I’m glad DC’s latest Brainiac no longer looks anything like any live-action version we’ve seen before

Braniac is one of the most popular villains in the DC Universe, and the character’s iteration in Superman and Lois It’s a shot I’ve never seen in live-action before. Although Brainiac has yet to appear in a live-action Superman film, the character has appeared over the years in various guises on television series such as Smallville and Krypton. There are also rumors that he will be in the next Superman film. Each iteration thus far has depended on providing the villain with links to the history of Krypton and examining how that contributes to Superman’s history.

Brainiac has appeared in Superman comics since 1958, when the antagonist originally appeared with a plan to shrink cities and store them in bottles. The character was changed in subsequent iterations, and even in some was the reason why Krypton was destroyed. What has been consistent about the character, however, including in his previous live-action appearances, is that he was an alien android or cyborg. This fundamental component may have been altered based on Brainiac’s appearance as part of the Superman and Lois season 4 cast, and I’m excited to see where the series goes.

Brainiac from Superman and Lois is a very different version of the character

Brainiac has taken on many forms over the years

While not much has yet been fleshed out about Brainiac’s character in the series, It seems like he’s just a human being. Milton’s character has been referred to as a “brain“, but Superman and Lois Episode 8 of season 4 shows the character in person, reinforcing the idea that he is simply a human with advanced technological skills that allow him to help Lex Luthor in his schemes. The two villains have been aligned in episodes so far, creating a connection between Milton’s technology and Lex’s plans to destroy Superman, which will likely have a devastating future.

Milton Fine in the comics was a superhuman and Brainiac took control of his body. Using this form, Brainiac was able to cause devastation while blending in with humanity. However, This ownership detail may not be a component of the Superman and Lois history. With Milton established as a human being, and with so little time left in the show, I believe there may not be an opportunity to bring in outsized sci-fi concepts, including the takeover of Milton’s body by another force. Unlike programs like Kryptonthis Braniac may simply be a super-intelligent human being.

Superman and Lois’ brain change matches the show’s other villain adjustments

The CW series made some effective changes

All villain types have received adjustments Superman and Loisand I would say that helped serve the program better. The Parasite was significantly changed into a human, and one of the most colossal changes to Superman’s villains occurred with Bizarro’s evolution into Doomsday. Following the multiversal stories that have been told in the Arrowverse, It’s clear that Superman and Lois feel the freedom to explore their canon without getting too caught up in specific details from the comics.

Doing all of this helped the creatives create a show that is not only faithful to the most important parts of Superman lore, but one that tells an overarching, cohesive story that is true to the character. Certain villains or ideas taken from the pages of comics would not seem natural in this world, and it’s a relief that the show feels comfortable avoiding them by rewriting DC lore. This allowed for the construction of an excellent Superman story that fits perfectly into the larger tapestry of Superman movies and shows over the years.

I’m glad Superman and Lois went in the direction they did with Brainiac

Milton being Brainiac was the right choice for the show

It’s good to know that the CW hasn’t forgotten about Brainiac, but I’m relieved because it looks like he won’t play an outsized role in the series’ final episodes. This entire season has been focused on the conflict between Superman and an unusual version of Lex, and pivoting to a massive extraterrestrial force would feel unnatural. With Brainiac only being a human in the series, the series will be able to use him instrumentally while continuing to focus on the conflict between Superman and Luthor.

There are only two episodes of Superman and Lois remains, and there is a lot to resolve in this short space of time. Lex Luthor became even more terrifying and Superman’s powers began to fade, as confirmed in episode 8. This will certainly lead to an incredible climax that will have huge repercussions for the entire universe of the show. Removing the more space-limited threats from this equation is the right choice and will allow the series to end satisfactorily.

I couldn’t be happier with the changes made to Brainiac in the series. Theories and rumors about Brainiac have been rife on the show, and many have even speculated that a former Arrowverse star in Tom Cavanagh could have taken on the role. However, the path the show took, in making Brainiac human, is the right one. With these details in place, Superman and Lois has everything set for a truly satisfying conclusion in its final two episodes.

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