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scans_dailyContinuing the story of Brainiac's revamp for the late Bronze Age. Action Comics #545, 7 pages of 23.
To recap from the previous post, Brainiac caused a star to go nova, then be compressed into a black hole by Superman in order to use the released energy to escape from the machine planet he was stuck in. As an unanticipated side effect, Brainiac lost his corporeal body and was scattered through the universe, gathering knowledge. Recoalescing, he went back through time to witness the moment of creation, only to discover that the Master Programmer (God, basically) and its Angel of Death (Superman) wanted Brainiac shut down for good.
Reforming into a more powerful (and scary-looking) physical body in the present, Brainiac set about arming himself for battle. He attacked Systus 2, causing massive devastation and brainwashing the population into serving him. When Superman appeared in response to a distress call, he was depowered by a red-sun missile and beaten to a pulp by Systus warriors. Now that Superman is helpless, Brainiac descends from his headship to deal with the Man of Steel personally...
Brainiac takes a moment to gloat--once he's taken care of Superman, he'll be able to destroy the Creator Of All, and rule the multiverse.
The shuttlecraft rejoins the mothership, and Brainiac turns off the mass mind-control to save power. Naturally, the surviving people of Systus 2 immediately start thinking of ways to retaliate. Brainiac realizes what's up, and zaps a large group of warriors into seeming nothingness. Back to gloating! Brainiac is as far beyond a twelfth-level intelligence as an adult is beyond a child. Superman will never be able to defeat him again.
Superman claims not to know any "Master Programmer" but does admit to wanting to lobotomize Brainiac to turn him into a beneficial robot. (Again, Superman's Code vs. Killing does not extend to machines.) Brainac shows some of his memories on a viewscreen while recapping last month's issue. This kills enough time for the diagnostic devices to complete their readings of Superman. "Once, the death of a valiant foe such as you would have had some meaning. No more. Freed of the burdens of compassion, I now do only what must be done."
For all Brainiac's new processing power, he still can't multitask well.
Brainiac realizes his goof, and will fix that bit of programming later. But for right now, he just sets up a "ship attacks Superman" subroutine to keep the still-powerless Man of Steel busy while Brainiac mops up Systus 2. It turns out that while hooked up, Brainiac feels any damage to his ship as pain, and can't unhook just yet. So he sets about defoliating the entire planet.
Meanwhile, Superman dodges the ship's internal defenses. He tries shielding himself with parts of the ship itself, but the weapons merely readjust for the tougher armor.
The shuttlecraft turns out to have perfectly normal mechanical controls, similar to things Superman's piloted before. Brainiac spots the escape, and wonders why he feels an illogical sense of dread. He should no longer be capable of such emotions. Something to analyze later.
Superman steers into a meteor field in an attempt to evade Brainiac. Too bad Brainiac can just turn on his ship's force field and plow straight through.
But it's too soon for that, as Superman's powers kicked in at the very last moment. And with his powers, Superman is fully capable of attacking Brainiac's ship directly. Refer to the cover scene. Brainiac retaliates by launching another red-sun torpedo.
Superman dives into the heart of a yellow sun, rejuvenating his powers and melting the missile. But when he comes out, Brainiac's ship is nowhere to be seen, as though it had warp capability. Superman worries about the new, deadlier Brainiac as he heads back to Earth.
Subplot time! Clark Kent puts in an appearance at WGBS, where he is encouraging to an intern named Justin, before being corraled by Jimmy Olsen, who thinks there's something wrong with Perry White.
At the Grand Canyon, the elderly Rip Hunter pores over his notes, trying to find a solution for a mysterious problem. He's soon joined by the equally aged Dane Dorrace and Cave Carson. Rick Flag and Dolphin are on their way. Only the Forgotten Heroes can save the world now!
And we see that Brainiac's hold is filled to the brim with brainwashed alien warriors.
Next time, guest stars!
Your thoughts and comments?
suggested tags
char: Brainiac
char: Superman/Clark Kent
creator: Gil Kane
creator: Marv Wolfman
publisher: DC Comics
title: Action Comics
To recap from the previous post, Brainiac caused a star to go nova, then be compressed into a black hole by Superman in order to use the released energy to escape from the machine planet he was stuck in. As an unanticipated side effect, Brainiac lost his corporeal body and was scattered through the universe, gathering knowledge. Recoalescing, he went back through time to witness the moment of creation, only to discover that the Master Programmer (God, basically) and its Angel of Death (Superman) wanted Brainiac shut down for good.
Reforming into a more powerful (and scary-looking) physical body in the present, Brainiac set about arming himself for battle. He attacked Systus 2, causing massive devastation and brainwashing the population into serving him. When Superman appeared in response to a distress call, he was depowered by a red-sun missile and beaten to a pulp by Systus warriors. Now that Superman is helpless, Brainiac descends from his headship to deal with the Man of Steel personally...
Brainiac takes a moment to gloat--once he's taken care of Superman, he'll be able to destroy the Creator Of All, and rule the multiverse.
The shuttlecraft rejoins the mothership, and Brainiac turns off the mass mind-control to save power. Naturally, the surviving people of Systus 2 immediately start thinking of ways to retaliate. Brainiac realizes what's up, and zaps a large group of warriors into seeming nothingness. Back to gloating! Brainiac is as far beyond a twelfth-level intelligence as an adult is beyond a child. Superman will never be able to defeat him again.
Superman claims not to know any "Master Programmer" but does admit to wanting to lobotomize Brainiac to turn him into a beneficial robot. (Again, Superman's Code vs. Killing does not extend to machines.) Brainac shows some of his memories on a viewscreen while recapping last month's issue. This kills enough time for the diagnostic devices to complete their readings of Superman. "Once, the death of a valiant foe such as you would have had some meaning. No more. Freed of the burdens of compassion, I now do only what must be done."
For all Brainiac's new processing power, he still can't multitask well.
Brainiac realizes his goof, and will fix that bit of programming later. But for right now, he just sets up a "ship attacks Superman" subroutine to keep the still-powerless Man of Steel busy while Brainiac mops up Systus 2. It turns out that while hooked up, Brainiac feels any damage to his ship as pain, and can't unhook just yet. So he sets about defoliating the entire planet.
Meanwhile, Superman dodges the ship's internal defenses. He tries shielding himself with parts of the ship itself, but the weapons merely readjust for the tougher armor.
The shuttlecraft turns out to have perfectly normal mechanical controls, similar to things Superman's piloted before. Brainiac spots the escape, and wonders why he feels an illogical sense of dread. He should no longer be capable of such emotions. Something to analyze later.
Superman steers into a meteor field in an attempt to evade Brainiac. Too bad Brainiac can just turn on his ship's force field and plow straight through.
But it's too soon for that, as Superman's powers kicked in at the very last moment. And with his powers, Superman is fully capable of attacking Brainiac's ship directly. Refer to the cover scene. Brainiac retaliates by launching another red-sun torpedo.
Superman dives into the heart of a yellow sun, rejuvenating his powers and melting the missile. But when he comes out, Brainiac's ship is nowhere to be seen, as though it had warp capability. Superman worries about the new, deadlier Brainiac as he heads back to Earth.
Subplot time! Clark Kent puts in an appearance at WGBS, where he is encouraging to an intern named Justin, before being corraled by Jimmy Olsen, who thinks there's something wrong with Perry White.
At the Grand Canyon, the elderly Rip Hunter pores over his notes, trying to find a solution for a mysterious problem. He's soon joined by the equally aged Dane Dorrace and Cave Carson. Rick Flag and Dolphin are on their way. Only the Forgotten Heroes can save the world now!
And we see that Brainiac's hold is filled to the brim with brainwashed alien warriors.
Next time, guest stars!
Your thoughts and comments?
suggested tags
char: Brainiac
char: Superman/Clark Kent
creator: Gil Kane
creator: Marv Wolfman
publisher: DC Comics
title: Action Comics
no subject
Date: 2010-06-02 07:07 pm (UTC)I wonder if that's where Grant Morrison got a similar idea for JLA: Earth 2?
Also, I don't recall seeing Superman sweat that often.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-02 10:25 pm (UTC)Normally, Superman doesn't need to sweat, his powers regulating his body temperature just fine without it. But it does make a good indicator of just how desperate a situation is because of its rarity.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-02 10:45 pm (UTC)I remember at the time loving this, because I always though shorts-and-pink-shirt Brainiac looked kind of stupid and not at all as such an enemy of Superman should look--basically, Luthor with crappy clothes and green skin. I think the current version works--at least when drawn by Gary Frank--but I still have a huge love of this one. He was at least theoretically scary.
And after all, this is the one in WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE MAN OF TOMORROW? Who can't stand the idea that he wasn't Superman's greatest enemy.