Brainiac

Creation & Design

Brainiac was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Al Plastino, first appearing in Action Comics #242. He was designed as a formidable foe for Superman, representing a blend of alien intelligence and technological prowess.

Early Years

Initially depicted as a green-skinned alien with a vast intellect, Brainiac's character evolved over the years, becoming a recurring villain in the Superman mythos. His obsession with collecting knowledge and worlds made him a unique antagonist.

Character Development

Over the decades, Brainiac has evolved from a simple villain to a complex character with rich backstory and motivations. His portrayal has varied from a cold, calculating enemy to a tragic figure seeking knowledge and understanding.

Cultural Reception

Brainiac has been well-received as one of Superman's most iconic foes, often praised for his intelligence and the philosophical questions he raises about knowledge and power.

Character Details

Real Name:
Vril Dox
Aliases:
The Collector of Worlds, Brainiac 5
Species:
Artificial Intelligence
Gender:
Male
Affiliations:
Legion of Super-Heroes, Justice League, Sinestro Corps
Abilities:
Superintelligence, Telepathy, Technopathy, Shrink Ray, Force Field Generation
Equipment:
Shrinking Technology, Advanced Robotics, Spaceship
Weight:
150lbs
Height:
6' 0"
Eye Color:
green
Hair Color:
none

Clicking on the eBay link and making a purchase may result in this site earning a commission from the eBay Partner Network.

Low
$1k
Mid
$3k
High
$10k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Brainiac

1st appearance of the Bottle City of Kandor, the capital city of Krypton

[May 2023 - Brainiac rumored for Superman Legacy]

Low
$15
Mid
$50
High
$260

Key Facts

2nd appearance of Brainiac

Low
$120
Mid
$400
High
$1.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Sun Boy, a solar-powered member of the Legion of Super-Heroes

1st appearance of Phantom Girl, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes who has the ability to phase through objects

1st appearance of Triplicate Girl, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes who can split into three identical bodies

1st appearance of Bouncing Boy, a density-changing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes

1st appearance of Shrinking Violet, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes who can shrink to sub-atomic size

1st appearance of Braniac 5, a genius and time-traveling member of the Legion of Super-Heroes

Supergirl joins the Legion of Super-Heroes

DC ⋅ 1964

Low
$12
Mid
$35
High
$175

Key Facts

1st cameo appearance of Vril Dox II, a clone of Braniac

1st appearance of Tharla, the future wife of Lex Luthor

Origin of Braniac

Adjust Your Filters To See More Comics!

By default Key Collector searches for Standard Cover Key Issues.

Adjust the "Variants" and/or "Non-Key Issues" search filters above for additional content:

  • Variant Covers ([[totalVariants]])
  • Non-Key Issues ([[totalNonKeys]])

At Key Collector, our primary focus is on unearthing those rare Standard Cover Key Issues for you. However, the world of comic collectibles is vast and varied. We want to make sure you have the tools to explore it all!