Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5 is a male extraterrestrial superhero who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Querl Dox
He was noted for being a distant descendant of the supervillain Brainiac but he opposed his ancestors evil actions. (Action Comics v1 #276)
During the trials, he gifted her his force-shield belt with Supergirl thanking him for his aid. He would ask her to stay in the future with her as he had fallen in love with her but Supergirl stated she could not as she had to return to her time. (Action Comics v1 #276)
Brainiac 5 and the Legion were set to have their annual vote to elect a new leader, and Saturn Girl was the first to arrive at the Clubhouse. A crystal capsule sent from the Trylop Council of Mernl dropped from the sky warning that their computers predicted a Legionnaire would die using their powers during an upcoming invasion of Earth by Zaryan the Conqueror, and Saturn Girl resolved to sacrifice herself to protect her fellow Legionnaires. She used her thought control to nudge the Legion into electing her leader, then used a rainbow bar from their treasury to make medallions with her face printed on them, and demanded every Legionnaire wear one. She demanded the Legionnaires demonstrate effective use of their powers, and was able to temporarily duplicate each member of the Legion’s powers using the medallions they wore, and proceeded to forbid them for using their powers or going on missions during a probation period because she declared they were not using their powers properly. When Zaryan began his invasion of Earth she responded, and warned the other Legionnaires not to follow her because they were on probation. The Legion thought she’d gone mad with power, but Mon-El had observed her actions from the Phantom Zone, and knew her motivations. Sunspots interfered with him communicating with the Legion, but when they lifted he filled in Lightning Lad on the situation, and he flew into space, determined to keep Saturn Girl from sacrificing herself. He blew up Zaryan’s ship with his powers, but was fatally shot with a freeze-ray. The Legion honored him by placing him in a glass coffin with lightning generated over it by a perpetual motion device, and his funeral was attended by Superboy, Supergirl and Lori Lemaris. The Legion placed a statue of Lightning Lad in their Clubhouse as a tribute to the first Legionnaire killed in action. (Adventure Comics v1 #304)
Reboot
He was the son of Brainiac 4 where she was one of their home planet's most famous scientists. His mother would abandon him on the day of his birth to continue her research, as she considered him a distraction. Brainiac 5 was advanced even for Coluan standards as he was speaking by the time he was an infant and a scientist by a toddler. Brainiac 5's research was against Coluan law so he was sent to do research for R.J. Brande. Brainiac 5 destroyed various laboratories in his time, Brande, one of the richest men in the Galaxy could only tolerate so much, so sent him to work at the Time Institute on Talus.
Threeboot
Brainiac 5 reasoned that the only way the crisis could be stopped was by enlisting the aid of Superman. Thus, he created a time driver in the form of a Brainiac Probe and attuned it to the correct vibrational plane in the modern age. Once there, it restored Superman's memories of the Legion and provided him a Time Sphere to travel to the year 3008 A.D. (Action Comics v1 #858) However, he was arrested by the Justice League of Earth for the planetary government which had turned xenophobic and opposed all contact with aliens. Despite this being the case, he managed to escape the internment camp and went to Colu where he learnt that the United Planets were preparing an assault against Earth as it was known that mankind had intended to launch an interstellar crusade against all aliens. To prevent this, Brainiac 5 instituted himself as an anti-Earth dictator that ruled Colu which was charged with formulating the attack plans. In this position, he was able to delay the launch of hostilities but The Justice League of Earth learnt of his deception and leaked it to the Coluans who turned on him. He was able to reunite with the Legion and Superman where they quickly sought to prevent the universe from plunging into war. (Action Comics v1 #861)
Modern
Post-Flashpoint
He was among the Legion of Super-Heroes members that appear in the present after Doctor Manhattan undid the experiment that erased the Legion of Super-Heroes and the Justice Society of America. (Doomsday Clock v1 #12)
Overview
Personality and attributes
According to Lemnos, the name 'Querl' means 'Idealistic' in Coluan. (Legion of Super-Heroes v5 #6) Following his 'upgrade', he came to formally adopt the name of Brainiac 5.1 for himself. (Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #104) One account claimed that Brainiac was not actually his name but rather an honorable title. (Legion: Secret Origin v1 #2)
As a child, he was told that he was special and that a great many things awaited him in the future. (Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes v1 #256)
Powers and abilities
Even as a child, he showed clear markings of being a 12th-level intelligence. (Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes v1 #256)
He was able to ponder twelve lines of thought simultaneously. (Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #107)
He had created a number of inventions that included the:
- Chronexus : a device whose original form he regarded as a time but had the power to identify and manipulate chronal particles with it also serving as a time viewer. (Action Comics v1 #850)
Among his creations was the force-shield belt that generated a barrier for the user to protect them from harm. Its controls could be calibrated so that they could only operate on the vibrational rate for specific people. (Action Comics v1 #276)
It was known that he had conducted experiments in tapping into the Speed Force though these had been unsuccessful with him stating he had needed more time on them. (Action Comics v1 #858)
Notes
- Brainiac 5 was created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney where he made his first appearance in Action Comics v1 #276 (May, 1961).
- The character was based on Brainiac who was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino.
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In the DC Animated Universe, Brainiac 5 made multiple appearances in the shared continuity series.
- In Superman: The Animated Series, Brainiac 5 made a cameo non-voiced appearance in the animated television series in the episode "New Kids In Town".
- In Justice League Unlimited, Brainiac 5 appeared in the animated television series episode "Far from Home" where he was voiced by actor Matt Czuchry.
- In the Legion of Super-Heroes, Brainiac 5 appeared in the animated television series where he was voiced by actor 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 large, 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, Brainiac 5 grows close to Shrinking Violet, but is unknowingly manipulated by Imperiex into allowing Brainiac to control him until Superman and his clone Superman X help him regain control, in the process becoming fully organic and losing his robotic armor. To cope with this new state of being and his recent actions, Brainiac 5 leaves the Legion, unaware that Brainiac has survived and rebuilt himself using his discarded armor.
- In Smallville, Brainiac 5 appeared in the live-action television series in the episode "Legion" where he was portrayed by actor James Marsters. This version was actually a repurposed and reprogrammed Brainiac who was brought to the future with him being an ally of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
- In Supergirl, Brainiac 5 appeared in the live-action television series third season where he was portrayed by actor Jesse Rath. Mon-El referenced Querl as being responsible for creating a serum that counteracted the lead poisoning that his Daxamite body had experienced in the 21st century on Earth.
- In Young Justice, Brainiac 5 appeared in the setting of the animated television series starting from the episode "Death and Rebirth" where he was voiced by actor Benjamin Diskin. This version sported pink eyes, similar to his incarnation in the 2006 Legion of Super Heroes animated series.
Films
- In Justice League vs. the Fatal Five, Brainiac 5 appeared in the setting of the animated film where he was voiced by actor Noel Fisher. This version was bald and has monochromatic purple eyes.
- In the Tomorrowverse, Brainiac 5 made a number of appearances in the shared continuity setting:
- In Legion of Super-Heroes, Brainiac 5 made his first appearance in the 2023 animated film where he was voiced by actor Harry Shum Jr.
- In Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part One, Brainiac 5 made a brief appearance in the 2024 animated film where he was voiced again by actor Harry Shum Jr.
Video games
- In Injustice: Gods Among Us, Brainiac 5 appeared in a cameo role in the fighting video game. He appeared in the ending for Ares where the God of War imprisons him in order to force him to create a time loop creating an endless series of conflict that was used to feed him for eterntiy.
- In Injustice 2, Brainiac 5 appeared in the setting of the fighting video game where he was voiced by actor Liam O'Brien.
Appearances
- Action Comics v1: (1961)
- Adventure Comics v1:
- Legion of Super-Heroes v1:
External Links
This article is a stub. You can help Multiversal Omnipedia by expanding it.
