So, what’s the Brainiac of your choosing?  Is it the pantless computer tyrant of the Legion of Doom?  Maybe it’s the honeycombed metal skeleton of the 80’s?  Is it the green skinned Oliver Queen lookalike of the early 90’s?  Is it the STAS version with history to Krypton?  Is it the giant Borg-ish B-13?  All of the above?  Well, does Geoff Johns have a story for you!  With all the different and somewhat conflicting versions of Brainiac around, Johns has managed to cherry pick various versions to craft what could end up being the seminal Brainiac story, if Johns’ “Sinestro Corps War for Superman” talk is any indication.

Continuing from last issue, we learn that all the different versions of Brainiac seen are just drones sent from the primary unit: Superman has never really met the true Brainiac.  In actuality, Brainiac is the bogeyman of the cosmos, the worst of all extraterrestrial life has to offer, a cold-hearted killing machine with no discernible motive and thus no true pattern of action.  Supergirl is practically petrified of the being.  All this foreshadowing and terror comes to a head as Superman decides to seek Brainiac out first before the bio-mechanical horror can do likewise.  This leads to a battle between Superman and the Brainiac drones off-world that leads to grave circumstances and proof of just how deadly this new “true” Brainiac is.

Like Johns’ writing, Gary Frank’s pencils are fantastic for this story.  His Superman is spot-on Chris Reeves and brings a certain grounding to the character as he goes about his doings in the issue.  His Brainiacs have all the threat and alien mystique as Vril Dox ever had.  His artwork here is the best I’ve seen it.

This story so far feels almost like the idea of a Superman III by Richard Donner which fits given Johns’ former affiliation with the director.  Like Morrison’s doing with Quitely, this story feels somewhat Silver Age-y and retro but with a clear modernized twist to the whole thing as well as readily accessible and vastly intriguing.  As of right now, I cannot wait for the rest of this story.  Five stars all the way.