Superman: Brainiac Attacks is a 2006 direct-to-video animated film with production designs based on Superman: The Animated Series from Warner Bros. Animation, airing as part of the Toonami block on Saturday June 17, 2006, and was released on DVD Tuesday June 20, 2006. It also aired on Toon Disney on June 16, 2008, being the first Superman film to air on Toon Disney. The film features Superman battling the forces of Lex Luthor and Brainiac. It also focuses on the relationship between Superman and Lois Lane and stands as the first Superman solo animated film.
Though the film's visual style is the same as Superman: The Animated Series (as are the majority of its returning voice cast), it is not in continuity with the DC animated universe.[1] Superman: TAS alumni Tim Daly and Dana Delany are reunited to play the characters of Superman and Lois Lane. Also returning from the animated series are David Kaufman as Jimmy Olsen, George Dzundza as Perry White, Mike Farrell as Jonathan Kent & Farrell's real life wife Shelley Fabares as Martha Kent. This is the first time that Daly has returned to the Superman role since the 2002 video game Superman: Shadow of Apokolips, as he was not part of the cast of the Justice League animated series where the part of Superman was played by George Newbern at the time. Clancy Brown, Lisa Edelstein and Corey Burton, who played Lex Luthor, Mercy Graves and Brainiac in the animated series, Superman, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited for the DCAU are absent in the cast of the movie. Powers Boothe (who also voiced Gorilla Grodd on Justice League), Tara Strong and Lance Henriksen instead played Lex Luthor, Mercy Graves and Brainiac, respectively.
Notably, this depiction of Lex Luthor, rather than being the cold, calculating industrialist portrayed in Superman: The Animated Series, seems to incorporate elements of Gene Hackman's less serious portrayals of the character in live-action movies, making Luthor more light-hearted and darkly whimsical, going as far as to make jokes about the situations around him, and Brainiac is portrayed as more intentionally evil with a human-like personality instead of being a heartless machine fulfilling his programing. But Luthor and Brainiac's actions are just as ruthless as all the other modern-day and animated incarnations.
Brainiac crash lands on Earth and hijacks Lex Labs to collect Earth's data and amass the power of its weapons systems. Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are sent to one of Lex Luthor's laboratories after Brainiac arrives on Earth on a meteor, successfully dodging the attempts made by Luthor's satellite to destroy any potential damage to the Earth in an attempt to boost his popularity against Superman as the true hero of the people. Superman shortly arrives and finds Brainiac downloading data from the computers with information relating to the various forms of weaponry from LexCorp, including the laser-equipped meteor shield that had attempted to destroy Brainiac earlier. Using his ice breath, Superman can seemingly destroy Brainiac after Superman and Brainiac had engaged in battle.
Witnessing the incident and how his satellite could be used as an effective weapon against Superman, Luthor finds Brainiac's still intact brain chip and takes it to LexCorp, where he reactivates Brainiac. He then proposes that Brainiac, with the technology of LexCorp as well as Kryptonite, defeat Superman, and then Luthor step in to chase Brainiac away from the Earth, in front of the world to make him appear as Earth's true hero, where he will then be free to conquer other planets, leaving Lex in charge of Earth. Brainiac accepts the agreement and proceeds to rebuilding and improving himself.
Meanwhile, Clark Kent contemplates the idea of revealing his secret identity to Lois. The opportunity presents itself when editor Perry White, due to staff shortages, sends both Kent and Lois to review a restaurant in Metropolis. During this time, however, Brainiac returns. Among his improvements is the ability to track down Superman based on his DNA. Unfortunately, after another battle with Brainiac, Superman has been significantly affected by Brainiac's kryptonite power rays, and Lois is critically injured in the process. It is revealed that her blood has been infected with Kryptonite, a metallic-based poison that is galvanizing her blood cells and, if not treated, would prove fatal.
Feeling guilty, Superman obtains a sample of Lois' blood from the hospital and returns to the Fortress of Solitude, where he analyzes Lois' blood using his Kryptonian technology. When Superman discovers that the only cure for Lois' condition is to obtain a chemical substance, known as Argonium 44, from the Phantom Zone. However, Brainiac locates Superman in his Antarctic retreat and attempts to download the information of Krypton from Superman's computer. Superman then initiates a self-destruct sequence. Brainiac, not being able to locate Superman, presumes that he has been killed in the explosion. However, Superman had, in fact, gone into the Phantom Zone to find the Argonium 44, which would not only cure Lois and heal himself but provide him with increased strength against Brainiac by shielding him from his kryptonite blast.
Brainiac returns to Metropolis, where Luthor awaits to fulfill their agreement. Jimmy investigates Lex and realizes that he is working with Brainiac. However, Brainiac intends to kill Luthor to conquer Earth and even remove the self-destructive component that Luthor had planted should Brainiac double-cross him. Superman seemingly returns through a portal and cures Lois, but when bringing her out of the hospital, he realizes this experience is an illusion created by the Phantom Zone when Lois repeatedly goads him to stay with her and not go after Brainiac. After this, he is chased and attacked by several Phantoms before he actually escapes the Phantom Zone.
Returning to Metropolis, Superman and Brainiac engage in a lengthy battle, during which Luthor is injured in the crossfire. Mercy discovers Jimmy looking for evidence against Luthor and brutally attacks him. Eventually, he takes over one of Lex's large, robotic exoskeletons and knocks her unconscious. Unfortunately, his camera is destroyed by his attack, relieving him of the chance to photograph evidence of Lex's schemes, much to his dismay. Superman seemingly defeats Brainiac and then returns to the hospital to cure the ailing Lois. But before Lois can take the cure, Brainiac, who is now only a head, attacks the hospital and smashes the cure. Immediately afterward, Superman finally destroys Brainiac by breaking his brain chip.
With the cure now destroyed, Lois faces certain death. Superman, regretting never telling Lois his true feelings, then embraces her. Then, his tears, containing Argonium 44 that had healed him earlier, make contact with Lois, curing her. She presumes him to be Clark, but Superman (having changed his mind for her safety) tells her he is just Superman. Later, Superman recovers a piece of his destroyed Kryptonian technology, where he aims to rebuild his fortress. He then vows to quit his job at the Daily Planet in an attempt to prevent future harm to his loved ones, should any of his enemies discover his secret identity.
The movie ends with an injured Luthor facing criminal prosecution after discovering LexCorp's involvement with Brainiac's attack and Lois racing to cover the appearance of Mr. Mxyzptlk in Metropolis. Seeing Lois's eagerness to put herself in harm's way to cover a story, Superman goes back on his earlier decision to quit the Daily Planet so that he can be with Lois, as well as Metropolis's protector against the most powerful threats from the universe.
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Superman: Brainiac Attacks at the Internet Movie Database
