appeared in Action Comics #276 (May 1961) and was created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney.[2] He was originally written as a descendant of Superman's enemy Brainiac. Several years later, when Brainiac was revealed to be a living computer, Brainiac 5 was retconned to be a descendant of his adopted son.[3]

Fictional character biography

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Original continuity (1958–1994)

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Main article: Legion of Super-Heroes (1958 team)

Brainiac 5 is a teenage Coluan of the planet Colu who is descended from the original Brainiac, one of Superman's deadliest enemies, and joins the Legion as atonement for his misdeeds.[4] Brainiac 5's ingenuity led to the invention of, amongst other things, the Legion flight ring, an anti-lead serum that cured Mon-El of his lead poisoning, and a force field belt. Another of Brainiac 5's creations had less beneficial effects: the super computer Computo, which attempted to take over the world and killed one of Triplicate Girl's three selves before being destroyed.[5]

As time went on, Brainiac 5 began to be portrayed as unstable. Long attracted to Supergirl, Brainiac 5 creates a robot duplicate of her in his sleep, convincing himself that she is the real Supergirl.[6] The Legion encounter Pulsar Stargrave, a villain who convinces Brainiac 5 that he is his long-lost father.[7]

"Five Year Gap"

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Five years after the end of the "Magic Wars", things radically change for the heroes, most notably the disbanding of the Legion and an ongoing war with the Khund empire, which results in Earth's government (Earthgov) signing a deal with the Dominators.

Brainiac 5 joins other Legionnaires in searching for the space pirate Roxxas, and is present when the team officially reforms. The reassembled Legion repels a Khund invasion fleet and confronts Darkseid, but shortly thereafter, is swept into the war against Earthgov and the Dominators. Furthermore, a temporal clone of Brainiac 5 from "Batch SW6" is introduced.[8]

Brainiac 5 later discovers that the timestream is unstable and that the Legion's history is in a state of constant flux. During the Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! event, Brainiac 5 and the Legion are killed when Parallax destroys their universe.[9]

Zero Hour reboot continuity (1994–2004)

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Main article: Legion of Super-Heroes (1994 team)

Following the Zero Hour event, the Legion's continuity is rebooted and a new version of Brainiac 5 is introduced. This version is antisocial, was outcast by other Coluans due to his amoral nature and heightened intelligence, and was abandoned by his mother, Brainiac 4, at birth.[10][11]

Brainiac 5 is one of several Legionnaires who are trapped in the 20th century. He attempts to return to the present by building a machine using a Mother Box provided by Metron and a responsometer provided by Veridium. However, the computer becomes a version of Computo. The Legion members defeat and dismantle the computer before returning to their own time.[11][12]

Upon his return to the 31st century, Brainiac 5 is part of a team that investigates a mysterious space anomaly. The anomaly "upgrades" Brainiac 5, causing him to become kinder and more social. Following his return from the anomaly, he befriends teammate Gates, who dubs him "Brainiac 5.1".[13]

"Threeboot" continuity (2004–2009)

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Main article: Legion of Super-Heroes (2004 team)
Cover to Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 5) #1 (2005).
Art by Barry Kitson

In volume 5 of the Legion of Super-Heroes title, Brainiac 5 is portrayed with an arrogant personality similar to his ancestor Vril Dox. He proposes to Dream Girl, but she is attacked and blinded by Princess Projectra and later killed in battle.[14] Brainiac 5 resurrects Dream Girl by transferring her consciousness into a clone body.[15]

Post-Infinite Crisis (2007)

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The events of Infinite Crisis restore a close analogue of the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths Legion to continuity. This incarnation of the Legion shares roughly the same history as the original Legion up to the events of the Crisis.[16] In the Final Crisis tie-in Legion of 3 Worlds, the pre-Zero Hour Brainiac 5 meets his post-Zero Hour and Threeboot counterparts, who he works with to resurrect Bart Allen and Superboy and combat Superboy-Prime.[17][18]

DC Rebirth

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A young Brainiac 5 appears briefly during Justice League (vol. 3) (2017) by Bryan Hitch. He is also not referred to by his name, only as the "brainy kid" by Cyborg. After analyzing the Timeless technology, he lends Cyborg his prototype flight bracelet so he can reach the weapon.[19]

In Doomsday Clock, Doctor Manhattan is revealed to have altered the past, erasing Brainiac 5, the Legion of Super-Heroes, and the Justice Society of America from existence. However, they are resurrected when Superman convinces Manhattan to restore the timeline.[20]

Powers and abilities

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Brainiac 5 possesses a twelfth-level intelligence, above the eighth-level intelligence of most Coluans.[21] This gives him superhuman calculation skills, enhanced memory, and the ability to operate on several tracks of thought at once.[22][11]

Brainiac 5 is also a skilled inventor who created the Legion's flight rings as well as a force field belt, the supercomputer Computo, and a Time Bubble.[23][24][25][13][26]

Other versions

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In other media

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Television

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  • Brainiac 5 appears in TV series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU). Following a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "New Kids In Town", he returns in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Far From Home", voiced by Matt Czuchry.[29] This version is an organic being who was created to serve the original Brainiac before leaving him to join the Legion. After bringing Green Arrow, Supergirl, and Green Lantern to his time to help battle the Fatal Five, he falls in love with Supergirl, who decides to stay in the future to be with him and have a sense of belonging.
  • Brainiac 5 appears in Legion of Super Heroes (2006), voiced by Adam Wylie.[29] This version is a young, nanotechnology-based cyborg who sports monochromatic pink eyes as well as transformative abilities, which he primarily uses to extend his limbs and assume a mecha-like form. Additionally, he was previously part of the Coluan hive mind before breaking off through unknown means and strives to prove himself to the older Legionnaires, especially new recruit Superman. In the second season, Imperiex manipulates Brainiac 5 into being possessed by the original Brainiac until he regains control with help from Superman and his clone Superman X and assumes a fully organic form. Brainiac 5 subsequently leaves the Legion out of guilt while Brainiac secretly rebuilds himself using his discarded armor.
  • Brainiac 5 appears in the tenth season of Smallville, portrayed by James Marsters. This version was created by the Legion after they reprogrammed the original Brainiac.[30]
  • Brainiac 5, also known as "Brainy", appears in TV series set in the Arrowverse, portrayed by Jesse Rath.[31]
    • First appearing in the third season of Supergirl, he travels back in time to the 21st century with fellow Legionnaires Mon-El and Imra Ardeen to help Supergirl defeat Reign. After the original Brainiac creates a virus that renders the 31st century too dangerous to return to, Brainy stays in the past and joins the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO). In the fourth season,[32] he becomes a mentor to and develops a romantic attraction towards Nia Nal while helping Supergirl and the DEO fight Agent Liberty and his Children of Liberty as well as Lex Luthor. In the fifth season, Brainy continues to explore his relationship with Nia, which is strained after an encounter with several of his multiversal doppelgangers leads to him disabling some of his personality inhibitors to maximize his intellectual capabilities and work with Luthor to combat Leviathan.
      • Meaghan Rath portrays a female alternate reality version of Brainy in the fifth season, in addition to Jesse portraying several alternate reality versions in "The Bottle Episode".[33]
    • Brainy also appears in the crossover events "Elseworlds" and "Crisis on Infinite Earths".[34][35]
  • Brainiac 5 appears in the Young Justice episode "Death and Rebirth", voiced by Benjamin Diskin.[29] This version sports pink eyes, similar to his Legion of Super Heroes (2006) incarnation.

Film

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Video games

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Miscellaneous

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References

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  1. ^ Beatty, Scott (2008), "Brainiac 5", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, London: Dorling Kindersley, p. 60, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1
  2. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  3. ^ Eury, Michael (2006). The Krypton Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 9781893905610.
  4. ^ Fleisher, Michael L. (2007). The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume Three: Superman. DC Comics. pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-1-4012-1389-3.
  5. ^ Adventure Comics #340 (January 1966)
  6. ^ Superboy #204 (October 1974)
  7. ^ Superboy #224 (February 1977)
  8. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #38 (December 1992)
  9. ^ Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! #1 (September 1994)
  10. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #72 (September 1995)
  11. ^ a b c Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #77 (February 1996)
  12. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #108 (September 1998)
  13. ^ a b Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #104 (May 1998)
  14. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 5) #47 (December 2008)
  15. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 5) #50 (March 2009)
  16. ^ Phillips, Dan (October 18, 2007). "Superman/Green Lantern Interview". IGN. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008.
  17. ^ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1 (August 2008)
  18. ^ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #2 (October 2008)
  19. ^ Justice League (vol. 3) #15 (April 2017)
  20. ^ Doomsday Clock #12 (December 2019)
  21. ^ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #3 (April 2009)
  22. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #107 (August 1998)
  23. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 2) #267 (September 1980)
  24. ^ Adventure Comics #334 (July 1965)
  25. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 2) #273 (March 1981)
  26. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #114-115 (March–April 1999)
  27. ^ Legionnaires #1,000,000 (November 1998)
  28. ^ Spider-Boy Team-Up (June 1997)
  29. ^ a b c d e f "Brainiac 5 Voices (Legion of Super Heroes)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 15, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  30. ^ Ausiello, Michael (July 26, 2010). "Exclusive video: 'Smallville' execs, Erica Durance drop major S10 intel and weigh in on an 11th". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 27, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  31. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (November 6, 2017). "Supergirl Casts the Legion's Brainiac 5 With Defiance Alum Jesse Rath". TVLine. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  32. ^ Swift, Andy (June 15, 2018). "Supergirl Promotes Jesse Rath to Series Regular for Season 4". TVLine. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  33. ^ Webber, Tim (July 20, 2019). "Supergirl: Meaghan Rath Joining Series as Female Brainiac-5". CBR. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  34. ^ Bryant, Jacob (December 12, 2018). "'Elseworlds, Part 3' Recap: 2019 'Arrowverse' Crossover Theme Revealed". Variety. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  35. ^ Agard, Chancellor (November 15, 2019). "The Arrowverse unites in first official Crisis on Infinite Earths photos". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  36. ^ Couch, Aaron (January 7, 2019). "Justice League vs. The Fatal Five Sets Voice Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  37. ^ Dar, Taimur (November 17, 2022). "Release details for LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES animated movie announced". The Beat.
  38. ^ Harvey, James (December 4, 2023). "Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths, Part One Official Trailer Released". The World's Finest. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  39. ^ Burlingame, Russ (February 21, 2024). "Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two Home Video Details Released". Movies. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  40. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  41. ^ "Adventures in the DC Universe #10 - The Blobs (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  42. ^ "Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #4 - Higher Education (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  43. ^ "Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes #1 - Atomic Batteries To Power, Flight Rings To Speed (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
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