Introduction: A Modern Classic

In 2008, writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank delivered what many Superman fans consider a definitive take on one of the Man of Steel’s most iconic villains in the five-issue story arc “Brainiac,” published in Action Comics #866-870. This compact yet emotionally powerful storyline not only reinvigorated the character of Brainiac but also set the stage for major developments in Superman’s mythology that would reverberate through DC Comics for years to come.

What makes this particular story so significant is how it simultaneously honors Superman’s rich history while boldly pushing it forward, establishing a version of Brainiac that would influence portrayals of the character across multiple media platforms. Johns didn’t just tell another Superman versus Brainiac tale; he crafted a definitive statement on who Brainiac is and what he represents in the Superman mythos.

The Story: Terror from the Stars

The “Brainiac” arc begins with a revelation that changes everything we thought we knew about Superman’s encounters with one of his oldest foes: Superman has never actually faced the real Brainiac. Every previous encounter was with a drone or probe—not the genuine article. This revelation comes courtesy of Supergirl, who was actually present on Krypton when Brainiac stole the city of Kandor before the planet’s destruction.

As Superman investigates this disturbing revelation, we witness Brainiac’s methodology firsthand when he attacks another alien world. Johns presents Brainiac as a cosmic collector with a terrifying protocol: locate civilizations, shrink and bottle their cities to preserve their knowledge and culture, and then destroy the planet of origin so that his collection becomes more valuable as the sole repository of that civilization’s existence.

The story reaches Earth when Brainiac captures Superman and then sets his sights on Metropolis. In the ensuing conflict, several major events unfold: Metropolis is bottled (but later restored), the long-lost Kryptonian city of Kandor is finally freed from its bottle and restored to full size, and most devastatingly, Jonathan Kent—Superman’s adoptive father—suffers a fatal heart attack during Brainiac’s attack, forever changing Superman’s personal life.

Gary Frank’s Visual Masterpiece

Gary Frank’s artwork is nothing short of spectacular throughout the “Brainiac” storyline. His detailed, expressive style brings an emotional weight to the narrative that makes both the cosmic horror and the intimate family moments equally impactful. Frank’s Superman deliberately evokes Christopher Reeve’s iconic portrayal, with soulful eyes that convey deep emotion even during the most action-packed sequences.

Frank’s redesign of Brainiac is particularly noteworthy. Building upon the character’s classic elements—green skin, enhanced intellect, and connection to technology—Frank creates a physically imposing figure with an alien physiology that feels genuinely unsettling. The skull-like ship, the invasive tendrils, and Brainiac’s cold, calculating demeanor all combine to create one of the most visually striking and menacing versions of the character ever depicted.

The emotional scenes between Clark and his parents are rendered with such care and attention to facial expressions that the ultimate tragedy of Jonathan Kent’s death hits with tremendous force. Frank’s ability to shift from cosmic horror to intimate family drama elevates the entire storyline, making it not just visually stunning but emotionally resonant.

Brainiac Evolved: Comparing Johns’ Version to Previous Incarnations

To appreciate how Johns reimagined Brainiac, it’s worth comparing this version to previous significant iterations of the character.

The original Brainiac first appeared in Action Comics #242 (1958) as a bald, green-skinned alien who shrunk cities, including Kandor. Later retconned as an android created by the Computer Tyrants of Colu, this Silver Age Brainiac was primarily characterized by his “twelfth-level intellect” and technological prowess.

The 1980s saw a major redesign by Marv Wolfman and Gil Kane, introducing the skeletal, robotic “skull ship” Brainiac that became iconic. The post-Crisis continuity reimagined Brainiac again as the consciousness of a Coluan scientist named Vril Dox who possessed the body of a human mentalist named Milton Fine.

What Johns accomplished with his version was to synthesize these various iterations into something both familiar and new. His Brainiac honors the character’s history (the green skin, the collection of bottled cities, the intellectual superiority) while emphasizing elements that make him truly alien and threatening. Johns’ Brainiac isn’t just intellectually superior—he’s physically dominant, able to overpower Superman in direct combat.

Most significantly, Johns established that all previous versions of Brainiac that Superman had encountered were merely probes or extensions of the true Brainiac, who remained hidden until this story. This clever retcon preserved all previous Brainiac stories while elevating the threat to unprecedented levels.

Setting the Stage for New Krypton

The “Brainiac” storyline serves as a prelude to the ambitious “New Krypton” saga that followed. By freeing and restoring Kandor to full size, Johns created the groundwork for a dramatic shift in Superman’s world: suddenly, 100,000 Kryptonians with the same powers as Superman exist on Earth.

The death of Jonathan Kent also serves as a pivotal emotional turning point for Superman just as this massive change occurs. As he deals with his grief, he must also contend with the implications of thousands of his fellow Kryptonians attempting to integrate into Earth society under the leadership of General Zod, who has a very different vision than Superman’s for how Kryptonians should interact with humanity.

“New Krypton” would explore themes of immigration, cultural identity, and belonging that are central to Superman’s character as the ultimate immigrant. The restoration of Kandor forces Superman to confront his dual identity as both Clark Kent of Earth and Kal-El of Krypton in ways he never had before. All of this complex storytelling was made possible by the events set in motion during Johns’ “Brainiac” arc.

Geoff Johns’ Approach to Superman

The “Brainiac” storyline exemplifies Geoff Johns’ overall approach to writing Superman, which can be characterized by several key elements:

1. Honoring tradition while moving forward: Johns consistently respects Superman’s history while finding ways to make it relevant for contemporary readers. Rather than discarding previous Brainiac stories, he incorporates them into a larger narrative that enhances their significance.
2. Emotional authenticity: Johns’ Superman is defined not just by his powers but by his relationships. The Kent family dynamic is central to this story, and Jonathan’s death represents a profound loss for Clark that fundamentally changes him.
3. Raising the stakes: Johns understands that for Superman stories to be compelling, the challenges must test him not just physically but emotionally and ethically. Brainiac isn’t merely a physical threat but represents an existential challenge to Superman’s understanding of his own history.
4. Cinematic scope with personal stakes: The “Brainiac” storyline features planet-destroying threats and space battles, but its emotional core remains deeply personal—the relationship between a son and his father.

These elements appear consistently throughout Johns’ work on Superman, from his earlier “Last Son” story (which introduced the character of Chris Kent) to “Superman: Secret Origin,” which retold Superman’s beginnings for a modern audience while honoring classic elements.

Legacy and Influence

The impact of Johns and Frank’s “Brainiac” storyline extends beyond the comics themselves. Elements of this portrayal of Brainiac have influenced adaptations in other media, most notably the animated film Superman: Unbound (2013), which was directly based on this story arc. John Noble’s portrayal of Brainiac in that film captures the cold, calculating nature of Johns’ version.

The concept of Brainiac as a collector of worlds who shrinks and bottles cities has become the definitive portrayal of the character across multiple media, including the “Injustice 2” video game, where Brainiac serves as the main antagonist with a backstory and motivation similar to Johns’ version.

The DC Universe Infinite has cited the “Brainiac” story arc as one of the comic book stories that served James Gunn as inspiration for his upcoming DC Universe film Superman (2025), suggesting that its influence will continue to be felt in future adaptations.

Conclusion: A Definitive Take

Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s “Brainiac” stands as one of the most significant Superman stories of the 21st century. By reimagining one of Superman’s oldest foes for a modern audience while honoring the character’s history, Johns crafted a narrative that works on multiple levels: as a thrilling science fiction adventure, as an emotional family drama, and as a pivotal chapter in Superman’s ongoing story.

The storyline’s perfect balance of cosmic scale and personal stakes, combined with Frank’s expressive and detailed artwork, created a modern classic that continues to influence how we understand both Superman and Brainiac. For readers looking to understand what makes Superman endure as a character, “Brainiac” offers a perfect example of how the Man of Steel’s mythology can be simultaneously respected and renewed for new generations.

Most importantly, it demonstrates that after 70+ years of stories, there were still new emotional depths to plumb in Superman’s character, and new ways to make his classic villains feel fresh and frightening. In Brainiac, Johns didn’t just give Superman a powerful adversary—he gave him a dark mirror that reflects what Superman might have become without the love and guidance of the Kent family: a cold, detached observer who preserves life without understanding what gives it meaning.