Brainiac

This version of Brainiac, appearing in the animated-style Superman Adventures comic, is a coldly calculating alien villain and enemy of Superman — a robotic or cybernetic intelligence bent on conquest and collection, consistent with the character's role across DC's animated universe continuity.

A villain of cold, calculating menace, this version of Brainiac made their DC debut in Superman Adventures #22 in 1998 — a Copper/Modern Age arrival brought to life by the sharp creative pairing of Mark Millar and Aluir Amâncio. With appearances stretching across nearly three decades, this iteration of the iconic foe has turned up in some wonderfully varied corners of the DC universe, from the all-ages charm of Tiny Titans to the classic superhero team-ups of Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Justice League Unlimited. Sharing pages with heavyweights like Superman and Wally West, this Brainiac is a fascinating thread connecting the animated-inspired storytelling of the late '90s to a surprisingly broad and enduring comics presence worth tracking down.