WARNING: Contains Spoilers for ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #7!

Superman’s rogues’ gallery is one of the most iconic in all of DC Comics, second only to Batman’s. While fans are deeply familiar with the Man of Steel’s most notorious villains, DC’s new Absolute Universe is turning everything upside down. Long-established enemies are being reimagined from the ground up, and one of the most dramatic changes belongs to Brainiac, the ruthless collector of knowledge and civilizations.

The biggest twist the Absolute Universe brings to Brainiac is that it gives him a working-class origin.

Jason Aaron, Carmine Di Giandomenico, and Ulises Arreola’s Absolute Superman #7 steps away from the Man of Steel to focus entirely on Brainiac. While the villain has made several cameos throughout the series, this issue finally unveils Brainiac’s full and deeply unsettling character design, along with his origin story in the Absolute Universe.

Calling the issue extremely messed up would be putting it lightly. Brainiac is more terrifying than ever, and with this new backstory, DC has managed to make him more relatable while also nerfing his character by removing his trademark logic and mental stability.

Meet the Collective: Absolute Brainiac Origins Explained

Comic Page Comes from Jason Aaron’s Absolute Superman #7 (2025) - Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico & Ulises Arreola

Before the release of Absolute Superman #7, much about Brainiac remained a mystery. The only known facts were that he was part of the Research and Development department of Lazarus Crops, was deceiving others by posing as an AI program, and had maintained his signature hobby of collecting bottled cities. However, issue #7 fully fleshes out the villain, shifting between past and present to reveal both his current state and his disturbing origin story. The flashbacks are especially notable, showing Brainiac being awakened from a stasis pod, experiencing consciousness for the first time, and immediately being told his sole purpose in life: to shovel refuse.

Upon awakening, Brainiac is informed by another Brainiac that he is Brainiac 419,732 and that he serves “the collective,” a hierarchical network of Brainiacs where higher-ranking possess greater knowledge and authority. He is then given his role: “You work here. You are to never leave this room. Your function is to dispose of refuse by shoveling it into the liquidator.” It is then revealed that the “refuse” is actually an ever-growing pile of decommissioned and deteriorating Brainiacs who have outlived their usefulness.

For over 130 years, Brainiac dutifully shovels the refuse into the liquidator, never stopping and never leaving the room, slowly deteriorating himself. When no more refuse arrives, he ventures outside the room for the first time and discovers that all the other Brainiacs aboard the ship, including Brainiac 1, have deteriorated as well. Finding the top Brainiac dead, he promotes himself to a “level 100 effector.” From that moment, he explores the galaxy, leaving his mark on countless worlds, eventually leading him to Earth. This brings the story back to the present timeline.

Brainiac’s Working Class Origins Make Him More Relatable Than Ever

Comic Page Comes from Jason Aaron’s Absolute Superman #7 (2025) - Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico & Ulises Arreola

The biggest twist the Absolute Universe brings to Brainiac is that it gives him a working-class origin. This is a sharp departure from his traditional backstory and makes him far more relatable and sympathetic. Instead of Brainiac being an all-powerful, all-knowing figure from the beginning, fans now see that he was once systemically oppressed. He endured an experience that many readers can relate to: being exploited by their workplace. While Brainiac’s situation is clearly exaggerated for narrative purposes, there is no doubt that many readers saw aspects of themselves in a villain who was previously difficult to empathize with.

One scene that stands out in particular involves Brainiac asking a higher-ranking Brainiac how long his work shift will last. The answer he receives is chilling: “For as long as you do.” While this is undoubtedly a hyperbolic moment, it is clear that Jason Aaron is using exaggeration to highlight a very real and sadly relatable truth. Corporations often push workers to their limits, valuing productivity over well-being, and working people until they have nothing left to give. The visuals of Brainiac beginning to deteriorate emphasize this even more, mirroring the way many working-class individuals labor until their bodies can no longer continue.

DC Nerfs Brainiac by Stripping Him of His Logic & Mental Stability

Comic Page Comes from Jason Aaron’s Absolute Superman #7 (2025) - Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico & Ulises Arreola

While the Absolute Universe has clearly made Brainiac more relatable than ever before, the present part of the narrative also makes it clear that DC has significantly nerfed this iconic villain. Brainiac’s character has long been defined by his analytical mind and ability to prioritize logic over emotion. However, as the present-day story in Absolute Superman #7 reveals, Brainiac’s mental stability is now just as deteriorated as his physical appearance. This instability ultimately undermines what was once his greatest strength: his logic. With both his reason and overall stability compromised, DC has effectively weakened a character once known for his superior intellect and control.

This decline in mental stability is consistently shown throughout Absolute Superman #7, as Brainiac grows increasingly obsessed with trying to uncover the truth about who and what Superman is, a mystery he has yet to solve. In his frustration, Brainiac engages in disturbing “self-care” by mutilating the captured Omega Men, as well as Peacemaker Chris Smith. He speaks to their mutilated bodies as if they are close companions and becomes violent with little warning. At one point, he even confesses, “I’m afraid I can… lose my mind when I’m angry. I’ve tried carving the offending parts out of my brain…” It is made unmistakably clear that this version of Brainiac is entirely unhinged.

It’s True: Superman & Brainiac Have More in Common Than Ever

Comic Page Comes from Jason Aaron’s Absolute Superman #7 (2025) - Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico & Ulises Arreola

It is also worth noting that Absolute Superman established a working-class origin for the Man of Steel himself in earlier issues, even going so far as to rewrite the meaning of Superman’s iconic “S” shield. Rather than being solely a symbol of the House of El, it is now revealed to represent Krypton’s Labor Guild, of which both Lara and Jor-El were . With both Superman and Brainiac now sharing working-class origins, DC has created a unique and previously unexplored parallel between the two characters. However, while Superman remains a hero shaped by his past, DC maintains Brainiac’s villainy by adding the twist of him evolving from the oppressed into the oppressor.

ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #7 is available now from DC Comics!