Brainiac's skull ship signifies a fascination with intellectual machinations, and we can use this vessel to assess Superman's weaknesses.

The Man of Steel is a superhero who balances strength with virtue (democracy, compassion, etc.).

Brainiac is a super-villain who terrorizes Superman with the power of his mind, and he is arguably more menacing to the Man of Steel than General Zod, Lex Luthor, and Nuclear Man.

While relevant comparable stories about nemeses such as those of Cyborg Superman and the Super-Computer in Richard Lester's shattering (and under-rated) film "Superman III" [1983] are indeed symbolic of mega-mind intrigue, Brainiac is a terrific encapsulation of key intellect-diabolique themes significant to the innocence-poignancy of the Superman (DC Comics) universe.

There should be more discussions about how Brainiac's diabolical intellect is as challenging to the Man of Steel's democratic dominion as are, say, Nuclear Man or kryptonite.

Brainiac (Villains Wikia)

Wat?

@abishai100: Brainiac should be one of the only characters that could possibly outsmart Lex Luthor.

Brainiac is underrated.