Exploring Harley Quinn: Every DC Planet Brainiac Visits

In Season 5 of Harley Quinn, Harlivy (Harley and Ivy) ventured to Metropolis in an attempt to build a tranquil life beyond Gotham’s turmoil. However, their new beginning hasn’t been without challenges. Initially, Ivy confronted Jason Woodrue, a notorious DC villain with connections to Pamela Isley’s wicked past. Now, Harley’s turbulent spirit places her at crossroads with Brainiac, a renowned Superman adversary active in Metropolis. The fourth episode sheds light on Brainiac’s ultimate purpose, as he aims to optimize Metropolis before seizing it for his own. Interestingly, this iteration of Brainiac is driven not by a thirst for knowledge, but rather by the lingering pain he carries with him across the universe.

As Harley Quinn delves into Brainiac’s history, she reveals the villain’s travels across various galaxies, searching for planets he can mend. Throughout this adventure, Brainiac visits planets with amusing names. It’s interesting to note that each planet mentioned in the recent episode of ‘Harley Quinn’ has a comic book twin, many of which are linked to iconic heroes and villains. Here’s a rundown of every DC planet featured in ‘Harley Quinn’, elucidated:

Zur-En-Arrh

Originating in Batman Comic #113, published in February 1958 during the Silver Age, the concept of Zur-En-Arrh was brought to life by writer France Herron and artist Dick Sprang. This alien world was inhabited by Tlano, a scientist who patterned himself after Earth’s Batman, with the aim of safeguarding his own realm. In the initial narrative, Tlano transports Bruce Wayne to this planet, where he assists in battling colossal robots controlled by an unnamed alien race. The unique environment of this world temporarily bestowed upon Batman powers akin to Superman, enhancing the story’s fantastical elements. Though the original tale left readers questioning whether the events were real or a dream, Zur-En-Arrh continued to play a vital role in Batman’s lore. In subsequent interpretations, particularly during Grant Morrison’s tenure on Batman comics in the 2000s, Zur-En-Arrh evolved from a physical alien world into a psychological construct—a secondary personality Bruce Wayne created to shield himself from mental breakdown. Later stories further confirmed the existence of Zur-En-Arrh as a celestial body, adding to its enigmatic lore.

Czarnia

Planet Czarnia was where the notorious bounty hunter Lobo originated. Developed by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen, Lobo debuted in Omega Men #3 in June 1983. Initially portrayed as a villain, he later became a well-known anti-hero. The planet was initially a utopia with unique characteristics, such as its inhabitants’ ability to regenerate and clone themselves using just a drop of blood. However, Lobo’s backstory unveils the tragic fate of his homeworld: as part of a school project, he released a plague that wiped out the entire Czarnian population within a week, earning him an “A” for the assignment. This act of self-destruction left Lobo as the sole surviving Czarnian, leading him to become a ruthless intergalactic bounty hunter known for his brutal methods.

Htrae

In a strange twist, Bizarro, an offspring not quite like Superman, crafted a unique, cubic-shaped world called Htrae (Earth spelled backward). Located in the peculiar corners of DC’s cosmic landscape, this planet stands out as one of the most unconventional locales. It is inhabited by distorted duplicates of Superman, his kin, and various Earth denizens. The inhabitants on Htrae follow a basic principle that defies standard logic – they do exactly the opposite of what would normally make sense. Bizarro fashioned this world as a residence for himself and other Bizarro doppelgängers, instituting a “Bizarro Code” that encourages its residents to act in ways that are illogical and contradictory. It’s no surprise that Brainiac scanners on Harley Quinn’s show reveal the planet is only 8% perfect, symbolizing its deliberately flawed structure, where everything is a twisted, nonsensical reflection of everyday life.

Thanagar

Hailing to the famous duo, Hawkman and Hawkwoman, Thanagar is a warlike planet boasting a sophisticated societal structure. Initially a hub of technological progress, Thanagar evolved into a civilization that thrived on conquering other planets to uphold its luxurious lifestyle. The society of this world is deeply divided, with an elite upper class enjoying the spoils while the lower class endures hardship. Katar Hol, one of Thanagar’s esteemed figures, was born into wealth but grew disenchanted with the expansionist policies of his planet, ultimately transforming into the hero Hawkman. The history of Thanagar is marred by unending conflicts, ranging from clashes with neighboring planets like Rann to internal strife between social classes.

Rann

Hailing from a tumultuous past, the planet Rann was on the brink of extinction after catastrophic atomic wars left most of its male population infertile. A ray of hope emerged in the form of Zeta-Beam technology, invented by genius scientist Sardath, which transported Earth archaeologist Adam Strange to the beleaguered world. As Rann became a crucial point in cosmic conflicts and fought off invasions from neighboring Thanagar, it earned its reputation as a key interstellar battleground. The planet’s resilience lies in its cutting-edge scientific advancements, particularly teleportation technology, and its ability to bounce back from near obliteration through ingenuity and adaptability. Rann’s identity is deeply tied to Earth through Adam Strange, who emerged as the planet’s legendary guardian and champion.

Tamaran

Planet Tamaran in the Vega system is where Starfire (Koriand’r), an extraordinary alien princess with a heart-wrenching past and a well-known Teen Titans team member, hails from. Koriand’r was initially next in line for the throne but was cruelly deceived by her sister Komand’r (Blackfire), who exploited her by selling her into slavery. The society of Tamarans is distinct due to their remarkable physical attributes, such as the ability to learn languages through touch and transform ultraviolet light into energy.

Colu

Originally a virtually flawless technological paradise, Colu was the residence of the galaxy’s brightest minds, including the esteemed Brainiac (Vril Dox). Regrettably, this planet was obliterated by an ominous interdimensional threat known as The Multitude, which devastated more than a hundred planets. In a desperate bid to save his world, Brainiac shrank his own city and created an army of robot servants called Terminauts.

In the TV series Harley Quinn, Colu boasts a near-perfect score of 99%, with Brainiac arguing that the remaining 1% isn’t worth altering. However, during a work trip, Colu was destroyed, and Brainiac’s family perished, causing the planet’s rating to drop to 0%. Believing he could have prevented the disaster by addressing that 1%, Brainiac embarks on a cosmic journey to improve other cities. Across both DC Comics and Harley Quinn, Colu’s influence continues through Brainiac.

Bryak

In simpler terms, Bryak is not a significant player in cosmic lore according to Brainiac’s elaborate origin tale. In one account of Brainiac’s past, Bryak is suggested as his original homeworld, where he returned after a space journey only to find it ravaged by a plague similar to the one depicted in Harley Quinn. This planetary catastrophe served as inspiration for Brainiac’s future mission to archive and safeguard civilizations, albeit through extremely destructive methods. In Harley Quinn, Bryak is also where Brainiac obtains the technology for shrinking objects.

Daxam

A remarkable planet named Daxam, inhabited by the Daxamites – a species resembling humans with powers similar to Kryptonians under a yellow sun. Daxam’s past is marred by intense fear and hostility towards outsiders, often resulting in invasions that put its survival at risk. In one such invasion by the Sinestro Corps, led by Mongul, Green Lantern Sodam Yat – a native of Daxam – made an urgent and life-altering choice. By combining the planet’s red sun with the power of the Ion Entity, he transformed it into a yellow star, granting all Daxamites powers akin to Superman for a limited time. This act of empowerment came at a steep cost, as Yat was trapped within the star’s energy. Though not widely recognized in DC lore, Daxam’s mention in Harley Quinn is relevant now that DC Studios’ Lanterns series plans to delve into the Corps’ extensive history.

Krypton

Peaking at the zenith of scientific progression in the DC Universe, Krypton was a world teeming with technological marvels and refined culture. Orbiting around a red sun, this civilization thrived with expertise in genetic manipulation, space exploration, and intricate social systems. Despite its seemingly flawless technological prowess, the planet’s leaders’ overconfidence in science led to their disregard of impending doom warnings. Krypton’s downfall left only one survivor, Kal-El (Superman), who embodies the potential and sorrowful fate of his lost home. The fact that Krypton receives a near-perfect score of 93% in Harley Quinn adds an extra layer of poignancy to its demise.

Bismoll

Planet Bismoll is home to an extraordinary race of genetically modified beings known as humanoids, famously recognized for their ability to consume any type of matter. This superpower lies with Matter-Eater-Lad, a hero hailing from this unique world. The inhabitants of Bismoll had to develop this extraordinary eating ability as a survival mechanism in an initially unfriendly environment. Society on this planet has evolved peculiar customs such as a government that selects its citizens for public office and the establishment of the Calorie Police to regulate food consumption.

2025-02-06 11:10