The DC Universe is filled with super geniuses, both human and alien. These great minds have conquered time and space, discovered the origins of the universe and even explored other realities. While some heroes and villains struggle with basic math, it’s these characters that make Will Hunting look like a dope.
While it can be difficult to determine which genius is truly the most intelligent being in the DCU, close inspection sheds light on which ones rise to the top of the crop. They’ve done things no one else could imagine and probably find small talk boring. These are the heroes and villains who can – and have – changed the multiverse through the power of their minds alone.
10
The Atom (Ray Palmer)
Searching for an answer to overpopulation, physicist Ray Palmer came across the fragment of a white dwarf star and, by lensing it, discovered a way to shrink objects without affecting their mass. Unfortunately, most of the objects he tried on exploded, but thanks to his metagene, Ray is able to shrink himself and become the Atom.
Over time, Atom learned that by shrinking to subatomic sizes, he could access the quantum level, travel to other dimensions, and even explore the multiverse. Unfortunately, Atom was never able to stop most things from exploding, so his invention has yet to solve the problem he dedicated his life to solving.
9
Tomorrow
Thomas Oscar Morrow, better known as TO Morrow, is an evil genius who has an IQ over 200 and loves building robots. He is, in fact, the leading authority on robotics on Earth and created Red Tornado and Tomorrow Woman.
The first invention created by TO Morrow was a device that allowed him to see 100 years into the future. Morrow then built a “fourth dimensional grappling beam” that he could use to steal future technology, giving him a leg up on the competition. While stealing hardware from the future is a bit of a cheat, finding a way to do it shows how inventive Morrow is.
8
The Flash (Barry Allen)
Even before he was struck by lightning and doused with electrified chemicals, which gave him the gift of super speed, Barry Allen possessed genius-level intelligence. But once his brain was overloaded, Flash began creating devices that no one had ever dreamed of. First there was the incredible way Flash hides his costume. By soaking his suit in a specialized liquid, he can shrink it to store it in a secret compartment in his ring.
After that, Flash built the Cosmic Treadmill, which gave him the ability to not only travel through space and time, but also explore the multiverse. Before losing his powers, Barry Allen set out to catalog all realities in the multiverse, making him not only a genius, but also one of the most important explorers of all time.
7
Mr. Terrific
Mister Terrific, self-proclaimed third smartest man in the world, has earned 14 doctorates and has eidetic memory, meaning he remembers every event in his life perfectly. An Olympic gold medalist, Mister Terrific founded his own company and is one of the few self-made billionaires in the DCU.
Although his skills as a fighter are unquestionable, Mister Terrific’s greatest gifts are the inventions he has used to fight crime. His T-Mask makes Terrific invisible to any electronic detection system. His T Spheres can do just about anything Terrific wants, from creating holograms to removing tar from his enemies.
6
Batman
The world’s greatest detective, solving puzzles isn’t Batman’s only talent. The Caped Crusader has shown his genius in many forms, from creating battle strategies that even he can’t beat to constructing amazing technology that allows him to take on the toughest beings in the universe.
Batman’s analytical mind has saved the world countless times, and while his emotional intelligence leaves much to be desired, there is no doubting his genius. No one has more gadgets than Batman or mastered more fighting techniques. As the old joke goes, Batman can find a way to take down anyone or anything with enough preparation time.
5
Lex Luthor
The smartest human in the world, Lex Luthor unfortunately uses his genius to take revenge on those he believes have wronged him instead of helping humanity. From his business acumen to his Lexosuit, Lex is ready to take on his adversaries in the boardroom or in the depths of space.
In the DC Universe, intellect is broken down by levels, ranging from 1 to 12. Most humans land at the 2nd level. The smartest ones, like Lois Lane, are on the 3rd level. Batman and Mister Terrific reach 5th level. Lex Luthor is the only human with an intellect greater than this, with some stories claiming he reaches level 9.
4
Chrono
The best example of how someone can be so smart, but also so stupid, is Krona. A member of the ancient race of Maltusians, who later became the Guardians of the Universe, Krona’s greatest desire was to witness the beginning of time. Ignoring all warnings from his fellow Maltusians and the universe itself, he continued his experiment.
Krona was the first being to see the Hand of Creation, but this caused his machine to explode, causing the universe to fracture, creating the multiverse. Even if it was his genius that allowed him to see reality born, it was his pride that doomed this reality to an endless cycle of death and rebirth.
3
Brainiac
A cybernetically enhanced coluan, Vril Dox built an advanced artificial intelligence called COMPUTO and used it to observe the Fifth Dimension. There he saw a devastating war that would destroy his planet. Feeling he had no other choice, Vril Dox decided to shrink his city and keep it in a bottle, ensuring the survival of at least part of his world.
Dox loved shrinking the city so much that he decided to do it with each planet. Under the name Brainiac, he became one of the most feared beings in the universe. Brainiac is so smart that his name has become a common ironic retort when someone says something stupid.
2
Brainiac 5
Seeking to right the wrong of his ancestor Brainiac, Querl Dox, better known as Brainiac 5, works with the Legion of Super-Heroes to protect the universe. Level 12 Intellect, Brainiac 5 is the most intelligent mortal to ever live, beating his nefarious ancestor by two levels.
With the Legion Flight Ring and his Force Field Belt, Brainiac 5 invented the Time Bubble, which became the primary method of time travel in the DCU. He also built a new version of Computo, but it turned against him and the Legion. Brainaic 5 can be difficult to work with, but to him, everyone is as smart as an ant, so it’s hard to blame him for being annoyed by their questions.
1
Metro
A member of the New Gods, Metron does not come from New Genesis or Apokolips, but from another unknown location. Metron’s intelligence goes beyond DC’s intellectual levels. His genius gave him the ability to construct the Mobius Chair, a vehicle that allows him to easily traverse time, space, and all dimensions.
The Mobius Chair also grants Metron, or anyone who sits in it, near-omniscience, giving the person who controls it an otherwise impossible understanding of the universe and the ability to see all of time and space at once. And while others have been able to use the Mobius Chair, only Metron has the ability to truly understand its power.
- Created by
-
Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
- Cast
-
Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Cara Delevingne, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Zachary Levi, Dwayne Johnson, Amber Entendu, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, Ewan McGregor, Idris Elba, John Cena, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Xolo Mariduena
- Movies)
-
Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam!, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, Superman, The Brave and the Bold
- Character(s)
-
Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Shazam, Darkseid, Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Black Canary, Black Adam
