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Superman: New Krypton Saga #0
Superman: Brainiac
Brainiac has set his sights on destroying Earth and finishing off the Last Son of Krypton once and for all. This epic battle leads into Superman: Krypton.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
42 people are currently reading
1962 people want to read
About the author
Geoff Johns
2,718 books2,408 followersGeoff Johns originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Film. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990s in search of work within the film industry. Through perseverance, Geoff ended up as the assistant to Richard Donner, working on Conspiracy Theory and Lethal Weapon 4. During that time, he also began his comics career writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. and JSA (co-written with David S. Goyer) for DC Comics. He worked with Richard Donner for four years, leaving the company to pursue writing full-time.
His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005, 2007 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff also developed BLADE: THE SERIES with David S. Goyer, as well as penned the acclaimed “Legion” episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as staff writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN.
Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank.
His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005, 2007 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff also developed BLADE: THE SERIES with David S. Goyer, as well as penned the acclaimed “Legion” episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as staff writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN.
Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
October 5, 2025
Good stuff.
This has been one of the Superman stories that I've recommended quite a bit over the years, so I thought it was time to re-read it and see if it was as good as I remembered.
Short answer? Yes.
Say what you want about Geoff Johns, but the man can zero in on what we all love most about a character and infuse those traits throughout the story he's telling. In this one, he gives you a connection to Clark that makes you smile, cheer, and even get a bit choked up.
Gary Frank's art complements this sort of story with not only the incredibly expressive facial expressions but also the characters' body language.
Ok, and I know that in the past I've complained that I didn't like the Christopher Reeve-looking Superman, and I'm still not 100% in love with the look, but this time around I found it quite a bit more charming. I think my change of heart is mainly because Frank oozes the type of talent that even a peasant like myself can recognize.
There's also a quiet humor that rolls through this story to keep it from being too dark. I had forgotten about that, but it's kind of important when you consider where this one takes us.
The relationship between Lois and Clark is still the understated perfection I remembered from reading it the first time, but this time around, I can see that it was mostly achieved through Gary Frank's phenomenally expressive faces.
I know the Brainiac is the title character, and yes, he is the villain that this revolves around, but this is so much more than just Superman punching a bad guy. This is about Clark Kent doing his Superman stuff and not the other way around.
Oh, and there were also so many little (but poignant) details that I'd forgotten!
This is one of the most well-done father/son stories in comics, and I will forever love Pa Kent because of it.
Highly Recommended!
Original review: 2011
This has been one of the Superman stories that I've recommended quite a bit over the years, so I thought it was time to re-read it and see if it was as good as I remembered.
Short answer? Yes.
Say what you want about Geoff Johns, but the man can zero in on what we all love most about a character and infuse those traits throughout the story he's telling. In this one, he gives you a connection to Clark that makes you smile, cheer, and even get a bit choked up.
Gary Frank's art complements this sort of story with not only the incredibly expressive facial expressions but also the characters' body language.
Ok, and I know that in the past I've complained that I didn't like the Christopher Reeve-looking Superman, and I'm still not 100% in love with the look, but this time around I found it quite a bit more charming. I think my change of heart is mainly because Frank oozes the type of talent that even a peasant like myself can recognize.
There's also a quiet humor that rolls through this story to keep it from being too dark. I had forgotten about that, but it's kind of important when you consider where this one takes us.
The relationship between Lois and Clark is still the understated perfection I remembered from reading it the first time, but this time around, I can see that it was mostly achieved through Gary Frank's phenomenally expressive faces.
I know the Brainiac is the title character, and yes, he is the villain that this revolves around, but this is so much more than just Superman punching a bad guy. This is about Clark Kent doing his Superman stuff and not the other way around.
Oh, and there were also so many little (but poignant) details that I'd forgotten!
This is one of the most well-done father/son stories in comics, and I will forever love Pa Kent because of it.
Highly Recommended!
Original review: 2011
January 7, 2019
Wow! Moments of this are just breathtaking. Johns and Frank are able to pack humor, emotion and nonstop action into a very quick read. Sometimes I was laughing, other times I had tears in my eyes. Gary Frank's art is so damn expressive. Johns does do some revisionist history by redoing the Kandor story (even though Kandor had already been established as sitting in the Fortress of Solitude.) and altering Supergirl's history a bit. Johns turns Brainiac into a real badass with the potential to threaten the entire DC universe. He also does a great job with Superman. When push comes to shove and Superman sees Earth being threatened, he turns hard as nails. And then those father / son moments between Clark and Pa Kent are just crushing.
This is a prelude to the New Krypton Saga. I think by this point they knew the New 52 was coming as there was a real willingness to take risks during this period in DC history.
This is a prelude to the New Krypton Saga. I think by this point they knew the New 52 was coming as there was a real willingness to take risks during this period in DC history.
November 21, 2019
Pretty good artwork and a decent story, Superman V: Braniac was a short entertaining read. I don’t quite see how the Toyman story at the beginning serves as a tie-in to the Superman vs Brainiac story...
The origin story for Supergirl was interesting but I felt the sketches of her as well as her personality were a bit cardboard. I think I prefer the Batman cannon overall, not sure I will delve too much more into Superman.
The origin story for Supergirl was interesting but I felt the sketches of her as well as her personality were a bit cardboard. I think I prefer the Batman cannon overall, not sure I will delve too much more into Superman.
April 10, 2018
Okay, yeah. I said before that I wasn't going to read any more Geoff Johns comics, but come on, who am I kidding. If I want to read and learn more about the DC universe, there is absolutely no avoiding Johns' massive output over the past two decades. Plus, April 2018 is the month of Superman as far as I'm concerned, with the 80 year-anniversary of Superman and 1000 issues of Action Comics. Anyway, Johns' run on Action Comics is well-regarded, it was on sale, and I wanted to read Superman comics, so that's how I ended up reading Superman: Brainiac.
And it's actually really good! I've got to give Johns some credit here, he writes Superman really well. Clark is all the right amounts of kind, heroic, smart and snarky, and while he does some things here that I personally don't think Superman would do (at one point he punches a big aggressive animal in the head, breaking its tooth), generally I'm okay with this version of Supes.
I was also surprised that this book extensively features Kara Zor-El, the Supergirl. I haven't seen much of her in other comics, but I really liked her here. The rest of the supporting cast was fine with the exception of Kat Grant, who is portrayed here as a stereotypical dumbass sensationalist whose main personality trait is her fake tits. Seriously, waaay to much attention to her breasts in this comic! Considering how well her character is realised even on a silly TV show like Supergirl, this take on her feels lazy at best and degrading at worst.
I enjoyed the actual story about Brainiac. It's a classic one — Brainiac comes, wants to put Metropolis in a bottle, Superman saves the day. I think Grant Morrison did a better version of this in Superman: Action Comics, Volume 1: Superman and the Men of Steel, but Johns' take was perfectly fun and enjoyable, too.
This volume has a twist ending that kinda caught me off guard. Spoiler alert: I didn't see it coming, and to be honest, I didn't really like that, because that's where the book ends, and we see no reaction from other characters, no grieving, nothing like that, and there was virtually no buildup to that event. Maybe I'm just missing some issues and all of the above happens elsewhere, but in the context of this volume this plot line feels tacked on.
Gary Frank's artwork is the best part of this book, though. It's just great all around — the character designs, the facial expressions, the action, the backgrounds. This guy is immensely talented, and it's always a joy to see his work even in otherwise weak comics, but paired with a fun and engaging story it's even better.
Despite all the minor flaws, Superman: Brainiac is still a rare example of a good Superman comic, and an even rarer example of a good Geoff Johns comic. Needless to say, I'm impressed and quite happy that I decided to read it. To anyone looking for a fun Superman book, this is a really good choice.
And it's actually really good! I've got to give Johns some credit here, he writes Superman really well. Clark is all the right amounts of kind, heroic, smart and snarky, and while he does some things here that I personally don't think Superman would do (at one point he punches a big aggressive animal in the head, breaking its tooth), generally I'm okay with this version of Supes.
I was also surprised that this book extensively features Kara Zor-El, the Supergirl. I haven't seen much of her in other comics, but I really liked her here. The rest of the supporting cast was fine with the exception of Kat Grant, who is portrayed here as a stereotypical dumbass sensationalist whose main personality trait is her fake tits. Seriously, waaay to much attention to her breasts in this comic! Considering how well her character is realised even on a silly TV show like Supergirl, this take on her feels lazy at best and degrading at worst.
I enjoyed the actual story about Brainiac. It's a classic one — Brainiac comes, wants to put Metropolis in a bottle, Superman saves the day. I think Grant Morrison did a better version of this in Superman: Action Comics, Volume 1: Superman and the Men of Steel, but Johns' take was perfectly fun and enjoyable, too.
This volume has a twist ending that kinda caught me off guard. Spoiler alert: I didn't see it coming, and to be honest, I didn't really like that, because that's where the book ends, and we see no reaction from other characters, no grieving, nothing like that, and there was virtually no buildup to that event. Maybe I'm just missing some issues and all of the above happens elsewhere, but in the context of this volume this plot line feels tacked on.
Gary Frank's artwork is the best part of this book, though. It's just great all around — the character designs, the facial expressions, the action, the backgrounds. This guy is immensely talented, and it's always a joy to see his work even in otherwise weak comics, but paired with a fun and engaging story it's even better.
Despite all the minor flaws, Superman: Brainiac is still a rare example of a good Superman comic, and an even rarer example of a good Geoff Johns comic. Needless to say, I'm impressed and quite happy that I decided to read it. To anyone looking for a fun Superman book, this is a really good choice.
October 26, 2012
Brainiac is out in the universe gobbling up cultures, destroying worlds and putting cities, like Krypton's Kandor, in bottles so Superman heads off to stop him once and for all.
Brainiac is the ultimate control freak/collector who lives only for his collection of bottled cities and collected knowledge. He's like an internet of one or, for Trekkies, the Borg. That makes him a pretty formidable opponent for Superman and Geoff Johns makes the most of it, showing Superman's limits when it comes to trying outsmart someone whose knowledge far surpasses his own.
It's a very well written and drawn book - artist Gary Frank draws Superman/Clark Kent exactly like Christopher Reeve so it's like reading a movie that never was and like the first two Reeve movies it's awesome (unlike the last two). There's a heartfelt epilogue to a character close to Superman who passes, that was done in wordless panels – a smart artistic choice as it felt like even the reader was kept at a distance from Superman's thoughts and personal grief.
"Superman: Brainiac" is an excellent Superman book and the best Johns book I've read yet. Any Superman fan would love reading this - highly recommended.
Brainiac is the ultimate control freak/collector who lives only for his collection of bottled cities and collected knowledge. He's like an internet of one or, for Trekkies, the Borg. That makes him a pretty formidable opponent for Superman and Geoff Johns makes the most of it, showing Superman's limits when it comes to trying outsmart someone whose knowledge far surpasses his own.
It's a very well written and drawn book - artist Gary Frank draws Superman/Clark Kent exactly like Christopher Reeve so it's like reading a movie that never was and like the first two Reeve movies it's awesome (unlike the last two). There's a heartfelt epilogue to a character close to Superman who passes, that was done in wordless panels – a smart artistic choice as it felt like even the reader was kept at a distance from Superman's thoughts and personal grief.
"Superman: Brainiac" is an excellent Superman book and the best Johns book I've read yet. Any Superman fan would love reading this - highly recommended.
January 4, 2023
That was impressive. Geoff Johns does a wonderful job of giving us a "new" version of Brainiac. This version is creepy and utterly inhuman.
Superman finds and fights a Brainiac drone. He takes it back to the Fortress of Solitude to study it. When he runs into his cousin, Supergirl, he finds out that he's never faced the REAL Brainiac. He is about to.
This was a great story. The artwork is excellent and truly complements the story. The story itself is also really good. It shows us an interesting side to Brainiac and he is truly far more powerful than I had assumed. It almost has a horror-like feel to the story.
On top of Brainiac, there are some other momentous events that take place for Superman- from the return of a long lost city to the loss of a beloved family member. One of the best Superman stories I've read in awhile.
Superman finds and fights a Brainiac drone. He takes it back to the Fortress of Solitude to study it. When he runs into his cousin, Supergirl, he finds out that he's never faced the REAL Brainiac. He is about to.
This was a great story. The artwork is excellent and truly complements the story. The story itself is also really good. It shows us an interesting side to Brainiac and he is truly far more powerful than I had assumed. It almost has a horror-like feel to the story.
On top of Brainiac, there are some other momentous events that take place for Superman- from the return of a long lost city to the loss of a beloved family member. One of the best Superman stories I've read in awhile.
May 19, 2024
That was not what I was expecting at all, what an amazing story. Not only was this my first look at supergirl and where she came from and brainiac who is an interesting villain, it’s also a great look at superman’s relationship with his dad. This packed so much into a quick read, enjoyed this a tonne!
May 6, 2016
Well written story with good art. Could have stood to be a bit longer but still very good.
July 19, 2023
The epilogue was great, but overall, this was just fine.
February 4, 2018
Great artwork and storyline, with less of the profanity, freaky visuals, and such that have plagued other such omnibuses (though a couple of crude jokes were still present.)
February 12, 2020
During the past week, the comic club I attend every month discussed what I think is the quintessential Superman story All-Star Superman, a book I have reread and championed over the years. Although I would say that Superman is more of a required taste than Batman, there are plenty of Superman stories to check out, whether it is the first two Christopher Reeve films, which have certainly influenced Geoff Johns in the way he writes the Man of Steel.
Prior to writing his spin on the origin story Secret Origin, Geoff Johns had been writing plenty of comics from the main Superman title to Action Comics, the latter of which the story arc "Brainiac" was published under. As one of Brainiac's drones crash-lands to Earth, Superman encounters it, only triggering the impending arrival of the evil Coluan, who frightens Superman's younger cousin, Kara/Supergirl.
Opening the book with Brainiac invading Krypton as well as shrinking and stealing the capital city Kandor, it immediately sets up who is considered Superman's second-deadliest archenemy after Lex Luthor. Considering Superman has acknowledged the various battles with Brainiac during a conversation with Kara, Johns re-establishes the eponymous villain by going back to the Silver Age roots. He may serve more as a physical threat and doesn't get under the skin of our hero, but Johns writes great dialogue that showcases Brainiac's evil intellect.
Johns' biggest influence when it comes to writing the Man of Steel is Richard Donner's 1978 Superman movie, which itself was inspired by the Silver Age comics. Modernising these classical elements, through the writing and the art, there is a charming simplicity in the book's exploration of the mythos, even during the crazy sci-fi set-pieces. But no matter how grand Superman's adventures can be, Johns maintains that human quality that truly defines Superman through his mild-mannered alter-ego, Clark Kent, who has great interactions with the various staff of the Daily Planet, including his wife, Lois.
Gary Frank is one of the greatest artists to draw Superman, not least in the way he draws the character, looking very much like Christopher Reeve. Hell, even if his Lois looks a lot like Margot Kidder. Presenting a world that looks both modern and classic, Frank puts a lot of attention on every page, from the expressive characters to the impactful action sequences ranging from Metropolis to Brainiac's alien ship.
In five issues, Geoff Johns might be juggling too many elements to the point you may initially struggle what the emotional core is, but once you reach the heartbreaking finale, which evokes a similar sequence from Richard Donner's Superman, "Brainiac" reminds you of what is both great and tragic about the iconic superhero.
Prior to writing his spin on the origin story Secret Origin, Geoff Johns had been writing plenty of comics from the main Superman title to Action Comics, the latter of which the story arc "Brainiac" was published under. As one of Brainiac's drones crash-lands to Earth, Superman encounters it, only triggering the impending arrival of the evil Coluan, who frightens Superman's younger cousin, Kara/Supergirl.
Opening the book with Brainiac invading Krypton as well as shrinking and stealing the capital city Kandor, it immediately sets up who is considered Superman's second-deadliest archenemy after Lex Luthor. Considering Superman has acknowledged the various battles with Brainiac during a conversation with Kara, Johns re-establishes the eponymous villain by going back to the Silver Age roots. He may serve more as a physical threat and doesn't get under the skin of our hero, but Johns writes great dialogue that showcases Brainiac's evil intellect.
Johns' biggest influence when it comes to writing the Man of Steel is Richard Donner's 1978 Superman movie, which itself was inspired by the Silver Age comics. Modernising these classical elements, through the writing and the art, there is a charming simplicity in the book's exploration of the mythos, even during the crazy sci-fi set-pieces. But no matter how grand Superman's adventures can be, Johns maintains that human quality that truly defines Superman through his mild-mannered alter-ego, Clark Kent, who has great interactions with the various staff of the Daily Planet, including his wife, Lois.
Gary Frank is one of the greatest artists to draw Superman, not least in the way he draws the character, looking very much like Christopher Reeve. Hell, even if his Lois looks a lot like Margot Kidder. Presenting a world that looks both modern and classic, Frank puts a lot of attention on every page, from the expressive characters to the impactful action sequences ranging from Metropolis to Brainiac's alien ship.
In five issues, Geoff Johns might be juggling too many elements to the point you may initially struggle what the emotional core is, but once you reach the heartbreaking finale, which evokes a similar sequence from Richard Donner's Superman, "Brainiac" reminds you of what is both great and tragic about the iconic superhero.
May 9, 2018
(Edited)
I have been anticipating this story for quite a while now. And you know what?! (She can’t stand the sight of me!) Sorry. Anyway And you know what?! This book is $64 to $158 on frickin Amazon because it’s been out of print for 10 years! I had no idea. That is because it is a prelude comic to that New Krypton series that happened. Written by the amazing Geoff Johns with art by the also amazing Gary Frank I was really excited when I could finally read it. I think if you are looking for just a fun, lighter comic that doesn’t really make you think, this is a good choice, especially for a Superman fan. That’s overall how I feel about this story. Nothing really amazed me like I thought it would, but to pass the time while reading, this did the job.
I’ll just get this out of the way. Superman is a frickin hard-ass. Blasting heat vision into Brainiac’s eyes?! That’s what I’m talkin about! All of his great characteristics are still there but just saying, he’s playin pretty rough. Superman’s relationship with his parents and Supergirl is always great to see, but I think some of my favourite scenes in this book are the first few Daily Planet scenes. The dialogue between all of the characters is not only hilarious but adds for such a wholesome feel to this iconic location.
As for Brainiac……Okay, so Brainiac does in most media talk like a robot and a being that wants to rule all. Because of this, I am not a big fan of his character because his personality is a little bland. Sorry, very bland. And I get it. He is supposed to be that way, but I don’t usually have any interest or get compelled by those kinds of villains. Movie example: Steppenwolf from Justice League (2017). But none the less the comic does a great job showing the horrors of what Brainiac does and how it ruins millions of lives. The story itself is a little bland as well. Don't get me wrong, it's still entertaining, I just can’t help but think how much more could have been in this story. Lengthwise and substance. The story only really becomes something more near the end, and everything ends unresolved because it is a prelude comic.
Gary Frank’s art is incredible though. This makes me want to read Secret Origin or the Shazam Comic he and Johns did. His art is so expressive and vibrant looking and really does well for the reading experience. In the end, this was a quick fun read. I don’t really know if it was any more than that though, and that is a little bit of a letdown. If this wasn’t a Superman story would I care as much? I dunno that I would have, but either way I do recommend this story for the great Superman characters and amazing artwork. Letter Grade: (B)
I have been anticipating this story for quite a while now. And you know what?! (She can’t stand the sight of me!) Sorry. Anyway And you know what?! This book is $64 to $158 on frickin Amazon because it’s been out of print for 10 years! I had no idea. That is because it is a prelude comic to that New Krypton series that happened. Written by the amazing Geoff Johns with art by the also amazing Gary Frank I was really excited when I could finally read it. I think if you are looking for just a fun, lighter comic that doesn’t really make you think, this is a good choice, especially for a Superman fan. That’s overall how I feel about this story. Nothing really amazed me like I thought it would, but to pass the time while reading, this did the job.
I’ll just get this out of the way. Superman is a frickin hard-ass. Blasting heat vision into Brainiac’s eyes?! That’s what I’m talkin about! All of his great characteristics are still there but just saying, he’s playin pretty rough. Superman’s relationship with his parents and Supergirl is always great to see, but I think some of my favourite scenes in this book are the first few Daily Planet scenes. The dialogue between all of the characters is not only hilarious but adds for such a wholesome feel to this iconic location.
As for Brainiac……Okay, so Brainiac does in most media talk like a robot and a being that wants to rule all. Because of this, I am not a big fan of his character because his personality is a little bland. Sorry, very bland. And I get it. He is supposed to be that way, but I don’t usually have any interest or get compelled by those kinds of villains. Movie example: Steppenwolf from Justice League (2017). But none the less the comic does a great job showing the horrors of what Brainiac does and how it ruins millions of lives. The story itself is a little bland as well. Don't get me wrong, it's still entertaining, I just can’t help but think how much more could have been in this story. Lengthwise and substance. The story only really becomes something more near the end, and everything ends unresolved because it is a prelude comic.
Gary Frank’s art is incredible though. This makes me want to read Secret Origin or the Shazam Comic he and Johns did. His art is so expressive and vibrant looking and really does well for the reading experience. In the end, this was a quick fun read. I don’t really know if it was any more than that though, and that is a little bit of a letdown. If this wasn’t a Superman story would I care as much? I dunno that I would have, but either way I do recommend this story for the great Superman characters and amazing artwork. Letter Grade: (B)
January 8, 2019
Geoff Johns and Gary Frank write and draw classic Superman, although he undeniably looks Christopher Reeve. My only complaint is how short this book is and that it drops your heart off a cliff right at the end. It really needs a follow up book. That said, this is a fun and exciting read with a near omnipotent and finally unridiculous Brainiac pulling the strings.
October 19, 2017
I really connected with this one. I love the relationship Clark has with his parents. And Supergirl made me laugh a bit in this one (in a good way).
December 13, 2020
One day a Brainiac droid comes in Metropolis and so Superman stops it and later learns that its not actually Brainiac and the past versions he faced were..neither. So Superman goes on a quest to find the real one and when he does, he learns of all the worlds he has conquered and the screams of its people, and he finds Kandor. When he finally encounters the Brainiac-Prime, he tries fighting him to no avail and the face off is excellent and he gets knocked down and their battle goes on while he is trapped. Brainiac comes to earth and collects Metropolis and launches something at the sun so its to Superman and Supergirl to save the day meanwhile fighting this monstrosity called Brainiac. And they win surely, but at such a great cost and the epilogue was so sad and emotional and heart wrenching.
Its one of the greatest Superman and Brainiac stories ever, Geoff Johns writes a golden story showcasing one of Superman's arch-foes in such spotlight and showing why he is so dangerous, his real motives, his powers and has such emotional stakes and is filled with action throughout but the costs are high as well. And the funeral in the end was sad, and Clark and Pa Kent had such great scenes and makes you emotional and sympathize with Clark and overall a great rollercoaster of a story in a way and the art is awesome evoking imagery of Chris Reeves as Superman and the colors are radiant and pop and each panel is a marvel to look at. Definitely one of the must reads Superman stories ever.
Its one of the greatest Superman and Brainiac stories ever, Geoff Johns writes a golden story showcasing one of Superman's arch-foes in such spotlight and showing why he is so dangerous, his real motives, his powers and has such emotional stakes and is filled with action throughout but the costs are high as well. And the funeral in the end was sad, and Clark and Pa Kent had such great scenes and makes you emotional and sympathize with Clark and overall a great rollercoaster of a story in a way and the art is awesome evoking imagery of Chris Reeves as Superman and the colors are radiant and pop and each panel is a marvel to look at. Definitely one of the must reads Superman stories ever.
October 27, 2016
A nice attempt at generating alternate scenarios for the Man of Steel. This plot centers around Brainiac as the true destroyer of Krypton, and not the unstable planet's core. It was a worthy read, but lacked any real stopping power.
I was intrigued by the way Johns wove in other Superman franchise media into the story --Cat Grant and Supergirl look a lot like their TV series counterparts; Superman and Lois Lane look like the Christopher Reeve movie actors, etc.
I was intrigued by the way Johns wove in other Superman franchise media into the story --Cat Grant and Supergirl look a lot like their TV series counterparts; Superman and Lois Lane look like the Christopher Reeve movie actors, etc.
August 10, 2025
Superman: Brainiac is a fast, high-impact Superman tale that proves you don’t need a long arc to deliver big stakes and emotional resonance. Geoff Johns crafts a tense, streamlined story that redefines Brainiac as a chilling, calculating threat, while Gary Frank’s art brings both the cosmic spectacle and the small, human moments to life. There’s explosive action, a real sense of danger, and an emotional throughline that hits hard—reminding you exactly why Superman inspires. A compact, heartfelt, and immensely satisfying read that stands tall among modern Superman stories. 4.5 stars rounded up
September 1, 2010
I'm not the biggest fan of Johns work because I just feel like he really lacks characterization in most of his tales, but here I actually felt like he delved into the character of Clark really well, and his relationship with his father was poignant and utterly heartbreaking.Sure Jonathan's been killed off numerous times, but for some reason it always gets me and touches me because he is such a big part in the making of Clark into the world's greatest superhero.
The stuff at the Daily Planet was fun and something that is sorely lacking in the Superman comics to date. Clark is a huge oaf who really can't seem to tie his shoes, but he has touch of spunk to him. Especially when he uses his heat vision to send Lombard to the ground. His flirting with Lois was spot on and shows that while they are married, they still have sexual chemistry and they are hardly stale.
I'm not a big fan of the art as I find Frank's faces to be quite frankly hideous, and very distracting.
Even though I loved this story, I still have a huge quibble with Johns and his fascination/obsession with the Silver Age of Superman. In everything he writes, you feel like it's stuck in the past in everything from dialogue to clothing that he wears, and that's really frustrating because Superman/Clark Kent has evolved from a...
The stuff at the Daily Planet was fun and something that is sorely lacking in the Superman comics to date. Clark is a huge oaf who really can't seem to tie his shoes, but he has touch of spunk to him. Especially when he uses his heat vision to send Lombard to the ground. His flirting with Lois was spot on and shows that while they are married, they still have sexual chemistry and they are hardly stale.
I'm not a big fan of the art as I find Frank's faces to be quite frankly hideous, and very distracting.
Even though I loved this story, I still have a huge quibble with Johns and his fascination/obsession with the Silver Age of Superman. In everything he writes, you feel like it's stuck in the past in everything from dialogue to clothing that he wears, and that's really frustrating because Superman/Clark Kent has evolved from a...
April 13, 2011
Brilliant. I friggin' loved SUPERMAN: BRAINIAC. It was just the Superman fix I needed after the let-down of ALL-STAR SUPERMAN by Grant Morrison. Ugh.
I know I've slammed Geoff Johns on Goodreads before, but here he was spot-on perfect. One of the best Superman reads I've ever come across. My faith has been renewed, restored, and revitalized!
Also: Gary Frank's Christopher Reeve-esque rendering of Superman? Fantastic! As was the rest of the cast in this trade. I adored it. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it. I give it FIVE STARS!
I know I've slammed Geoff Johns on Goodreads before, but here he was spot-on perfect. One of the best Superman reads I've ever come across. My faith has been renewed, restored, and revitalized!
Also: Gary Frank's Christopher Reeve-esque rendering of Superman? Fantastic! As was the rest of the cast in this trade. I adored it. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it. I give it FIVE STARS!
November 6, 2024
Superman: Brainiac, escrito por Geoff Johns, é uma história bacana do Homem de Aço, que consegue colocar pitadas de sentimento em momentos oportunos, destacando toda a humanidade do Superman, bem como consegue trabalhar bem o antagonismo do Brainiac, mostrando que ele é um vilão a ser temido.
Na trama, temos uma minissérie que como o próprio nome do encadernado indica, possui como o antagonista o Brainiac, que aqui, é de certa forma “reformulado”, pois Johns trabalha o vilão como uma espécie alienígena e não uma IA criada pelo Kryptonianos. Dessa forma, ele viajar a galáxia colecionando espécies e adquirindo conhecimento, fazendo com que ele busque pelo último kryptoniano vivo. Nessa jornada, vemos que Johns também resgata a cidade de Kandor, a famosa cidade “enlatada” que Clark protege, sendo um elemento importante na cronologia do homem de aço.
Ao contrario do que comumente vemos, não é o Brainiac que vai até a terra nessa história, mas sim Clark que vai em busca do vilão, com o objetivo de proteger a terra, mas principalmente sua prima, que possui péssimas recordações dos momentos em que Brainiac invadiu e sequestrou Kandor.
A HQ também possui bons momentos de ação, mas não são os destaques da trama, que dão maior espaço para os diálogos mais humanos entre Clark e seus pais, desenvolvendo bem a relação de amor entre pais e filho. Outro núcleo interessante é do Planeta diário, que possui um contraste em relação ao da família Kent, pois enquanto um é mais amoroso, outro é bem caótico e divertido, como um ambiente de trabalho que possui trabalhadores heterogêneos.
Ademais, é uma HQ interessante do Superman, mas não coloco nas melhores histórias do personagem. É um trama boa de ser lida para conhecer mais a respeito dos jornalistas do Planeta Diário e conhecer mais sobre o Brainiac.
Na trama, temos uma minissérie que como o próprio nome do encadernado indica, possui como o antagonista o Brainiac, que aqui, é de certa forma “reformulado”, pois Johns trabalha o vilão como uma espécie alienígena e não uma IA criada pelo Kryptonianos. Dessa forma, ele viajar a galáxia colecionando espécies e adquirindo conhecimento, fazendo com que ele busque pelo último kryptoniano vivo. Nessa jornada, vemos que Johns também resgata a cidade de Kandor, a famosa cidade “enlatada” que Clark protege, sendo um elemento importante na cronologia do homem de aço.
Ao contrario do que comumente vemos, não é o Brainiac que vai até a terra nessa história, mas sim Clark que vai em busca do vilão, com o objetivo de proteger a terra, mas principalmente sua prima, que possui péssimas recordações dos momentos em que Brainiac invadiu e sequestrou Kandor.
A HQ também possui bons momentos de ação, mas não são os destaques da trama, que dão maior espaço para os diálogos mais humanos entre Clark e seus pais, desenvolvendo bem a relação de amor entre pais e filho. Outro núcleo interessante é do Planeta diário, que possui um contraste em relação ao da família Kent, pois enquanto um é mais amoroso, outro é bem caótico e divertido, como um ambiente de trabalho que possui trabalhadores heterogêneos.
Ademais, é uma HQ interessante do Superman, mas não coloco nas melhores histórias do personagem. É um trama boa de ser lida para conhecer mais a respeito dos jornalistas do Planeta Diário e conhecer mais sobre o Brainiac.
April 2, 2022
Johns and Frank deliver the best Superman versus Brainiac duel in the heroes history as far as I am concerned. I was reading Action comics monthly when this was coming out originally so it was nice to revisit this story in trade paperback format which we had in our library collection at work.
Gary Frank goes with the Christopher Reeve/Margot Kidder look for Clark and Lois and we get some grounded side stories featuring Ma and Pa Kent, Perry, Jimmy and some related Daily Planet cast as well.
Brainiac's plans to gather knowledge from Superman in a plan to collect more cities and people for his collection in a huge Brainiac-like skull ship and we even get a Super-girl appearance as well.
Johns deftly blends humor amongst the seriousness and leaves the reader with a heartbreaking ending.
Overall, this ranks as among the best of the Superman stories for everything that is packed in it.
Gary Frank goes with the Christopher Reeve/Margot Kidder look for Clark and Lois and we get some grounded side stories featuring Ma and Pa Kent, Perry, Jimmy and some related Daily Planet cast as well.
Brainiac's plans to gather knowledge from Superman in a plan to collect more cities and people for his collection in a huge Brainiac-like skull ship and we even get a Super-girl appearance as well.
Johns deftly blends humor amongst the seriousness and leaves the reader with a heartbreaking ending.
Overall, this ranks as among the best of the Superman stories for everything that is packed in it.
October 3, 2012
It's pretty much a certainty nowadays that, if you see Geoff Johns' name on the cover, you should prepare to change everything you know about that series. He is simply the king of retroactive continuity. And there is no exception with "Brainiac". This book is a prelude to the New Krypton story-arc, so there is a lot of set-up: we meet the true Brainiac, we learn the true history of Kandor's abduction, and we discover where Kara's parents disappeared to. It reads more like a trailer to a larger event, and I would have liked to read more about Brainiac's past, maybe Johns could have deconstructed the relationship between Supes and B some more.... Maybe Brainiac isn't all that bad a guy? The epilogue is stunning, and the whole book is well storyboarded. It left me feeling the the surface was only scratched though. 3.5/5
April 3, 2013
I never really read too many Superman books, so I have limited knowledge of this villain. But I really thought this storyline was very well put together, and would expect no less from Geoff Johns.
February 25, 2023
Brainiac has always been a formidable villain in Superman's rogue gallery. However, he has never been portrayed as threateningly dangerous as he has been in this graphic novel.
After Superman and the Legion of Superheroes, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank bring another great Superman comic book to the readers, which a must read for any Superman fans.
After Superman and the Legion of Superheroes, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank bring another great Superman comic book to the readers, which a must read for any Superman fans.
October 16, 2017
Excelente!!!!!!!!!!! Súper recomendado 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
March 25, 2023
This was just spectacular
October 24, 2011
I really didn't like this one. There were a lot of choices that the writer and artist made that I didn't like at all.
One of the main things that I disliked was the artwork. Gary Frank is a good artist, but I hate the choice to draw Superman to look like Christopher reeve. Superman was around a long time before the movies, and he has been around for a while since Reeve played him, so why do people still cling to the movies as being the ultimate version of the character? they aren't even that accurate to the comics, and they have aged horribly.
Another problem I had was the character of Cat Grant. She was a brilliant example of why feminists hate DC comics. The character has always been the type to take advantage of her looks, but do we really need to have her walking around the newsroom looking like she belongs on a street corner? And, how many times do we need to be reminded that she has fake boobs?
One of my biggest complaints was how they handled the death of Johnathan Kent. Comic book deaths have always been kind of meaningless, since they always come up with a way to bring the character back, but when the character dieing isn't a hero or villain, they usually tend to stay dead. The death of this character had no emotional weight for me. in fact, signaling his heart attack by having a picture of him grabbing his arm and saying "NNNNNNNNNN" actually struck me a funny more than anything else.
Lastly, the story felt really rushed to me, especially the last chapter. I don't know if I should consider the short length to be a good thing or a bad thing, because the fact that it was short was to only reason I actually finished it.
One of the main things that I disliked was the artwork. Gary Frank is a good artist, but I hate the choice to draw Superman to look like Christopher reeve. Superman was around a long time before the movies, and he has been around for a while since Reeve played him, so why do people still cling to the movies as being the ultimate version of the character? they aren't even that accurate to the comics, and they have aged horribly.
Another problem I had was the character of Cat Grant. She was a brilliant example of why feminists hate DC comics. The character has always been the type to take advantage of her looks, but do we really need to have her walking around the newsroom looking like she belongs on a street corner? And, how many times do we need to be reminded that she has fake boobs?
One of my biggest complaints was how they handled the death of Johnathan Kent. Comic book deaths have always been kind of meaningless, since they always come up with a way to bring the character back, but when the character dieing isn't a hero or villain, they usually tend to stay dead. The death of this character had no emotional weight for me. in fact, signaling his heart attack by having a picture of him grabbing his arm and saying "NNNNNNNNNN" actually struck me a funny more than anything else.
Lastly, the story felt really rushed to me, especially the last chapter. I don't know if I should consider the short length to be a good thing or a bad thing, because the fact that it was short was to only reason I actually finished it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2013
A decent enough Superman book, with just one problem for me: it's about Superman. I think I have to accept that I'm just not a fan and that I'm not likely to bring myself to care too much about the character, overall. That said, it is a good take on the character, and I appreciate the human roots Johns works with here: Ma and Pa and Lois. Isn't it nice to read about a superhero who has solid and loving relationships with "normal" people. The story I could have probably dredged up more emotional connection to if I cared about Superman, and I don't doubt that somebody who does like him would enjoy it far more than I did.
I do have to take exception to how the character of Cat Grant was handled. There are no doubts in my mind that she was introduced solely for fanboys to leer at, while helping them feel better about leering at Supergirl. Unrealistic and in exceptionally poor taste. Special kudos for the scene that implies that only an alien would be able to look a woman in the eye (you know, like she's an actual person) instead of gaping at her chest like a neanderthal.
I do have to take exception to how the character of Cat Grant was handled. There are no doubts in my mind that she was introduced solely for fanboys to leer at, while helping them feel better about leering at Supergirl. Unrealistic and in exceptionally poor taste. Special kudos for the scene that implies that only an alien would be able to look a woman in the eye (you know, like she's an actual person) instead of gaping at her chest like a neanderthal.
July 19, 2009
An easy, enjoyable Superman read that does not require an extensive knowledge of the character's history to be enjoyable. The only quibble is with the (once again) re-imagined death scene of Pa Kent, which has been overdone to the point of exhaustion. One nearly expects him to kick off somewhere in every comic for a hackneyed emotional jolt.
August 1, 2009
I really liked this comic book. Brainiac attacks Krypton & takes Kandor. Clark is married to Lois.Brainiac sets his sights on Earth.Zor-El's plan to escape Argo city. Supergirl saves Earth. I loved it! There is a surprise at the end which I didn't foresee. I should have but didn't. All in all this is a great book you will not be disappointed!!
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