I’m Convinced We Just Saw DCs Newest Live-Action Brainiac For The First Time & Im So Here For It

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Superman & Lois season 4, episode 8.A key new character caused mayhem in Superman & Lois‘ latest episode, and it seems like the DC series’ version of Brainiac is finally here. Superman & Lois season 4’s cast continues to grow in interesting ways with each new episode. While the show has a smaller budget than previous seasons, leading to characters like John Henry Irons and Lana Lang being used sporadically, the live-action DC TV show still finds ways to introduce exciting characters during its final season. I’m happy that we were able to get someone like Jimmy Olsen to appear in season 4.

Olsen’s Superman & Lois debut allowed me to see that, despite the fact that this is the last season of the Superman series, major characters could still debut. Michael Cudlitz’s Lex Luthor is finally getting to shine in season 4, cementing himself as the series’ best villain. Season 4 also featured Doomsday in a key role early on, with Luthor having a few henchmen also impact the plot for a few episodes. However, the biggest villain in relation to Lex Luthor has only now debuted in Superman & Lois season 4, episode 8, and I enjoyed it greatly.

Superman & Lois Season 4 Episode 8 Appears To Reveal Its Own Version Of Brainiac

The Character Had Been Teased In Previous Episodes

Milton is a mysterious character in Superman & Lois season 4. The villain has been responsible for a few key events over the season, like building the box that could hold Superman’s heart or coming up with the red sun-powered streetlamps that allowed Lex Luthor and Clark Kent to have a fair fight. After being teased for several episodes, Superman & Lois season 4, episode 8, finally saw Milton appear onscreen. The character is played by Riverdale‘s Nikolai Witschl. Based on his name, expertise, and DC Comics lore, I believe that Milton is Brainiac.

In the comics, Milton Fine is one of Brainiac’s versions. Superman & Lois previously was a little too on the nose with teases that the character was the show’s take on the iconic DC villain, as Amanda McCoy said that Milton was a “brainiac” for having created the box that could hold Superman’s heart. Milton quickly proved himself to be a major asset to the TV show from the first moment he appeared onscreen. His intelligence was put on display when the character managed to trick Steel and Starlight and later hack their suits for Lex Luthor.

Why It Makes Sense For Superman & Lois’ Brainiac To Be So Different

The DC Series Has A Refreshing Villain Trend

While Milton is seemingly as smart as I would expect Brainiac to be in the DC series, we have no tease at the moment that this version of the character will be revealed not to be human before Superman & Lois ends. Speaking with ComicBook.com, Superman & Lois executive producer Brent Fletcher even pointed the other way, revealing that the DC series’ take on Brainiac is “a completely different version of this guy.” Fletcher also commented on how Superman & Lois tends to do that with its villains, and I think that trend is great.

Superman & Lois‘ main villains have all been refreshing to see, as there is an interesting mix between original characters and new takes on established DC players. My favorite villain-turned-hero in the show, Tal-Rho, was specifically created for Superman & Lois. The show’s version of Bizarro ended up becoming Doomsday.

Ally Allston was a very different version of DC Comics’ Parasite. Finally, Michael Cudlitz’s Lex Luthor is more of a physical threat and frightening take on Lex than pretty much all live-action versions of Luthor. Having a human Brainiac fits that refreshing trend and brings something new to the table.

I’m So Excited To See More Of Superman & Lois’ Brainiac Before The Show Ends

There Are Two More Episodes To Go

Whether he turns out to be a comic book-accurate Brainiac with green skin and all or remains human, I hope we get to see more of Milton before Superman & Lois season 4 ends. In a single episode, Milton has already proved himself to be a dynamic and intelligent villain like no other. Since Lex Luthor plans to take out Superman and his two sons, he will need Milton’s help to make sure that things go according to plan. Milton was the one to hack Steel’s armor and transform it into Lex’s classic warsuit.

I expect the character to return for at least the DC series’ next episode to help Lex Luthor test out the suit in his first time with it. Interestingly, Milton did not take Amanda’s orders well in Superman & Lois season 4, episode 8. I think there is a chance that the character might have some ulterior motives and a full-on Brainiac reveal that makes him a major villain for the show’s finale would be a welcome surprise. That said, I think it is most likely that Milton will remain as is, which is good enough for Superman & Lois.

Superman & Lois, the seventh Arrowverse spinoff series, will take the titular characters from Metropolis to Smallville. The CW series is set in the aftermath of the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover, which saw the multiverse collapse and the merging of worlds into what is now Earth Prime. Superman & Lois sees Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) and Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) dealing with all the pressures of their jobs, along with being parents to two teenage sons. Lois and Clark are no strangers to the Arrowverse, with Hoechlin’s Superman having been introduced all the way back in Supergirl season 2. Meanwhile, Tulloch’s Lois made her debut in the 2018 “Elseworlds” crossover. The duo is joined by a growing cast of characters that includes a new iteration of Lana Lang.

Release Date

February 23, 2021

Showrunner

todd helbing

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