It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen the iconic Man of Steel starring in his own video game. Sure, Superman has been playable in several games over the years, including Injustice, the LEGO Batman series, and MultiVersus. However, we haven’t witnessed him taking center stage in a solo adventure since 2006’s Superman Returns.
While Batman continues to be the face of his own successful series and Wonder Woman is gearing up for her own solo outing courtesy of Monolith, isn’t it about time Superman got the same treatment, especially with James Gunn’s upcoming Superman making waves? Although some fans doubt the viability of a standalone Superman game, there’s one legendary DC villain who could help set the stage for an epic Man of Steel adventure.
### Brainiac Would Be the Ultimate Villain for a Superman Game
First introduced in Action Comics #242 way back in 1958, Brainiac has been one of Superman’s most enduring and popular foes. While his backstory and abilities have evolved across various comic timelines, two of his devices have consistently retained their prominence.
The first of these is a nearly indestructible personal force field. The second, a wickedly powerful shrinking ray, which Brainiac uses to miniaturize entire cities, storing them in glass jars for his own knowledge hoarding purposes. Sometimes, he also obliterates the world that houses these cities. In some versions, Brainiac is even responsible for the demise of Superman’s home planet, Krypton, after capturing the city of Kandor.
This shrinking-city gimmick could effectively address a common skepticism about a dedicated Superman game. Fans often argue that his immense power set wouldn’t fit well within a typical game world, especially one filled with NPCs.
That’s where Brainiac’s tiny cities come into play. Imagine Superman thrust into a city scaled down and devoid of any living beings. It would allow players to unleash Superman’s full power—soaring through skyscrapers, demolishing environments, basically wreaking havoc without worrying about collateral damage to civilians.
This concept does harken back to the notorious Superman Nintendo 64 game, where Lex Luthor created a virtual Metropolis. Though, in this instance, Superman still had to rescue virtual citizens.
### The Potential Drawback of Using Brainiac Right Now
Despite Brainiac being a stellar choice as Superman’s nemesis, recent developments might complicate his inclusion in a game any time soon. Thanks to James Gunn’s DCU’s likely spotlight on him, interest in Brainiac could surge. However, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League might have just lowered his chances of appearing soon.
While technically the central antagonist in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Brainiac’s appearance is limited to the game’s conclusion. Unfortunately, his portrayal in Rocksteady’s infamously rough title left many fans underwhelmed. Despite decent voice work, the villain’s role in the storyline was minimal, with his boss fight leaving much to be desired.
Those who have delved into the game’s post-launch content may find themselves pretty tired of him, as they repeatedly face off against Brainiac at each episode’s conclusion with just slight tweaks to his combat style.
Nonetheless, for a future Superman game, Brainiac remains a compelling choice whose narrative potential is just waiting to be fully tapped. With a clever approach, perhaps involving unique gameplay mechanics or a deeper story arc, Brainiac could certainly shine as the formidable foe to match Superman’s might.
