Goodman Covers: Action Comics – “Brainiac”
Hey everyone, it’s William here again to get you caught up what’s going on in Superman Comic Universe. This month we’ll look at the Brainiac arc that takes place in issues #866-870 of Action Comics. Remember these summaries are NOT spoiler free.
Action Comics #866-870
“Brainiac”
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank
When I go back and take a look at the Brainiac arc almost a year later, it’s amazing how much of a critical role this story plays into the current Superman status quo. Johns really set out to redefine the character of Braniac, and by the end of this arc, you will fear Brainiac like you never have before. And that starts in the opening pages as we see the true fate of the bottled city of Kandor. Brainiac’s ship goes around to various cities on various planets all throughout the galaxy, bottles them up, and then destroys the planet’s sun, causing the sun to explode and destroy the planet. 
Jump forward to present day as we see the return of Cat Grant and Steve Lombard to the Daily Planet staff. During the new inductions, Clark hears a strange noise and rushes off to figure out what the noise is.
Superman arrives on the scene and finds a Brainiac scouting drone, which he quickly dispatches and takes to the Fortress of Solitude in order to inspect it. Supergirl, aka Kara Zor-El, shows up and reveals to Clark that he has never really fought Brainiac before. Kara also tells Clark that when Kandor was taken, she was on Krypton and was spared. However, Kara now has a massive fear of Brainiac.
After a quick word with Ma and Pa Kent, Superman begins a galaxy wide expedition in order to track and hunt down Braniac. After much searching, Superman finds several probes, and discovers first hand the bottling and destruction of a planet. The explosion from the destruction of the sun knocks Superman unconscious and he is taken prisoner on Brainiac’s ship.
Superman, of course, escapes and begins to explore Brainiac’s ship. Soon after, he finds the room where all the bottled cities are being held, including Kandor. At this point, Brainiac shows his true form to Superman, and tells Superman that he’s been collecting data from each planet he’s destroyed, and his next target is Earth in order to capture the last kryptonians, Superman and Supergirl!
At this point, Brainiac’s ship arrives in Metropolis and sends out his drones to attack the city. Of course, Supergirl comes to help and battles the drones while Superman fights Brainiac. Superman eventually knocks Brainiac out and hears a voice coming from one of the bottle cities that turns out to be Zor-El who is very much alive and well inside Kandor. As the two begin to talk, Brainiac ambushes Superman from behind, and Kara is captured and brought aboard. Metropolis is bottled, and a solar-aggressor missile gets fired from Brainiac’s ship towards the sun.
An unconscious Superman is hooked up by the ship to all the bottled cities and is awaken by the cries of help from each bottle city. Superman escapes again and attacks Brainiac while at the same time releasing Kara and grabbing the newly bottled Metropolis and the city of Kandor. Superman tells Kara to stop the solar-aggressor missile before it destroys the sun. Superman then finally knocks Brainiac out of his ship causing him to fall to Earth, where he is overwhelmed by various forms of bacteria and microorganisms. Superman flies down and goes to finish Brainiac off, but the villain tells Superman that cities can’t survive outside the mother ship. Superman races off to return to Metropolis back to it’s normal state, then heads to the area surrounding the Fortress of Solitude and releases Kandor. At the same time, Kara is able to stop the solar-aggressor that was headed for the sun. All seems to fine, and the world saved, but Brainiac then reveals one final trick that he’s saved. While Superman was captured, Brianiac had read Superman’s mind, and know he knows everything about Superman, including where Ma and Pa Kent live. At this point, Brainiac fires off a missile that is headed straight for the Kent farm. The missile explodes on the farm, and no one is hurt, however, Jonathan Kent has a heart attack to the stress of the situation and dies mere seconds after Clark arrives.
The final pages show Jonathan Kent’s funeral. Some of the guest include the normal cast of characters, Jimmy, Lois, etc, but Clark happens to catch Bruce Wayne and Alfred standing under a tree near by.
The Brainiac arc was not only one of the best story lines of last year, but I think one of the better Superman stories I’ve read. Also, as we will see next time, this story line directly sets up the next event; New Krypton.
So what did everyone think? Sound off in the comments below!
As a long running fan of Superman’s comic book adventures (which ive been following since 1992),This arc was one of the best in years.Geoff Johns has a gift for weaving various continuety threads and contradictions,pleasing all fans of all eras of Superman,which he is doing with Clark’s origin in the Secret Origin series.For the first time in a long time BRAINIAC truely feels like a huge threat,and im sure he will play a bigger role as New Krypton unfolds.Gary Frank’s art is incredible,he knows humor,balls out action,and heartbreak in equal measure.The last few pages were truely touching,and that last page with Clark Kent alone,overcome with grief,says more than a 100 page prose.Its all right there.Great Review,guys!
Wow, that’s a great storyline!!!!
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