With James Gunn revealing Brainiac as the next Superman movie’s villain, fans are likely to dive into DC Comics to learn more about him. Long-time DC readers know Brainiac is a key figure in Superman’s history. This alien is known for terrible acts, including stealing entire cities from planets—and sometimes even destroying the planet afterward to preserve its history. He’s also incredibly powerful; in one story, Superman even had to team up with his arch-enemy, Lex Luthor, just to stand a chance against him.
If you’re interested in learning more about Brainiac, here are some of the best stories from his time with DC Comics to get you started.
7) Action Comics #242 (first appearance)
Brainiac, one of DC Comics’ most iconic villains, first appeared in Action Comics #242 back in 1958. From the very beginning, a key part of his story has been the shrunken city of Kandor, trapped inside a glass bottle. This introduction came during a time when DC was exploring more science fiction themes, and Brainiac was created to represent the dangerous threats found throughout the universe. The initial story concluded with Superman rescuing Kandor, marking the start of a long-running conflict between the two.
6) Action Comics #528-530
Brainiac reappeared in Action Comics in 1982, kicking off a storyline known as the Metamorphosis Arc, which began with issue #514. The story gained real momentum with issue #528, where Brainiac was essentially reborn, and Superman reprogrammed him to use his abilities for good. While this isn’t central to Brainiac’s villainous origins, it foreshadowed his later desire to destroy planets. This storyline is considered one of the best featuring the character and provides a fascinating contrast to his earlier, more comical appearances in classic Silver Age DC Comics.
5) “Panic in the Sky” (1992)
The story of Brainiac began with the events that would become known as ‘Panic in the Sky.’ Lex Luthor aided Brainiac in obtaining a new physical form, after Brainiac had disguised himself as a man named Milton Fine – an idea that was later used in the show Smallville. Luthor rebuilt Brainiac with a powerful, green-skinned, muscular body enhanced by metallic devices on his head and back. This transformation turned Brainiac into a major villain, escalating him from a foe of Superman to a threat to the entire DC Universe.
4) Superman: Identity Crisis
Following the conclusion of the “Panic in the Sky” storyline, Superman quickly faced another challenge called “Identity Crisis” – though it’s different from the larger comic book event of the same name. This “Identity Crisis” focuses on Brainiac escaping from a New Genesis prison and becoming a fugitive. While not as intense or life-threatening as “Panic in the Sky,” it still features classic comic book elements. Brainiac uses illusions and swaps bodies, tricking Superman into believing he’s harmed others, all as a psychological attack. Ultimately, this story was primarily about Brainiac and his schemes.
3) Brainiac (2008)
In 2008, Geoff Johns dramatically reimagined the character of Brainiac. He revealed that all previous versions of Brainiac weren’t the original, but rather copies, hosts, or strange variations. The true Brainiac had been dormant for a long time, and when he finally woke up, he targeted Superman with unprecedented power. This version of the character served as the foundation for the animated movie Superman Unbound and is widely considered the most memorable depiction of Brainiac in animation. The storyline also ties Brainiac to Supergirl’s history and culminates in the tragic death of Jonathan Kent, solidifying Brainiac’s place as one of Superman’s greatest enemies.
2) Convergence
The ‘Convergence’ event significantly altered Brainiac, making him a truly menacing villain. Previous versions of Brainiac were known for shrinking and collecting cities, but this storyline revealed a far more sinister side. He didn’t just collect cities – he forced them to compete for survival against each other, and destroyed their original worlds, effectively becoming the sole keeper of their histories. This version of Brainiac was so powerful that it required a united front of heroes from across the universe to defeat him and rescue the captured cities.
1) Absolute Superman
Fans looking for a recent take on Brainiac in DC Comics can find it in the Elseworlds Absolute Superman storyline. This version presents a particularly cruel take on Superman, depicting Brainiac as a merciless drone controlled by an alien collective. Unlike previous iterations, this Brainiac is less of an individual alien and more of a cold, cybernetic killer with no concern for life. Many consider this to be the most frightening version of the villain created so far, a truly terrifying concept that could be a great source of inspiration for James Gunn as he develops the character for future DC projects.
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2026-01-03 03:14