DC has released new information for its blockbuster Superman Family event House of Brainiac, confirming the fact that the Man of Steel will be forced to work with the one hero he legitimately loathes. The event is the latest installment in DC building its upcoming Trinity of Evil – with Amanda Waller, Brainiac, and Zur-En-Arrh/Failsafe taking on a huge new importance in DC lore. It’s also the next step in DC’s continuing ‘Superman Superstars’ initiative, with 2024 bringing in top-tier talent to guide the Man of Steel’s adventures.
DC has revealed that House of Brainiac will see Brainiac’s new army of Czarnians invade Metropolis. Indestructible warriors, the Czarnians have an enhanced physiology and also possess an incredible healing factor, to the point that spilled Czarnian blood often regenerates into a new member of the species. The most famous Czarnian is the antihero mercenary Lobo – once believed to be the last of his species. Rafa Sandoval’s connecting covers for Action Comics #1064 and Superman #13 show the Superman Family battling Brainiac’s forces.
DC’s solicit information for the first month of the event reveals that Superman will need to team-up with Lobo to face Brainiac, while Power Girl will be left as Metropolis’ last hero. Lobo is the one hero Superman can’t stand, with series like the recent Superman vs Lobo exploring their intense dislike for one another. DC’s reading order for the event’s first month is as follows:
House of Brainiac: First Month Reading Order | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Comic Issue | Creative Team | Cover Artist | Variant Cover Artists | Release Date | Preorder Date |
Action Comics #1064 | Joshua Williamson and Rafa Sandoval | Rafa Sandoval | Jorge Jiménez, Paolo Rivera, Michael Walsh, and Ariel Colón (Covers pictured below) | April 9 | January 19 |
Green Lantern #10 | Kevin Maguire and Jeremy Adams (Back-Up Story) | Xermánico (Cover pictured below) | Evan ‘Doc’ Shaner, Jorge Fornés, and Michael Wals | April 9 | January 19 |
Superman #13 | Joshua Williamson and Rafa Sandoval | Rafa Sandoval | Lee Bermejo, Sebastian Fiumara, Alan Quah, and Jerry Gaylord (Covers pictured below) Jim Lee (Artist Spotlight Variant Cover) | April 16 | January 19 |
Power Girl #8 | Leah Williams, Eduardo Pansica and Júlio Ferreira | Yanick Paquette (Cover pictured below) | Mark Brooks, W. Scott Forbes, and Irvin Rodriguez | April 23 | January 19 |
Superman: House of Brainiac Special #1 | Mark Russell, Joshua Williamson, Edwin Galmon and Steve Pugh | Jamal Campbell (Cover pictured below) | N/A | April 30 | January 19 |
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Superman & Lobo Unite for House of Brainiac
Metropolis’ Heroes Are Facing a Huge Alien Invasion
The story begins when Brainiac’s Czarnian army attack Metropolis in Action Comics #1064, resulting in a gigantic battle with all Metropolis’ heroes. This time, Brainiac isn’t trying to ‘bottle’ Superman’s city, and the race is on for Clark and Lex Luthor to discover what he wants. In Superman #13, Superman and Lobo team up to hunt for Brainiac’s ‘Lobo Army,’ with their dislike of each other causing issues in their plans.
Meanwhile, Power Girl #8 sees Kara defending Metropolis after all its heroes are kidnapped, with Lobo’s daughter Crush arriving to lend a hand. Over in Green Lantern #10, a back-up story will follow Guy Gardner’s attempts to place Lobo under arrest, chasing up a rumor that he’s currently battling the galaxy’s greatest wrestlers. Finally, the first month of House of Brainiac concludes in Superman: House of Brainiac Special #1, which will reveal Brainiac’s secret connection to Czarnia and his links to Amanda Waller – as well as classic character Bibbo Bibbowski trying to unite Metropolis’ citizens against their invaders.
DC Is Building Its Trio of Evil with Blockbuster Events
Brainiac’s Rise is the Beginning, Not the End
Since 2022’s Dark Crisis event, the Justice League have disassembled, replaced by the Titans. DC has made it clear that it will take a huge force of evil for the Justice League to reunite, and the ‘Trinity of Evil’ fits the bill. Answering the unbreakable alliance of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman with a trio of villains is a thrilling idea, especially as the rise of each villain will seemingly be its own event story – with Beast World depicting Amanda Waller’s rise to power, and now House of Brainiac doing the same for Superman’s planet-collecting nemesis. And if an entire army of Czarnians is just Brainiac’s opening salvo, Superman fans can rest reassured that the Man of Steel is facing one of his biggest challenges yet – with tolerating Lobo a close second.
The story begins in Action Comics #1064, coming April 9 from DC Comics.
