Brainiac Queen Shares Superman's Tragic Origins
DC's Absolute Power event starts off with a very interesting twist. The introduction of Brainiac Queen is framed as a tragic mirror image of Superman's origin story. The parallels between the two characters are highlighted in great detail, making for some interesting comparisons. It's a bit like comparing a classic Superman film with a new Superman film, but instead, it's comparing Superman and Brainiac Queen.
The similarities are definitely there. In Superman #15, Brainiac's mothership explodes and Brainiac makes sure that his offspring (Brainiac Queen) escapes in a pod. Brainiac Queen's home planet explodes in the distance as the pod rockets towards earth. The crash landing is a pretty common trope in many superhero stories, but it's the origin story trope.
Amanda Waller's Twist On Superman's Adoption
In Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1, Amanda Waller finds Brainiac Queen and decides to "raise" the blank slate of Brainiac Queen. She uses a simulation of the American heartland to raise Brainiac Queen. It's almost as if Waller wants to mock Superman's adoption and rearing at the hands of the Kent family.
Instead of the loving adoption of Superman, Waller takes the opposite approach. She molds Brainiac Queen into a weapon of war against the Justice League and other super-powered figures. The Justice League are framed as "outsiders" who are invading Waller's home. It's a complete contrast to Superman's adoption. Superman's adoption is a representation of the American immigrant story, which is a story of welcome and acceptance.
Brainiac Queen Is The Closest DC Has Come To An "Anti-Superman"
Bizarro is like Superman in some ways, but he's also the opposite of him in just about every way. Lobo is a similar character. He's also a super-powered last son, but he doesn't have Superman's responsibility or compassion. But Brainiac Queen is in a league of her own, because her origin mirrors Superman's, but she is being "raised" by the worst of humanity.
Brainiac Queen is almost like a twisted reflection of Superman. She is a super-powered being, but her powers are not used for good. Instead, she is used as a tool for destruction and war. She's the closest that Dc Comics has come to creating a true "anti-Superman." It's almost like a Superman story, but it's flipped on its head.
