What makes a comic book character awesome? Is it the cool spandex suit, the power to race around the world, or the ability to fly? Sure, those are neat, but do you know what really makes them a big deal? A super-smart brain. Take Batman, for example – it’s not just his combat moves that make him a threat, but his brain that can slice through steel like it’s butter.
With that being said, here are the 10 smartest characters in comics where being brainy is the real superpower!
Mr. Fantastic
Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic, is the most intelligent and brainy character in Marvel Comics. In Layman’s terms, Richard is like the brainiac of the superhero crew, knowing everything about physics, building stuff, and making strategic plans. In “Secret Wars,” when a big cosmic problem came up thanks to the Beyonder, Reed didn’t break a sweat.
Instead, he used his genius brain to whip up a makeshift spaceship from whatever was lying around on the battlefield. Thanks to Reed’s genius intellect, the heroes got out of there, and disaster was avoided. Reed’s brain is a superpower in its own right, always saving the day with some clever thinking.
Hank Pym
Hank Pym isn’t just a brilliant superhero with the ability to shift sizes but a genius who knows all about biochemistry and physics. Moreover, Hank Pym is the original Ant-Man who invented Pym Particles that let him change sizes. Hank is also credited as the founding member of the Avengers and had also made Ultron, the genius but troublesome robot, who wants to lay waste to the world.
In Avengers: Ultron Unlimited, when Ultron went all berserk, Pym stepped in. Using his genius brain, he cooked up a virus to stop Ultron and saved the day. So, not only is Pym a science ace, but he’s also the man who fixes the messes made by his own inventions.
Tony Stark
Tony Stark, Marvel’s Iron Man, is not just a superhero – he’s a super genius inventor. His brainpower is off the charts when it comes to technology and making destructive weapons. In the “Extremis” story, Stark used his god-level intellect to upgrade his own body with the Extremis virus, leveling up his abilities.
Then, in the “Infinity Gauntlet” arc, Stark had a genius plan. He used his Iron Man suits to distract the giant blue villain, Thanos, and played a key part in conquering him. Fast forward to “Avengers: Endgame,” where Stark hit it out of the park and invented time travel tech and that led to the Avengers winning against Thanos. Like Hank Pym, Stark’s brain is like a superhero all on its own – whether it’s upgrading himself or cooking up smart plans, he’s the guy who saves the day with his genius brain.
Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom is the genius supervillain in the pages of Marvel Comics, in Marvel. Adept in both science and cosmic powers, and he’s on par with Reed Richards, another genius in Marvel. In Books of Doom, Doom used his big brain to save his home, Latveria, from a big economic crisis. Then, in Emperor Doom, he did something no one expected him to do.
Instead of taking over the world with force, he used a mind-control gadget to make everyone settle for global peace. By no way, Doom is a good guy, but he’s not all bad. Sometimes, his genius brain and big ideas end up changing the world, even if it’s not how you’d expect.
Batman
Batman, DC Comics’ mastermind behind the cape, is not just a crime fighter but a genius with detective skills that’ll blow your mind. From studying his villains to playing with technology, Batman has got it all.
In Final Crisis, when the big bad Darkseid was about to destroy the whole world, Batman wasn’t twiddling his thumbs. Batman figured out the solution by checking out Darkseid’s mysterious bullet. Using his genius brain, Bruce came up with a special bullet to take down Darkseid and save the day. Batman proves that the brain can be just as powerful as muscles when it comes to saving the world.
Joker
Joker, DC Comics’ famous troublemaker, is not the guy you’d expect to save the world – chaos is more his thing. But in a wild story like Emperor Joker, the villain snagged reality-altering powers for some time. Unexpectedly, in his own crazy way, Joker saved the world by making it all absurd and unpredictable.
Joker’s genius moves kept even cosmic supervillains on their toes. This wasn’t on purpose, and it didn’t last long, but this oddball moment shows that the Joker’s character is as unpredictable and genius as his brain. In his own twisted way, Joker shook up the world for a bit, leaving everyone scratching their heads.
Beast
Beast, also known as Dr. Hank McCoy in Marvel, is not just a hero but a maestro in genetics and biochemistry. In the Endangered Species story arc, mutants were in a bit of a pickle after losing their powers and becoming helpless. Thankfully, Beast was there to save the day, put his super brain to work, and created a special serum.
Can you guess what the serum did? It brought back the mutant powers like they never left. Beast’s brainpower is the X-Men’s secret weapon, always stepping in to save the day and keep the world safe.
Gorilla Grodd
Gorilla Grodd is the heavyweight baddie in DC Comics. Thanks to meteorite exposure, the once normal Gorilla was blessed with a brain that can give the brainiacs in the DC Universe a run for their money. Grodd’s not just twiddling his thumbs with all that brainpower; and he’s always using it to cook up plans to wreak havoc on his enemies.
In Stories like “Rogue War” and “Gorilla Warfare,” Grodd uses his brain and mind-reading skills to stir up trouble, especially for his arch-nemesis Flash and the Justice League. Whether Grodd is planning big takeovers or playing mind games with the scarlet speedster, Grodd’s super intelligence spares no one.
Ozymandias
Ozymandias, or Adrian Veidt from Alan Moore’s Watchmen, is a strategic genius with a brain that’s off the charts. Ozymandias’ genius goes way beyond just being physically strong; he’s a real force to be reckoned with. In the graphic novel, Ozymandias cooks up a crazy plan to save the world from a global disaster by faking an alien invasion!
Adrian Veidt’s genius idea brings the world together against a common enemy, stopping a nuclear war in its tracks. Even though what he does is a bit debatable on the moral scale, his genius brain prevents an even bigger disaster and changes the whole world map.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man, or Peter Parker, is not just your friendly neighborhood superhero. Peter boasts an intellect that’s as impressive as his spidey moves. In addition to just swinging around the Big Apple, Peter is a brilliant scientist and inventor.
In Spider-Verse, things get wild with threats from different dimensions. But Peter uses his mettle and his brain to team up with other Spidermen from alternate realities. By putting their brain together, they stopped the whole multiverse from going kaput. Spider-Man does not just punch bad guys; his brain, quick thinking, and adaptability make him a big shot at saving not just his world but the whole multiverse.
So, did your favourite make the list? Who’s your favourite smartest superhero or supervillian? Let us know in the comments below!