WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Absolute Superman #2!

In the 56 years since his creation, the iconic Superman villain Brainiac has undergone numerous reimaginings, evolving from a humanoid alien with 12th-level intelligence to a sinister alien artificial intelligence. His latest iteration, however, combines the best of both concepts while introducing an unexpected connection to Lois Lane.

Last month, Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, and Ulises Arreola’s Absolute Superman #1 introduced Lois Lane as an agent of the Lazarus Corps Force—a militant global police force enforcing draconian laws and overseeing forced labor under the guise of peacekeeping.

The issue also teased the debut of Brainiac in a single , depicting the supervillain in a room labeled “Lazarus Corps R&D Department,” suggesting that both Lois and Brainiac are working for the ominous Lazarus entity. Absolute Superman #2 begins to unravel the mystery of Lazarus further, including an unsettling yet revealing interaction between Brainiac and Lois Lane.

Brainiac Is Posing as an Artificial Intelligence In Absolute Superman #2

Brainiac Runs Lazarus’s Research & Development Department

Absolute Superman #2 sees Lois returning to the Lazarus Corps Force headquarters after her attempt to detain the Man of Steel. Having handcuffed herself to him in an effort to bring him into custody, she was instead dragged along as he evaded the rest of the Lazarus Corps Force. During this chaotic encounter, Lois witnessed Superman’s heroics and abilities firsthand. Back at headquarters, she was tasked with submitting a report on her observations of the Man of Steel to Lazarus's automated report tracking system. However, it’s soon revealed that this “automated system” is actually Brainiac himself, remotely asking the questions.

The revelation that Brainiac is behind the system is unsettling on its own, but the situation grows more disturbing as it becomes clear he’s leading Lois with carefully crafted questions, manipulating her answers to paint Superman in a negative light. For example, when Brainiac asks Lois to rank Superman’s threat level, and she insists he isn’t a threat, he overrides her answer, asg him a level-eight ranking. He then asks what course of action she would recommend, offering “Neutralization” or “Control” as options. Lois firmly states that he can’t be controlled, yet Brainiac twists her words, concluding with, “Agent advises termination”—a recommendation Lois never made.

Absolute Brainiac Just Took George Orwell’s 1984 ‘Thought Police’ to New Extremes

Sorry, Perry White, But Brianiac Just Became Lois Lane’s Unseen Boss

Frustrated with her report logging, Lois curses, “Damn it, you’re not listening! Stupid computer!” at what she believes is an automated system. This dialogue makes it clear that, despite both Lois and Brainiac working for the same entity, Lois and the rest of the Lazarus Corps Force believe Brainiac is merely an artificial intelligence. In reality, his true role mirrors that of the "Thought Police" from George Orwell’s 1984—a task force responsible for monitoring citizens' thoughts and enforcing its own narrative. Brainiac’s manipulation and corruption of Lois’s report to align with his own agenda echoes the tactics of the oppressive regime in 1984.

Beyond revealing Brainiac’s disturbing role as a modern-day Thought Police, this scene also redefines the relationship between two iconic Superman characters. While Lois remains unaware that Brainiac is a real person, a dynamic begins to form between them that mirrors a boss-worker relationship. Brainiac operates behind the scenes, subtly controlling and tracking Lois’s work, essentially acting as an unseen, secret authority figure. His influence stretches further as the Lazarus Corps Force, under his direction, treats Superman as a threat that must be eliminated.

Absolute Superman’s Overhaul of Brainiac Combines the Supervillain’s Best Portrayals

Comes From Absolute Superman #1 (2024)

What’s particularly interesting about this portrayal of Brainiac is that it blends two of his most iconic characterizations: his identity as a 12th-level intelligence extraterrestrial and when he was reimagined as a rogue Kryptonian AI. In the Absolute Superman narrative, it seems likely that Brainiac is either an extraterrestrial or, at the very least, an unmatched high-intelligence individual. His posing as an artificial intelligence combines these two distinct portrayals, adding a fresh take on his character. While much about Absolute Superman’s Brainiac remains shrouded in mystery, each ing issue makes this overhaul increasingly intriguing.

Absolute Superman #2 is available now from DC Comics