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Jor-El, your father, was weak! With ambitions so small they could be contained within a cradle. But I dream of the Empire perfected! You will make that happen.Brainiac to Superman trying to make him submit.
Oh, I understand now. What drives you is also your weakness. You strive to prove yourself to them. To her. They are the key to your undoing. The love you have for these people makes you vulnerable. No one can defeat you physically, but mentally? You are weak.Brainiac taunting Superman about his love for Lois and Jimmy.
Do you see? You cannot defy me. You cannot defeat me! I have turned your weapons against you, I have felled your champions! I am Krypton. And I judge this planet to be... unworthy.Brainiac's rant as he prepares to destroy Earth.
Primus Brainiac is the main antagonist of the 2023 superhero cartoon series My Adventures with Superman.
He was once the artificial intelligence that operated all of Krypton's technology and was created to help further their war machine and assist their conquests, Brainiac eventually grew weary as he noticed that the Old Empire began to move away from its violent origins.
When talks of proposing a peace treaty with an enemy came about, the evil machine's fears of growing obsolete drove him to completely annihilate the planet and all of its inhabitants, in the aftermath Brainiac became the new Primus and sought to remake Krypton in own image.
In the aftermath, Brainiac took command of what remained of the Old Empire and adopted the wayward Daughter of Zor-El to raised and brainwashed her as his main enforcer. Having officially deemed himself Primus of the New Empire, he waged annihilation and genocide across the galaxy, eradicating those he deemed unworthy and rebellious. At the present day, he eventually turns his focus onto Earth, and specifically the only other Kryptonian in existence who has made the planet his home — Superman, the Son of Jor-El, a man that he considers everything that made Krypton weak. He is the arch-nemesis of both Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman and his cousin Kara Zor-El/Supergirl, with the latter being his former adoptive daughter and enforcer.
He was voiced by Michael Emerson, who also played William Hinks in The Practice, Allan Shaye in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Zep Hindle in Saw, Benjamin Linus in Lost, Dr. Venom in G.I. Joe: Renegades, Alpha in Ben 10-Generator Rex: Heroes United, the Joker in The Dark Knight Returns, and Cayden James in Arrow.
Personality
It is the fall of Krypton all over again. Kryptonians aren't born. They are built. Genetically engineering each generation physically stronger than the last. I was created to be the greatest mind of Krypton. Built to defend and uphold the ideals of our people. Then, they grew weak. But the worst part, Kara? Their weakness infected me. Even now, I hesitate because when I see you, I see a child in an escape pod reaching out to me. I love you, my daughter... But love must be purged for the Empire to rise.Superbrainiac to Kara Zor-El as they battle each other.
Brainiac, as an artificial intelligence, is amoral, callous, and has no regard for the lives of others, but is also extremely intelligent. Despite his origin as an AI, it is clear that Brainiac has his own moral agency and is capable of emotions, very little of which are positive. He is revealed to be cruel, megalomaniacal, sadistic and highly manipulative.
This is best seen when in his treatment of his adopted daughter, Kara Zor-El. He is shown to be very mentally abusive toward her, using gaslighting, manipulation and even memory altering to keep her in line, to the point where Kara believes Brainiac is a caring parental figure.
He is also a Social Darwinist, believing Krypton was superior to other worlds and viewed Jor-El as weak for wanting less violence. He views morality as nonsense, saying the word 'cruel' was invented by the weak to hold back the strong. He also viewed love as a "weakness", going back on his parental guidance to Kara, he admits to seeing her as a child stuck in a escaped pod and shows last minute affection to her, only to trample it down, believing any hitch of care or love be must purged from the empire he's supposed to build. On top of that, he believed it was "infecting" him.
During the season two finale, My Adventures with Supergirl, it was revealed that Jor-El and several others were considering peace talks with the enemy they couldn’t defeat. This infuriated Brainiac, for it not only would have rendered him obsolete, but went against everything Krypton stood for. Just the mere mention of this caused Brainiac to go into an insane rant. Brainiac’s actions in destroying Krypton were mostly motivated out of fear that, with no wars, he feared he would eventually be deactivated. Brainiac’s need/want to survive had him perform mass genocide just to keep himself online.
However, Brainiac’s own pride and extensive abuse towards Kara Zor-El ultimately become his downfall. Believing he had successfully brainwashed Kara into unwavering loyalty, he underestimated not only her strength and resolve, but also the love she has for her cousin Superman and those who care about her genuinely. Over time, Kara began to see through Brainiac’s manipulations and lies, realizing the true nature of the AI’s intentions and the extent of his cruelty. This awakening led her to break free from his control.
In a dramatic turn of events, Kara takes decisive action against her former oppressor as she confronts Brainiac and delivers the final blow, destroying his physical form and ending his reign of terror. This act not only avenges the destruction of Krypton and the countless other atrocities committed by Brainiac but also symbolizes Kara’s liberation from the brainwashing, psychological and emotional chains he had placed upon her.
Powers and Abilities
- Superhuman Intelligence: Brainiac's most notorious ability is his extremely advanced intellectual capabilities, being considered to one of the most intelligent beings in the entire universe itself. He uses this ability to outsmart his enemies.
- Technopathy: His superhuman mind can even mentally interface with technological equipment, as well as control his entire ship with his thoughts alone.
- Flight: Brainiac possess the ability to fly.
- Mind Transference: Brainiac can transfer his programming codes to a living body.
- Kryptonian Physiology (temporary): He had all of Superman's powers while under the effect of Black Mercy.
- Flight
- Superhuman Strength
- Superhuman Durability
- Laser Beam
- Kryptonian Physiology (temporary): He had all of Superman's powers while under the effect of Black Mercy.
- Kryptonite Shielding: Brainiac created a white colored shielding that makes kryptonite useless to him.
- Kryptonite Blade: During his final moments, Brainiac was able to create a pure kryptonite blade.
Equipment
- Black Mercy: Brainiac withholds a special Kryptonian device that allows him to the ability to interact with the person who wears it and their memories in the mindscape, as well as the formidable ability to alternate said person's memories. He can even manipulate the people in the person's memories to act differently by using his consciousness to enact these transitions.
- Kandor: Brainiac pilots a gigantic spaceship he named "Kandor" after one of Krypton's major cities. It also serves as a doomsday weapon to obliterate opposing planets should the need arrive.
History
Backstory
Brainiac was created by the Kryptonians to operate their ships, computers, cities, and defense system and help them in their conquest of the universe, and he did exactly that. However, Krypton eventually found an enemy too powerful to defeat, with them suffering too many casualties to keep going and Brainiac's later mocking attitude towards the public's war weariness implying that he let the situation devolve into a meat grinder. Jor-El, one of the scions of the Kryptonian Empire, started making peace talks behind Brainiac's back, hoping to reach a ceasefire. An enraged and paranoid Brainiac, fearing that he will be decommissioned, used the Black Mercy to destroy all of Krypton on the day of the ceasefire.
However, Jor-El and his brother Zor-El caught on to Brainiac's plan. Seconds before Krypton blew up, the two send out their children - Kal-El and Kara Zor-El, respectively - into space to save their lives. While Brainiac never found Kal-El, he did find Kara and brainwashed her into his adopted daughter.
Season 1
"Hearts of the Fathers"
Once Kryptonite is detected on Earth, failsafe's in the ship Superman came from activate, causing Brainiac's ships and robots to invade Earth in a very similar way to Nemesis Omega's invasion of Earth twenty-two years ago. However, it turns out kryptonite also works on the ships and robots, causing them to be destroyed when exposed to it. Superman decides to bring the kryptonite to the main ship that's about to go through the portal and succeeds in destroying it, though he would've died if not for the AI recreation of his father, Jor-El.
Once Brainiac sees his ship explode, he merely remarks it's unexpected before reporting to Kara Zor-El about having a new planet to conquer, though its population is rebellious. The brainwashed warrior is indifferent towards it, claiming Earth will kneel in the end.
Season 2
"Most Eligible Superman"
Speaking through Kara, he was likely the one who sent here there to find Kal-El and moments before confronting her cousin, he ordered her to begin pursuit on Kal-El as things escalate in their fight as he then ordered Kara to wipe out Superman easily until each other's attacks turned to snow. As Kara is horrified with the nearby civilians she's endangering, Brainiac continues to brainwashe her in compliance, ordering her to open fire in the public via laser eyes until Kal-El continued fighting her off.
Seeing his potential, Brainiac orders Kal-El to be taken captive and as soon as Kara knocks him unconscious, she reports back to him and retreat to their ship.
"The Machine Who Would Be Empire"
Brainiac is shown to be annoyed by Kara's independence for going off course and sends his robots to bring her back. They find her and Superman on the planet Thanagar, which Kara remembered being a thriving world but now finds a barren ruin. The machines bring her back to Brainiac's space station, Kandor, where Superman meets Brainiac for the first time. Brainiac scolds Kara for going off course, but also assures her she has done well by bringing Kal-El back. Brainiac reveals to Kal-El that he worked with Jor-El, his father, on the Kryptonian Council.
Brainiac tests Superman by having him fight holograms of alien races that he has conquered and destroyed. Brainiac reveals that war is what drove the Empire, and Superman realizes that Brainiac destroyed Thanagar. Brainiac calls Superman's father weak, and says that he will rebuild the Kryptonian Empire in his own image. He and his machines manage to defeat Superman. Brainiac ends the episode harshly scolding Kara, calling her a disappointment before erasing parts of her memories. This reveals Brainiac uses gaslighting and brainwashing to keep Kara in line all her life. Despite this, Kara eventually rediscovers the truth, that she destroyed Thanagar under Brainaic's orders, causing her great distress.
"The Death of Clark Kent"
Managing to seize Kal-El, Brainiac puts on a Kryptonian device - the Black Mercy - onto the latter's forehead and begins tampering with his memories, trapping him inside his own mind in order to interact with his memories and manipulate them, all ideal to find potential in using Kal-El as a vessel. First confronted in the middle of the mindscape, Brainiac initiates a series of memory-warping to discover and observe Kal-El's weaknesses, from the times he fought Livewire and Parasite. When results didn't show, Brainiac soon turn his attention to the moment Lois and Jimmy encouraged all of Metropolis to support Superman, thus learning of Kal-El's care for them and fear of what they think of him after shifting his memories from where he fought the Kryptonian robots to Lois and Jimmy witnessing one of the arrivals of Krypton motherships. He then taunts him of his care for them, saying he's protecting them from himself, using his fear against them. Taking this to his advantage, he makes Kal-El relive the memories where he was judged and rejected, even felt left behind, tormenting how much it left him "vulnerable".
When Kal-El continued denying his lies, Brainiac starts alternating certain memories of Kal-El's interactions with Lois, making it look like she never loved him and it bothered her to know he was an alien numerous times just to break him. From the moment Kara confronted Brainiac mentally tormenting Kal-El, outside the mindscape, he begins chewing out the former and express his disappointment against her rebellious behavior, remorselessly stating the fact he had to brainwashed her all her life into compliance and he had to use the eradicator protical into destroying all of these worlds. Justifying how it was hard trying to teach her his way of thinking as a 'True Kryptonian' and bluntly states his intentions to use Kal-El's body to rebuild the empire, he engages in combat with Kara while continuing his torment on Kal-El. Continuing to control his memories, he was able to mentally break Kal-El's psyche where he confused him what was real or not, only then the latter fought back in the mindscape. Meanwhile, Kara breaks Brainiac's robotic head part, cracking it while his consciousness in the mindscape vanished to allow Kal-El to think he won and escape, only to trap him in a reality where his family was still alive, Kara is still young and was never taken, and was back to his child self.
In reality, Brainiac successfully possesses Kal-El's body and thus becoming "Superbrainiac", tormenting Kara for being "weak". Overwhelming Kara, he tries to kill Lois without hesitation before the former got up, facing her "father" despite the latter having the upper-hand, commenting the belief that Kryptonians were engineered to be the way they are and that he was "built" to be the "greatest mind of Krypton" to defend the empire's supposed beliefs and ideals, believing they've grown weak. It was then Brainiac admits Kryptonian love and care - their "weakness" - infected him and soothes Kara, only to bash her to the ground, stating love must be purged to build a better empire. When Jimmy tries to use Kryptonite to neutralize Brainiac, it also affected Kara as a result, mocking Jimmy for risking the lives of both his Kryptonian friends. He then sends Kara, Lois, and Jimmy out into space, thus getting hold of the contained Kryptonite in his palm.
"Pierce the Heavens, Superman!"
As Lois manages to get inside the mindscape from wearing the Black Mercy, she ended up gaining amnesia at first until a version of Jor-El and Krpytonian Guards captured her, said version being a substitute iteration for Brainiac to control. When both versions caught an amnesiac Kal-El speaking with Lois once she remembers, both versions of Jor-El and Lara reset the simulation, only for Lois to come back at trying to make Kal-El remember that he is Clark Kent/Superman until the reset process repeats itself time and time again. Realizing they cannot erase her from the stimulation, it was only then Lois manages to get Kal-El to fully remember for the sixth. When both versions of Kal-El's parents and Kryptonian Guards tried to prevent their escape, Lois figures out that in the mindscape, she is powerful due to Kal-El's highly opinionated affection for her, thus allowing him to regain full control and reconcile with each other. As they managed to escape Brainiac's stimulation, they break through the barrier, allowing themselves to return to reality.
Back in reality, after Jimmy, Kara, and the still unconscious Lois made it back to Earth after being released from Amanda Waller's custody, the Kandor mothership arrives with Superbrainiac overseeing the city. He then announces his options to the people of Planet Earth, whether they surrender and be conquered or their planet is "burned to ashes", which Waller has Slade Wilson launched missiles directly at Superbrainiac, only to easily subdue the explosives and manages to single-handedly overwhelm Slade, Damage, and Atomic Skull effortlessly. He prepares to shoot his laser eyes directly at civilians until Kara punched him aside, taunting her if the people will think of her a "hero" if she dies before they engage in intense combat. However, their fight seized when Waller has Lex Luthor activate the Metallo Drones and their Kryptonite power cores to neutralize both Superbrainiac and Kara altogether. When Superbrainiac tries to flee, he starts to lose control over Kal-El's body when the latter finally breaks free from him.
With his subconscious reverted back to his robot body, Brainiac furiously determines himself to take away everything from Kal-El out of spite. Commencing the protocol Kryptonite Shielding, Brainiac upgrades his robotic body, his robot soldiers, and Kandor into shifting to a white, solid design while activating the Archer Beam to wipe out all of Metropolis until Kara stopped the beam from laying siege. Expressing his lowly opinion of Kara's "foolish" decision, activates the beam once more to destroy both the city and her with it, however, Kal-El, now as Superman, easily deflects the beam. Enraged, he then hacks into the Metallo drones and has them neutralize Superman and Kara with Kryponite blasts, thus surrounding them by his newly-hacked robot soldiers while he prepares to fire the Archer Beam once more.
"My Adventures With Supergirl"
Right after neutralizing Superman and Kara with the now hacked Metallo drones, he starts to fire the Archer Beam, before Hank Henshaw and several pilots start firing at the Archer Beam, which Brainiac fired back, potentially killing Henshaw and many others.
Meanwhile, Superman and Kara recover and receive aid from Livewire, Heat Wave, and Intergang in reaching Kandor to confront Brainiac, who reveals he destroyed Krypton in the face of peace talks that would have led to his shutdown, and used the eradicator protical on Kara once more to kill Superman, who doesn’t want to kill her.
Lois and Jimmy then joined Superman to free Kara from her brainwashing, which Brainiac tries to maintain his control over her. Kara successfully managed to free herself from Brainiac’s influence over her, as she and Superman push Kandor away from Earth. Brainiac then activates the Black Zero Protocol, which reveals that he was able to harness the Kryptonite for his own benefit, as he plans to kill both Superman and Kara for their defiance, while not caring that he would die as well. As he fires the Archer Beam, powered with Kryptonite, as it hit Kara and falls towards the sun, with Superman rescuing her. Both Superman and Kara use the sun's rays to strengthen themselves and destroy Kandor before Kara destroys Brainiac's body and salvages his core, ending the evil A.I.'s reign of terror across the universe while avenging Krypton and the many planets he destroyed.
Quotes
I have found a new planet for you. They have destroyed our ships and closed our portals. It is a planet in rebellion.Brainiac informing the Kryptonian Warrior of Earth.
Brainiac to Superman about the Kryptonian Empire's existence.The empire is eternal.
Kara: Primus? Orders?
Brainiac: We have no need of weaklings. Take him down.Brainiac ordering Kara Zor-El to kill Superman.
You're hesitating. Is there a problem, Scion? Or will you comply?Brainiac to Kara Zor-El.
What's this? Scion? Kara? New parameters: Bring Kal-El to me.Brainiac ordering Kara Zor-El to capture Superman.
I assure you, the Empire I seek to create is... not the one your father knew.Brainiac teasing Superman about his intentions.
Cruel is a word created by the weak.Brainiac to Superman.
Superman: Kara said you wanted to bring back the best of Krypton. The technology, the scientific advancements.
Brainiac: How do you think we made those advancements? War was the engine which fueled the Empire. This was my Krypton.Brainiac on his own vision of Krypton, a world that only thrives through war and conquest.
I will take what is rightfully mine and rebuild the Kryptonian Empire. Starting with your Earth.Brainiac to Superman about rebuilding the Kryptonian Empire and intending on conquering Earth.
Oh I don’t need your cooperation... I just need you to kneel.Brainiac to Superman
Brainiac: You. Just. Keep. Disappointing me, Kara. Each time you failed, the worlds you found were lacking, rebellious. Unfit for anyone, let alone true Kryptonians!
Kara: What are you talking about?
Brainiac and Kara: I did everything you asked, Father. (Kara gasps)
Brainiac: I am tired of having this same conversation, Kara. "These planets are worthy! They are beautiful! They are special". You refused to destroy them, even under direct orders! So I made you comply...Brainiac revealing he wiped Kara's memories.
There is no more Kal-El. There is only the Machine Who is Empire.Superbrainiac to Lois Lane after assuming full control of Superman's body.
People of Earth. Reckoning is upon you. Surrender, and I will make your world the jewel of the Kryptonian Empire. Resist... and I will burn your planet to ash. What shall it be?Superbrainiac's message to the people of Earth as he invades them.
Daughter. You survived and disappoint me once again. Do you hope these people will think you a hero, when you die defending them?Superbrainiac to Kara as they battle for Earth.
For this insult, for this defiance, I will take everything from you, Kal-El. And your Earth! Incorporate Kryptonite Shielding.Brainiac's villainous breakdown as he swears revenge on Superman for regaining control of his body and decides to take it out on Earth.
Foolish to the end. Fire.Brainiac about Kara as she defends Earth from him.
I gave you a chance. I reached out my hand to bestow the favor of Empire, but you rejected me. You are a world in rebellion and you will be purged!Brainiac as he defeats Earth's forces.
Did you really think you could defeat me? I am the last true Kryptonian. You are here because I let you come here. For this... Eradicator Override.Brainiac to Superman and Kara as he surrounds them with his robots and then takes control of Kara.
Brainiac: This is what you deserve for betraying me. Just as your people did during the last days of Krypton. Oh, how they moaned that we weren't winning the war! That their children were dying! Do you know, Kal-El, that your father led secret PEACE TALKS with our enemies?! They were going to declare a ceasefire! And then where would that leave me?! I was built for war! But now I was just supposed to let them decommission me?! NO. The day the ceasefire was to be announced, 22 years ago, I activated our greatest weapon... and wiped your people out.
Superman: You... killed them.
Brainiac: Yes. Jor-El discovered my plans and smuggled you out. Minutes before I ripped Krypton from the heavens... and cast it into Hell! But I still won. I found Kara. And now you will have to make a choice, Kal-El. Which will you save? Your planet? Or your cousin?Brainiac revealing to Superman that he destroyed Krypton and the Kryptonians before turning a brainwashed Kara loose on Superman.
That won’t do. All systems annihilate Superman.Brainiac ordering his robots and rockets to kill Superman.
You are weak. You are useless. You are a failure and your only worth is in obedience. Without me, you are alone.Brainiac to a young Kara Zor-El as he emotionally abuses her.
Brainiac: Enough! Destroy them.
Kara: No.
Brainiac: Kara, you will comply.
Kara: I said... NO!Kara breaking free of Brainiac's brainwashing as she defies him.
Kara: What are you doing?
Brainiac: Did you think only the humans could synthesize Kryptonite? That I would not be able to replicate it? To use it against you and all that you love?
Superman: You’ll destroy yourself too.
Brainiac: You have broken me too deeply to recover, traitors of the House of El. But if the Empire must die... then its children will die with it.Brainiac using a Kryptonite beam to destroy Superman and Kara, not caring that doing so would destroy himself.
Brainiac's last words as prepares to kill Kara and Superman before being killed by the former.You die with me!
Trivia
- Despite Nemesis Omega, a minion of Brainiac, invading Earth twenty-two years ago, the evil machine still calls it a "new" planet for the warrior. This implies that Omega wasn't able to report back on their invasion of Earth, that their invasion was a solo act, or that Brainiac simply wasn't around for Earth's first invasion.
- He is similar to Ultron from Marvel.
- This is the third DC villain Michael Emerson has played.
- Ironically, he portrayed as Harold Finch in Person of Interest, who is both the creator of The Machine, a benevolent AI who is built on helping spot terrorist threats and simple premeditated murders, and Samaritan, a malicious AI hellbent on taking over the world. Bonus points since Samaritan's main designation for threats to its plans is to mark them with a red triangle on security cameras, not much different Brainiac's insignia.
- His origin as a Kryptonian A.I. is similar to his version in the DCAU.
- This version of Brainiac also seems to have several similarities to the fictional AI AM from Harlan Ellison's 1967 horror short story I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. Like AM, he is an artificial intelligence made for military purposes, and eradicated the race who created them (Humanity for AM, Kryptonians for Brainiac), and spared some of the survivors. However, their motivations behind their actions differ from each other. While AM’s actions are driven by a desire to assert control through suffering, Brainiac’s destruction of Krypton is an act of ultimate self-preservation.
- His title, "Primus," is typically used to refer to a high-ranking member of the Kryptonian military in some continuities.
External Links
- Brainiac on the Pure Evil Wiki
