Brainiac 5

{{Infobox comics character

|image= Brianiac 5 (Post-Infinite Crisis version).jpg

|imagesize=

|converted = y

|caption = Cover to Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #1 (2009).
Art by George Pérez.

|character_name = Brainiac 5

|real_name = Querl Dox

|publisher=DC Comics

|debut = Action Comics #276
(May 1961)

|creators = Jerry Siegel
Jim Mooney
(based on Brainiac by Otto Binder and Al Plastino)

|species = Coluan

|homeworld = Colu

|alliances = Legion of Super-Heroes

|partners =

|supports =

|aliases = Brainiac 5.1
B-5
Brainy

|powers =

12th-level intellect
Mechanical aptitude
Force field via belt
Flight via ring

|cat = superheroes

|subcat = DC Comics

|hero = y

|villain =

|sortkey = Brainiac 5

}}

Brainiac 5 (Querl Dox) is a superhero appearing in comics published by DC Comics. He is from the planet Colu and is a long-standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries.{{Citation | last = Beatty | first = Scott | author-link = Scott Beatty | contribution = Brainiac 5 | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia | page = 60 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | place = London | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1}}

Brainiac 5 has been substantially adapted into other media, primarily in association with the Legion. He is voiced by Adam Wylie in Legion of Super Heroes (2006) and portrayed by James Marsters and Jesse Rath in Smallville and the Arrowverse respectively. A gender-swapped alternate universe variant of Brainiac 5 appears in the fifth season of Supergirl, portrayed by Rath's sister Meaghan Rath.

Publication history

Brainiac 5 first appeared in Action Comics #276 (May 1961) and was created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney.{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=54}} He was originally written as a descendant of Superman's enemy Brainiac. Several years later, when Brainiac was revealed to be a living computer, Brainiac 5 was retconned to be a descendant of his adopted son.{{cite book |last1=Eury |first1=Michael |title=The Krypton Companion |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781893905610 |page=34}}

Fictional character biography

=Original continuity (1958–1994)=

Brainiac 5 is a teenage Coluan of the planet Colu who is descended from the original Brainiac, one of Superman's deadliest enemies, and joins the Legion as atonement for his misdeeds.{{cite book |last1=Fleisher |first1=Michael L. |title=The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume Three: Superman |date=2007 |publisher=DC Comics |isbn=978-1-4012-1389-3 |pages=35–36}} Brainiac 5's ingenuity led to the invention of, amongst other things, the Legion flight ring, an anti-lead serum that cured Mon-El of his lead poisoning, and a force field belt. Another of Brainiac 5's creations had less beneficial effects: the super computer Computo, which attempted to take over the world and killed one of Triplicate Girl's three selves before being destroyed.Adventure Comics #340 (January 1966)

As time went on, Brainiac 5 began to be portrayed as unstable. Long attracted to Supergirl, Brainiac 5 creates a robot duplicate of her in his sleep, convincing himself that she is the real Supergirl.Superboy #204 (October 1974) The Legion encounter Pulsar Stargrave, a villain who convinces Brainiac 5 that he is his long-lost father.Superboy #224 (February 1977)

=="Five Year Gap"==

Five years after the end of the "Magic Wars", things radically change for the heroes, most notably the disbanding of the Legion and an ongoing war with the Khund empire, which results in Earth's government (Earthgov) signing a deal with the Dominators.

Brainiac 5 joins other Legionnaires in searching for the space pirate Roxxas, and is present when the team officially reforms. The reassembled Legion repels a Khund invasion fleet and confronts Darkseid, but shortly thereafter, is swept into the war against Earthgov and the Dominators. Furthermore, a temporal clone of Brainiac 5 from "Batch SW6" is introduced.Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #38 (December 1992)

Brainiac 5 later discovers that the timestream is unstable and that the Legion's history is in a state of constant flux. During the Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! event, Brainiac 5 and the Legion are killed when Parallax destroys their universe.Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! #1 (September 1994)

=''Zero Hour'' reboot continuity (1994–2004)=

Following the Zero Hour event, the Legion's continuity is rebooted and a new version of Brainiac 5 is introduced. This version is antisocial, was outcast by other Coluans due to his amoral nature and heightened intelligence, and was abandoned by his mother, Brainiac 4, at birth.Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #72 (September 1995)Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #77 (February 1996)

Brainiac 5 is one of several Legionnaires who are trapped in the 20th century. He attempts to return to the present by building a machine using a Mother Box provided by Metron and a responsometer provided by Veridium. However, the computer becomes a version of Computo. The Legion members defeat and dismantle the computer before returning to their own time.Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #108 (September 1998)

Upon his return to the 31st century, Brainiac 5 is part of a team that investigates a mysterious space anomaly. The anomaly "upgrades" Brainiac 5, causing him to become kinder and more social. Following his return from the anomaly, he befriends teammate Gates, who dubs him "Brainiac 5.1".Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #104 (May 1998)

="Threeboot" continuity (2004–2009)=

File:Brainiac5.jpg]]

In the fifth volume of Legion of Super-Heroes, Brainiac 5 is portrayed with an arrogant personality similar to his ancestor Vril Dox. He proposes to Dream Girl, but she is attacked and blinded by Princess Projectra and later killed in battle.Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 5) #47 (December 2008) Brainiac 5 resurrects Dream Girl by transferring her consciousness into a clone body.Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 5) #50 (March 2009)

=Post-''Infinite Crisis'' (2007)=

The events of Infinite Crisis restore a close analogue of the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths Legion to continuity. This incarnation of the Legion shares roughly the same history as the original Legion up to the events of the Crisis.{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Dan |date=October 18, 2007 |title=Superman/Green Lantern Interview |url=https://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/828/828574p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216121741/https://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/828/828574p1.html |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |website=IGN}} In the Final Crisis tie-in Legion of 3 Worlds, the pre-Zero Hour Brainiac 5 meets his post-Zero Hour and Threeboot counterparts, who he works with to resurrect Bart Allen and Superboy and combat Superboy-Prime.Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1 (August 2008)Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #2 (October 2008)

=''DC Rebirth''=

A young Brainiac 5 appears briefly during Justice League (vol. 3) (2017) by Bryan Hitch. He is also not referred to by his name, only as the "brainy kid" by Cyborg. After analyzing the Timeless technology, he lends Cyborg his prototype flight bracelet so he can reach the weapon.Justice League (vol. 3) #15 (April 2017)

In Doomsday Clock, Doctor Manhattan is revealed to have altered the past, erasing Brainiac 5, the Legion of Super-Heroes, and the Justice Society of America from existence. However, they are resurrected when Superman convinces Manhattan to restore the timeline.Doomsday Clock #12 (December 2019)

Powers and abilities

Brainiac 5 possesses a twelfth-level intelligence, above the eighth-level intelligence of most Coluans.Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #3 (April 2009) This gives him superhuman calculation skills, enhanced memory, and the ability to operate on several tracks of thought at once.Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #107 (August 1998)

Brainiac 5 is also a skilled inventor who created the Legion's flight rings as well as a force field belt, the supercomputer Computo, and a Time Bubble.Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 2) #267 (September 1980)Adventure Comics #334 (July 1965)Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 2) #273 (March 1981)Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #114-115 (March–April 1999)

Other versions

Brainiac 417, a character based on Brainiac 5, appears in the DC One Million event. This version is a disembodied consciousness encased in a humanoid body and a member of the Justice League L in the 853rd century.Legionnaires #1,000,000 (November 1998)
Martinex 5, a fusion of Brainiac 5 and Marvel Comics character Martinex, appears in the Amalgam Comics one-shot Spider-Boy Team-Up.Spider-Boy Team-Up (June 1997)

In other media

=Television=

Brainiac 5 appears in TV series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU). Following a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "New Kids In Town", he returns in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Far From Home", voiced by Matt Czuchry.{{cite web |title=Brainiac 5 Voices (Legion of Super Heroes) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Legion-of-Super-Heroes/Brainiac-5/ |access-date=December 15, 2023 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. This version is an organic being who was created to serve the original Brainiac before leaving him to join the Legion. After bringing Green Arrow, Supergirl, and Green Lantern to his time to help battle the Fatal Five, he falls in love with Supergirl, who decides to stay in the future to be with him and have a sense of belonging.
Brainiac 5 appears in Legion of Super Heroes (2006), voiced by Adam Wylie. This version is a young, nanotechnology-based cyborg who sports monochromatic pink eyes as well as transformative abilities, which he primarily uses to extend his limbs and assume a mecha-like form. Additionally, he was previously part of the Coluan hive mind before breaking off through unknown means and strives to prove himself to the older Legionnaires, especially new recruit Superman. In the second season, Imperiex manipulates Brainiac 5 into being possessed by the original Brainiac until he regains control with help from Superman and his clone Superman X and assumes a fully organic form. Brainiac 5 subsequently leaves the Legion out of guilt while Brainiac secretly rebuilds himself using his discarded armor.
Brainiac 5 appears in the tenth season of Smallville, portrayed by James Marsters. This version was created by the Legion after they reprogrammed the original Brainiac.{{cite magazine |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |date=July 26, 2010 |title=Exclusive video: 'Smallville' execs, Erica Durance drop major S10 intel and weigh in on an 11th |url=http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/07/26/smallville-season-10-spoilers-comic-con/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727052031/http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/07/26/smallville-season-10-spoilers-comic-con/ |archive-date=July 27, 2010 |access-date=October 2, 2012 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}
Brainiac 5, also known as "Brainy", appears in TV series set in the Arrowverse, portrayed by Jesse Rath.{{cite web |last=Mitovich |first=Matt Webb |date=November 6, 2017 |title=Supergirl Casts the Legion's Brainiac 5 With Defiance Alum Jesse Rath |url=http://tvline.com/2017/11/06/supergirl-brainiac-5-legion-super-heroes-jesse-rath/ |access-date=November 6, 2017 |publisher=TVLine}}
First appearing in the third season of Supergirl, he travels back in time to the 21st century with fellow Legionnaires Mon-El and Imra Ardeen to help Supergirl defeat Reign. After the original Brainiac creates a virus that renders the 31st century too dangerous to return to, Brainy stays in the past and joins the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO). In the fourth season,{{cite web |last=Swift |first=Andy |date=June 15, 2018 |title=Supergirl Promotes Jesse Rath to Series Regular for Season 4 |url=https://tvline.com/2018/06/15/supergirl-season-4-jesse-rath-series-regular-brainy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624215920/https://tvline.com/2018/06/15/supergirl-season-4-jesse-rath-series-regular-brainy/ |archive-date=June 24, 2018 |access-date=June 19, 2018 |website=TVLine}} he becomes a mentor to and develops a romantic attraction towards Nia Nal while helping Supergirl and the DEO fight Agent Liberty and his Children of Liberty as well as Lex Luthor. In the fifth season, Brainy continues to explore his relationship with Nia, which is strained after an encounter with several of his multiversal doppelgangers leads to him disabling some of his personality inhibitors to maximize his intellectual capabilities and work with Luthor to combat Leviathan.
Rath's sister Meaghan Rath portrays a female alternate reality version of Brainy in the fifth season, in addition to Jesse Rath portraying several alternate reality versions in "The Bottle Episode".{{Cite web |last=Webber |first=Tim |date=July 20, 2019 |title=Supergirl: Meaghan Rath Joining Series as Female Brainiac-5 |url=https://www.cbr.com/supergirl-meaghan-rath-brainiac-5/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724041216/https://www.cbr.com/supergirl-meaghan-rath-brainiac-5/ |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |access-date=July 24, 2019 |website=CBR}}
Brainy also appears in the crossover events "Elseworlds" and "Crisis on Infinite Earths".{{Cite web |last=Bryant |first=Jacob |date=December 12, 2018 |title='Elseworlds, Part 3' Recap: 2019 'Arrowverse' Crossover Theme Revealed |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/recaps/elseworlds-part-3-recap-supergirl-1203085611/ |access-date=October 16, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Agard |first=Chancellor |date=November 15, 2019 |title=The Arrowverse unites in first official Crisis on Infinite Earths photos |url=https://ew.com/tv/2019/11/15/crisis-on-infinite-earths-arrowverse-supergirl-photos/ |access-date=October 16, 2024 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}
Brainiac 5 appears in the Young Justice episode "Death and Rebirth", voiced by Benjamin Diskin. This version sports pink eyes, similar to his Legion of Super Heroes (2006) incarnation.

=Film=

Brainiac 5 appears in Justice League vs. the Fatal Five, voiced by Noel Fisher.{{Cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=January 7, 2019 |title=Justice League vs. The Fatal Five Sets Voice Cast (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/justice-league-fatal-five-voice-cast-set-1173352 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} This version is bald and has monochromatic purple eyes.
Brainiac 5 appears in films set in the Tomorrowverse, voiced by Harry Shum Jr.{{cite web |last=Dar |first=Taimur |date=November 17, 2022 |title=Release details for LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES animated movie announced |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/legion-super-heroes-animated-movie-release-details/ |website=The Beat}}
Introduced in Legion of Super-Heroes (2023), this version was originally created to help Brainiac and the Dark Circle steal the Miracle Machine, but rebelled against them and became a student at the Legion Academy. He initially displays a feud with Supergirl, who mistrusts him due to his past, before they reconcile and enter a relationship after working together to defeat Mon-El and the Dark Circle.
Brainiac 5 appears in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths (2024).{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=James |date=December 4, 2023 |title=Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths, Part One Official Trailer Released |url=https://dcanimated.com/2023/12/justice-league-crisis-on-infinite-earths-part-one-official-trailer-released/ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |website=The World's Finest |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Burlingame |first=Russ |date=February 21, 2024 |title=Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two Home Video Details Released |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/justice-league-crisis-on-infinite-earths-part-two-relese-date-2024/ |access-date=April 24, 2024 |website=Movies |language=en}}

=Video games=

Brainiac 5 appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 4, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=April 24, 2024 |website=IGN}}
Brainiac 5 appears in Brainiac's ending in Injustice 2, voiced by Liam O'Brien.

= Miscellaneous =

Brainiac 5 appears in Adventures in the DC Universe #10.{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |title=Adventures in the DC Universe #10 - The Blobs (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/adventures-in-the-dc-universe-10-the-blobs/4000-153328/ |access-date=August 18, 2023 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}
The Legion of Super Heroes (2006) incarnation of Brainiac 5 appears in Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century.{{Cite web |title=Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #4 - Higher Education (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/legion-of-super-heroes-in-the-31st-century-4-highe/4000-163382/ |access-date=April 24, 2024 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}
Brainiac 5 appears in the one-shot comic Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes.{{Cite web |title=Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes #1 - Atomic Batteries To Power, Flight Rings To Speed (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/batman-66-meets-the-legion-of-super-heroes-1-atomi/4000-609276/ |access-date=August 18, 2023 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}