James Gunn has officially confirmed Lars Eidinger as Brainiac, the main villain of Man of Tomorrow, and while the character is one of Superman’s most iconic foes, the decision should be raising red flags among DC fans.
Not because of Brainiac himself, but because of how Gunn is likely to use him.
Brainiac fits Gunn’s ideological storytelling
Brainiac isn’t just a physical threat. He’s a cold, calculating authority figure who believes logic outweighs emotion and tradition.
That makes him an easy vehicle for Gunn’s familiar themes: elite systems are corrupt, institutions are dangerous, and those in power cannot be trusted.
Rather than being a straight sci-fi menace, Brainiac is positioned to represent technocratic control, cultural erasure, and “knowing better” than entire civilizations.
That matches the way Gunn has been telling stories across the DCU so far.
Superman as commentary, not myth
Brainiac as symbolism, not mythology
Classic Superman stories usually place Brainiac at the center of a clear conflict: preservation versus destruction, legacy versus domination.
Brainiac threatens history, culture, and life itself, while Superman fights to protect what came before and what still matters.
Under James Gunn, that conflict is likely to be reframed as commentary rather than myth.
Krypton reframed as flawed, not tragic
Instead of Krypton being a noble civilization lost to tragedy, expect its legacy to continue to be portrayed as flawed, outdated, and disposable.
Superman is shown turning away from his family heritage and focusing more on his own choices and feelings than on the values passed down to him.
Jor-El and the rejection of legacy
Gunn has already shown this approach with his portrayal of Jor-El in Superman, which sparked major backlash from fans. It will likely continue in Supergirl.
Rather than being depicted as a wise and noble figure, Jor-El was shown as cold and part of a broken system (the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic depicts Jor-El as a loon).
That choice made Krypton feel less tragic and more like something that deserved to be left behind.
What this means with Brainiac
With Brainiac now confirmed as the villain, fans should expect that trend to continue.
Brainiac’s role could further reinforce the idea that Krypton’s legacy is a problem to be rejected, not something worth preserving. Ask yourself further: How did Gunn portray Ma and Pa Kent?
Why longtime should be pushing back
For longtime fans who see Superman as a hero built on timeless values passed down from both Krypton and the Kents, this approach feels less like Superman and more like modern messaging wearing a cape.
The message is loud and clear: family and where you come from are treated as unimportant or downright a liability, and Superman is encouraged to leave that behind and start over.
The message aligns closely with modern progressive themes that prioritize self-defined identity over family, heritage, and inherited values — a sharp break from what Superman has traditionally stood for.
We just saw it in Disney’s Predator: Badlands, and in Sony’s 28 Years Later. It’s woke indoctrination.
Why this will divide the fanbase
Brainiac should be an easy win. He’s visually striking, intellectually intimidating, and central to Superman lore.
But Gunn’s track record suggests goofy humor undercutting tension, authority figures painted as villains (Trump), and heavy thematic layering that overshadows straightforward storytelling.
Gunn has even said that he personally relates to Lex Luthor more than to Superman, which obviously implies that Lex might just be that “Man of Tomorrow” and not Superman.
Fans who liked Gunn’s divisive takes in Peacemaker and Creature Commandos will probably welcome this take.
Fans hoping for a serious, reverent Superman story likely won’t. That includes a large international audience that places strong value on heritage and tradition, an audience that does not turn out for Gunn’s DCU.
Brainiac isn’t the issue. The creative filter is. And with Man of Tomorrow, that filter looks set to split DC fans even further. But that’s the entire reason behind Gunn’s DCU.
