Brainiac is reportedly the main villain in Man of Tomorrow, and he’s the perfect choice to continue what Superman sets up. The DCU wasted no time in establishing the Son of Krypton as one of Earth’s saviors. It skipped Superman’s origins and showed him as an experienced hero who’s still grappling with his identity as a human and Kryptonian.
While Lex Luthor is a worthy foe for the Man of Steel, Superman’s next villain is a more powerful threat. As The Wrap reported, Brainiac will make his DCU debut as the main villain in Man of Tomorrow. Brainiac is a hyperintelligent android who travels the galaxy, seeking to collect all the knowledge in the universe.
However, he believes knowledge is only valuable if he possesses it, often destroying worlds after getting the intelligence he wants. While the powerful android isn’t specifically mentioned in Superman, Brainiac fits into the storyline that James Gunn is setting up for Man of Tomorrow, and allows him to develop certain character arcs properly.
Lex Luthor’s Unrelenting Envy Will Lead To His Team-Up With Superman To Beat Brainiac
When Gunn announced Man of Tomorrow on Instagram, he shared a piece of art that featured Superman leaning on Lex, who is sporting his notorious green mech suit. Given this image, Superman‘s follow-up will likely see a team-up between Lex and Kal-El, despite the former’s unrelenting disdain for the heroic Kryptonian.
This version of Lex doesn’t have a complicated reason for loathing the Man of Steel. He’s a pure hater, whose envy toward Superman’s power drives his commitment to destroying him. As explained in his speech, he understands his jealousy consumes him, but he views it as the “sole hope for humanity” because it gives him the drive to kill Superman.
He views himself as a savior for humanity, but it’s really his narcissism that adds fuel to his heightened insecurity. He views himself as the smartest person in the world, and can’t escape his ego. He can’t handle the idea of the world loving Superman more than him, because no matter how smart he is, he’ll never have Superman’s power.
Brainiac is the perfect villain to challenge Lex, as he is arguably the most intelligent being in the known universe. Lex has proven he doesn’t care if Metropolis or the Earth is destroyed, but he does care if someone threatens his superiority complex. His need to be the smartest person in the room will override his disdain for Superman.
Additionally, Lex is currently in prison, and the only way out may be to save Earth from Brainiac. Lex will be motivated by envy to defeat the green android, but will reluctantly team up with Superman, possibly as a requirement for his release. Still, he will have to find common ground with Superman to prove his intellectual superiority over Brainiac.
Brainiac As The Villain Can Continue Superman’s Conflicted Relationship With Krypton
David Corenswet’s Superman smiling at the end of the DCU movie
Superman made a surprising retcon to Kal-El’s origin. Traditionally, his parents, Jor-El and Lara, sent Superman to Krypton to be a beacon of hope for humanity. That’s what David Corenswet’s Superman initially believes, based on a fragment of a message sent by his parents. However, the rest of the message is much different.
It reveals that Jor-El and Lara wanted their son to conquer humanity, acting as a powerful tyrant who rebuilds Krypton with multiple wives. Kal-El disavows this message and chooses to live by the values of his human parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent. It’s a unique take on Superman, as Krypton is a vital part of the character.
However, Superman may not be done with Krypton, even if he’s choosing to ignore his parents’ wishes. In DC Comics, Brainiac has a unique connection to his home planet. Before Krypton was destroyed, Brainiac shrank the capital city of Kandor and now keeps it on his ship, preserving the last remaining piece of the planet.
In some versions of Superman’s story, Brainiac is directly responsible for Krypton’s destruction. Given that he’s the hero’s next villain, Gunn could adapt this version of Brainiac, strengthening the connection between the villain and Superman’s home planet. Whether he destroys Krypton or not, Kandor presents an intriguing ethical dilemma.
Superman is already disturbed by his parents’ real plans for Earth. If he finds Kandor on Brainiac’s ship, he might be hesitant to save the city, with concerns that he could unleash an entire community of dangerous Kryptonians on humanity. For all he knows, they could all have the same authoritative desires his parents had.
Lex certainly wouldn’t want any more Kryptonians running around Earth, and could set up another conflict between the two characters after they defeat Brainiac. Superman’s conflicted feelings toward Krypton was one of the more captivating storylines of Superman, and Kandor allows Gunn to develop this storyline further.
Brainiac presents many opportunities for the DCU, not just with Superman and Lex, but for future films or TV shows. However, Man of Tomorrow is the perfect film for his introduction, and should capitalize on what Superman establishes for its iconic rivals.
Release Date
July 11, 2025
Runtime
130 minutes
Producers
Peter Safran
