The Brain first appeared inDoom Patrol #86 (March 1964) and was created byArnold Drake andBruno Premiani.[2] Drake later commented: "I used that same concept in aJerry Lewis comic book, and in aBob Hope comic I had atotem pole that talked to him. Often times, I wrote the same storylines for the comedy stuff that I wrote for the serious stuff. I just turned it on its head".[3]
As a scientist, the Brain performs experiments on animals to raise their intelligence. One of these is on a gorilla, who he namesMonsieur Mallah and educates for almost a decade before making him his assistant. His colleagueNiles Caulder grows jealous of his work and arranges for the Brain to get caught in an explosion, which destroys his body. Only the brain survives, which Caulder plans on putting into a robotic body. Mallah rescues the Brain, transferring him to a computer network that keeps him functioning.[4]
The Brain and Mallah form theBrotherhood of Evil in hopes of conquering the world and getting revenge on Caulder, recruitingMadame Rouge,General Immortus, andGarguax.[5] Caulder, now known as the "Chief", through a series of other accidents that he manipulated, forms the Doom Patrol. The Brain, Mallah, and their Brotherhood's criminal activities also pit them against theTeen Titans. The Brotherhood go against the newly formed Justice League, with the Brain using a genetic splicer to take theFlash's legs,Green Lantern'sring,Black Canary's vocal chords, andMartian Manhunter's eyes.[6] The Brain is defeated by the League and the Doom Patrol, the League using cybernetic implants created by Niles Caulder to compensate for their lost powers.Aquaman is thrown to the Brain, overpowers his control of the ring, and separates the Brain from his makeshift body.[7]
DuringGrant Morrison'sDoom Patrol run, Mallah has the Brain placed in one of Robotman's bodies. The two confess their love for one another and kiss. However, Robotman's body had developed sentience and vowed never to be enslaved by a brain again. When Mallah places the Brain in Robotman's body, which triggers a self-destruct mechanism and explodes as the two kiss.[8] The two later resurface (the Brain back to floating in a jar), with no explanation of how they survived the explosion.[9]
InSalvation Run, Brain and Mallah are among the villains exiled to the planetCygnus 4019. An altercation between Mallah andGorilla Grodd ends with Grodd beating Mallah to death with Brain'schassis, killing them both.[10]
Brain is later resurrected inThe New 52 continuity reboot.[11] This version is a scientist named Ernst who was mortally wounded in an explosion and saved by Monsieur Mallah, who preserved his brain. After becoming distrustful of humans, Brain and Mallah attack humans who they blame for their plight.[12]
In theDawn of DC seriesUnstoppable Doom Patrol, Mallah betrays and kills Brain, believing that their relationship is toxic and no longer loving.[13][14]
The Brain is highly intelligent and a master of manipulation. His body is armed with a variety of weapons. On the rare occasion when the Brain has been vulnerable without robotic protection or assistance from other villains, he has protected himself by attacking opponents throughtelekinesis.
The Brain appears inDoom Patrol, voiced by Riley Shanahan.[21] This version has had several encounters with theeponymous team, with one seeing him using his Ultimax form beforeSteve Dayton claimed his robotic body, though the Brain escaped. In the present, the Brain tasksMadame Rouge with attacking the Doom Patrol and stealingRobotman's body for him as her initiation into the Brotherhood of Evil. After taking control of the body however,Monsieur Mallah leaves him before Robotman gains control of Brain's brain jar and discarded giant robot and defeats him. After salvaging Robotman's body,Rita Farr kills Brain.
The Brain appears inMy Adventures with Superman, voiced by Jesse Inocalla.[20][22] This version is a kind-hearted but short-tempered German scientist who originally worked forProject Cadmus untilTask Force X raided the Brain's base, which resulted in the latter's body being destroyed, though his namesake and heart were saved.
TheYoung Justice incarnation of the Brain appears in issues #18 and #19 of theYoung Justice tie-in comic book series.[28] This version was originally among a group of scientists, led by an old woman who would become theUltra-Humanite, who settled in Bwunda to conduct experiments on the native gorillas before having his brain transplanted into a robotic container. After buildingGorilla City, the scientists enslaved the gorillas, enhanced their intellect withKobra venom, placed inhibitor collars on them, and took their offspring hostage. Two years later, the scientists are pursued by the Team, who form an alliance with the gorillas. Despite destroying Gorilla City and freeing the offspring, the Brain and Ultra-Humanite escape.
^Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016).The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 54.ISBN978-1-4654-5357-0.
^Browning, Michael (July 2013). "The Doom Patrol Interviews: Arnold Drake".Back Issue! (#65). Raleigh, North Carolina:TwoMorrows Publishing: 41.
^Orlando, Steve (w), Klein, Nic (p), Klein, Nic (i), Klein, Nic (col). "Visibility" Young Monsters in Love, vol. 1, no. 1 (April 2018). DC Comics.
^Culver, Dennis (w), Burnham, Chris (p), Burnham, Chris (i), Reber, Brian (col). "Degenerates One and All" Unstoppable Doom Patrol, vol. 1, no. 1 (May 2023). DC Comics.
^abcdefg"Brain Voices (Teen Titans)". Behind The Voice Actors. RetrievedApril 9, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
