Warning: SPOILERS for the My Adventures with Superman episode “The Death of Clark Kent” are forward!
In addition to Lex Luthor inflicting bother with Task Force X, My Adventures with Superman Season 2 has additionally been spotlighting Brainiac throughout the 2024 TV schedule. This tackle the Man of Steel’s enemy was the AI that ran the Kryptonian Empire’s ships, computer systems, metropolis and protection system, and following the planet’s destruction, he discovered Kara Zor-El, as an toddler and raised her as his “daughter.” Kara delivered her cousin to Brainiac in “Most Eligible Superman,” and in “The Machine Who Would Be Empire,” it was revealed that he intends to make use of Kal-El as his new weapon to beat planets for the New Kryptonian Empire.
Now clearly Superman isn’t somebody who would willingly assist this malevolent machine, however on this case, he doesn’t have a selection. “The Death of Clark Kent,” which will be streamed now with a Max subscription, noticed Brainiac gaining a serious energy enhance by taking up Superman’s physique. While I used to be already impressed with this model of Brainiac, now he’s develop into of of my favourite diversifications of the DC villain.
How Brainiac Became More Powerful
Brainiac used a Black Mercy, a Kryptonian system that traps one’s aware thoughts inside it, to see and work together with Superman’s reminiscences. As a results of his base Kandor falling aside, the machine housing Brainiac’s AI was falling aside, so he supposed to switch himself into Clark’s physique. That necessitated he “destroy” the Kryptonian hero’s consciousness, which he first tried to do by pitting him in opposition to reminiscences of enemies like Livewire and Parasite, however was unsuccessful.
As it turned out, the important thing to breaking down Clark’s will wasn’t by utilizing brute drive, however by utilizing his reference to Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, in addition to his insecurity about not belonging amongst humanity, in opposition to him. The warped representations of his associates, plus the true reminiscence of Lois breaking apart with Clark in “Most Eligible Superman,” have been particularly powerful to look at, nevertheless it appeared as if he was capable of combat off this psychological assault and defeat Brainiac. Unfortunately, all Superman completed was inadvertently trapping himself in a fantasy the place he grew up on Krypton along with his dad and mom, Kara and uncle Zor-El.
Meanwhile, after stealing a S.T.A.R. Labs spaceship and opening a portal with the assistance of Monsieur Mallah and Brain, Lois and Jimmy discovered Kara Zor-El, and so they formulated a plan to rescue Clark. While Lois and Jimmy went looking for their buddy, Kara confronted her “father,” believing that he’s destroyed all these planets as a result of he was malfunctioning, and tried to speak sense into him. When Brainiac made it clear this was his true nature and criticized Kara for selecting planets that weren’t worthy for the New Kryptonian Empire, the 2 of them fought, and the latter was in the end capable of destroy the previous’s physique.
Unfortunately, Brainiac had already taken over Superman’s physique and was simply capable of defeat Kara. While he nonetheless felt a bit of bit of affection for her, he acknowledged that this love wanted to be purged for the New Kryptonian Empire to rise, so he broke one in all Kandor’s home windows to suck her, Lois and Jimmy out into house. Mallah and Brain rescued them, however now there’s a Brainiac-possessed Superman flying round. So with no different possibility left, Lois used the Black Mercy that she grabbed and hooked up it to herself so she might go into Clark’s thoughts to try to free him.
Why I Like This Brainiac So Much
While I just like the traditional Coluan model of Brainiac who shrinks cities for preservation, then destroys their supply planets, the primary model of the character I ever noticed was the one from Superman: The Animated Series. That Brainiac was additionally a Kryptonian machine, so it’s good to have that shared reference to the one from My Adventures with Superman. But what actually makes me like to hate the Adult Swim present’s Brainiac is how manipulative he’s.
Naturally you’ll be able to’t have Brainiac with out his superintelligence, however slightly than merely being chilly and calculating, My Adventures with Superman’s model of the character can be outright merciless. You might hear the disgust dripping from his voice when he tells Kara how disappointing she’s been to him, and including insult to harm, he compelled her to destroy these planets when she wouldn’t initially comply along with his orders. So though Brainiac admitted to partially loving Kara, he noticed her extra as a device for his plans slightly than an precise daughter.
Brainiac’s psychological assault on Superman in “The Death of Clark Kent” was particularly twisted although, as a result of though Supes knew that Lois and Jimmy had by no means expressed such disdain for him when these previous occasions occurred, Brainiac got here near convincing him he was flawed. Then, even upon gaining management of Clark’s physique, he was nonetheless prepared to sacrifice his new pawn as simply as one throws out the trash.
Jimmy tried to make use of the Kryptonite Lois introduced alongside to weaken the Brainiac-possessed Superman, nevertheless it didn’t have any impact on him, and Brainiac mentioned he would merely switch himself to a brand new vessel whereas Clark and Kara have been being harmed if the radioactive rock stayed out. This Brainiac likes to toy with individuals’s feelings, making him ruthless for a unique motive than we’re accustomed to seeing from the character. It makes him a harmful adversary to his enemies, however an ideal villain to look at onscreen.
There are simply two episodes left of My Adventures with Superman Season 2, however concern not, fellow followers, as Season 3 is formally on the way in which to Adult Swim. Be certain you’re additionally following together with our protection on the opposite upcoming DC TV reveals.