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    Originally known as "National Publications", DC is a publisher of comic books featuring iconic characters and teams such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Justice League of America, and the Teen Titans, and is considered the originator of the American superhero genre. DC, along with rival Marvel Comics, is one of the "big two" American comic book publishers. DC Entertainment is a subsidiary of Warner Brothers and its parent company Warner Media.

    Who is the smartest Character in DCU

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    ownsin

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    #1  Edited By ownsin

    Hey, so DCU has a lot of characters who have Genius-level intelligence, but who is the smartest one of them all? list the top 3 smartest DC characters in order.

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    AssertingValor

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    #2  Edited By AssertingValor

    Braniac no competition
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    ownsin

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    #3  Edited By ownsin
    @ebuchanan said:
    "
    Braniac no competition "
    Aha, and second to that?
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    AssertingValor

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    #4  Edited By AssertingValor

    probably whoever designed the Mother Box 
     
     
     
    as for detective level minds like batman.... there are to many to really tell
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    JesterKing

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    #5  Edited By JesterKing

    Mr. Terrific is often credited as being the smartest person in the world, smarter than Batman in most fields. As for the Universe, agreed its Brainiac. 

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    AssertingValor

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    #6  Edited By AssertingValor

    There is also the Brain 
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    deactivated-5c6600594117e

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    Vril Dox is pretty damn smart.
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    ownsin

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    #8  Edited By ownsin

    How about Lex Luthor guys?

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    Icarusflies

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    #9  Edited By Icarusflies  Moderator
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    DEGRAAF

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    #10  Edited By DEGRAAF
    @ebuchanan:
    i would say he is one of the top but they have Lex right there next to him. 
     
    I would say Bainiac, Lex, Bruce Wayne (not fond of this idea) 
     
    There are many smart people in the DCU. The ones listed below are just the humans i know of off the top of my head
     
    Lex Luthor, Bruce Wayne, Professor Ivo, T.O Morrow, John Henry Irons, Will Magnus, Mr. Terrific (noted to be the 3rd smartest man alive), Terry Sloane; golden age Mr. Terrific (dead), Hiro Okamura, Vandal Savage, and Doc Savage 
     
    There are at least two others that i can think of that i cant remember the names of. One is a meta human that was born with the abilities of human like 1,000 years or more from now, and the other was a scientist from Cadmus that helps Superman out that i cant think of
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    Icarusflies

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    #11  Edited By Icarusflies  Moderator
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    Emperor Gonzo Noir

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    @Icarusflies: Really? Snapper Carr? He's never struck me as the sharpest of tacks.
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    Icarusflies

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    #13  Edited By Icarusflies  Moderator
    @Emperor Gonzo Noir: Trust me, I agree with you. 
    But I think I read that he was something like the DCU's second smartest man at some point. 
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    Emperor Gonzo Noir

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    @Icarusflies said:
     DCU's second smartest man at some point.  "
    The words :Snapper Carr and Second smartest man should never be in the same sentence , in any case. 
    I need to know the writer of that, he/she needs to be smacked upside the head.
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    iLLituracy

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    #15  Edited By iLLituracy
    @Jake Fury said:
    " Vril Dox is pretty damn smart. "
    Not as smart as Brainiac, he's admitted himself. Brainiac 2 is only a 10th level intellect by Coluan standards. Though Lyrl Dox, Brainiac 3 is, like his "grandfather" the original Brainiac a 12th level. But I'd still say Lyrl Dox isn't as intelligent because he's younger and hasn't spent all the time Brainiac has in destroying and preserving cultures and preserving them for knowledge. In raw brainpower I'd say Brainiac and Brainiac 3 are equals. 
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    Icarusflies

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    #16  Edited By Icarusflies  Moderator
    @Emperor Gonzo Noir said:
    " @Icarusflies said:
     DCU's second smartest man at some point.  "
    The words :Snapper Carr and Second smartest man should never be in the same sentence , in any case. I need to know the writer of that, he/she needs to be smacked upside the head. "
    I agree
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    ~The Wanderer~

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    #17  Edited By ~The Wanderer~

    Brainiac, Brainiac 5 and Vril Dox.
    If we count different versions of the same character, then Brainiac 5 (Earth-0), Brainiac 5 (Earth-247) and Brainiac 5 (Threeboot).

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    DEGRAAF

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    #18  Edited By DEGRAAF
    @Icarusflies said:
    " @Emperor Gonzo Noir said:
    " @Icarusflies said:
     DCU's second smartest man at some point.  "
    The words :Snapper Carr and Second smartest man should never be in the same sentence , in any case. I need to know the writer of that, he/she needs to be smacked upside the head. "
    I agree "
    Same here. I have never thought of him as smart, is seemed to me like a second rate Jimmy Olsen (which in my opinion Olsen is a 3rd or 4th rate character to begin with)
     
     
    @iLLituracy said:
    " @Jake Fury said:
    " Vril Dox is pretty damn smart. "
    Not as smart as Brainiac, he's admitted himself. Brainiac 2 is only a 10th level intellect by Coluan standards. Though Lyrl Dox, Brainiac 3 is, like his "grandfather" the original Brainiac a 12th level. But I'd still say Lyrl Dox isn't as intelligent because he's younger and hasn't spent all the time Brainiac has in destroying and preserving cultures and preserving them for knowledge. In raw brainpower I'd say Brainiac and Brainiac 3 are equals.  "

    i thought the only other member of Brainiacs family, let alone the Caloun species, was Brainiac 5. I thought all the others were a level 10 or 11. 
     
     
    @ownsin: 
    If you want to narrow it down to the smartest in the entire DCU you should only look for characters with a 12 level intellect or higher, which quickly narrows it down to Lex Luthor, Brainiac (the original), I think Brainiac-5, and maybe a few others
     
     
     
    @Icarusflies said:
    " @DEGRAAF: Captain Comet
     
    Oh, and Snapper Carr…I don't know how or why, but he's supposed to be pretty smart. "

    yea, captain comet is who i was thinking of, i think he is smart isnt he?
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    Supreme Marvel

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    #19  Edited By Supreme Marvel

    Batman One Million possible.

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    DEGRAAF

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    #20  Edited By DEGRAAF

    from Brainiac-5's page 
     

    While the population of 20th century Earth has a 6th level intelligence, and average Coluans have a 10th level intelligence, Brainiac 5 has a 12th level intelligence.  Hence, Brainiac 5 is known as the smartest person in the universe. He is able to create very advanced technology such as  time machines (such as the Time Cube, Time Spheres and Chronexus), Flight Rings, artificial intelligences, and Force Shields.  Brainy is also knowledgeable with medical technology as well, having invented the anti-lead serum for Mon-El and curing Matter-Eater Lad of his madness. Each level of intelligence represents a separate thought track, allowing him to think about or solve twelve equations simultaneously. His brain processes formulas at the speed of a computer. Physical combat is not something he excels at.     

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    iLLituracy

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    #21  Edited By iLLituracy
    @DEGRAAF said:
    "@iLLituracy said:
    " @Jake Fury said:
    " Vril Dox is pretty damn smart. "
    Not as smart as Brainiac, he's admitted himself. Brainiac 2 is only a 10th level intellect by Coluan standards. Though Lyrl Dox, Brainiac 3 is, like his "grandfather" the original Brainiac a 12th level. But I'd still say Lyrl Dox isn't as intelligent because he's younger and hasn't spent all the time Brainiac has in destroying and preserving cultures and preserving them for knowledge. In raw brainpower I'd say Brainiac and Brainiac 3 are equals.  "

    i thought the only other member of Brainiacs family, let alone the Caloun species, was Brainiac 5. I thought all the others were a level 10 or 11.  "

    No Caption Provided
    Nah, he's a 12th level.
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    DEGRAAF

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    #22  Edited By DEGRAAF
    @iLLituracy:
    interseting. Thanks for the repreave. doesnt suprise me with all the retcons in the family. Brainiac 2 is isn't a 12th level intellect is he? Eventually i see the whole Brainiac family being the only known 12th intellect family in the universe. Lex Luthor is the only person on Earth actually being called a 12th level intellect or above. Specially as he went in to the source wall.
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    Billy Batson

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    #23  Edited By Billy Batson
    @JesterKing: wasn't he the third smartest?
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    iLLituracy

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    #24  Edited By iLLituracy
    @DEGRAAF said:
    " @iLLituracy: interseting. Thanks for the repreave. doesnt suprise me with all the retcons in the family. Brainiac 2 is isn't a 12th level intellect is he? Eventually i see the whole Brainiac family being the only known 12th intellect family in the universe. Lex Luthor is the only person on Earth actually being called a 12th level intellect or above. Specially as he went in to the source wall. "
    Brainiac 2 is only a 10th level. Though I would put him above his son in overall skill and knowledge. When they both went up against Brainiac it was Brainiac 2 that pulled through while his son relied on his plotting. 
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    FinalStar86

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    #25  Edited By FinalStar86
    @Jake Fury said:
    " Vril Dox is pretty damn smart. "
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    velle37

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    #26  Edited By velle37

    Superman Prime 1 million 
    Superman 1 million 
    Batman 1 million
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    ForgottenZeroes

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    #27  Edited By ForgottenZeroes

    DC is so fundamentally different from the  Marvel Universe as most of the powers are bestowed or innate, whereas in Marvel they were as a result of scientific invention or discovery.   
     
    That having been said I would say that the smartest characters in DC are not as obvious to identify.  Batman and Mr Terrific had a great moment in one of the early of the most recent run on JLA where MT is playing two others at chess (I think it was GL and Black Canary) and just playing the one against the other, copying each others move from board to board.  Batman walks in and sees what he is doing right away.   I would have to say they are both in the top ten.  
     
    The DCU is somewhat lacking in inventors and when they do show up they are usually bad guys.  However, if there was a top ten list of smartest people in the DCU, Rip Hunter would have to be on it.  There are not so many time travelers in the DCU and Rip was smart enough to design his own machine.  Its just Rip is at the fringe of the DCU and only shows up when there is a time travel story.  I might also offer up John Henry Irons, genius inventor. 
     
    A problem comes though when you start including aliens or other beings.  Of course Brainiac or Darkseid would be among the most intelligent beings in the universe,  but they sort of have an unfair advantage being somewhat God like.  Same thing I would argue for Martian Manhunter.    

    When it comes to humans it might also be impossible to not include Wonder Woman (if you regard her as human that is.)  She had the wisdom of Athena bestowed upon her at birth.  And wisdom is a form of intellect. 

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    daxamite

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    Brainiac the original is 20th Century so is his son Vril Dox A.K.A. Brainiac 2, Lyrl Dox A.K.A Brainiac 3 are all from the 20th / 21st Centuries, they are the smartest in that era's but 1000 year's in the future 30th / 31st Century has Brainiac 5 I would say Brainiac 5 is the smartest in the DC Universe because even though there are other 12th level intel's out there Querl Dox has knowledge of the entire future he hails from and the entire past not only that but other universe's, species, and planets, dimensions etc. which the others don't have. so my pick's for the three smartest character's in the DC universe are Brainiac 2 ( vril Dox II ), Lryl Dox ( Brainiac 3 ), and the smartest of them all Brainiac 5 ( Querl Dox )

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    the_red_viper

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    #29 the_red_viper  Moderator

    Adrian Veidt-Ozymandias.

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    SpideyIvyDaredevilFan26

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    No mention of Bane? 0_0

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    lightsout

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    #31  Edited By lightsout

    @jesterking: He's the 3rd smartest - it's part of his tagline.

    On Earth, Luthor was considered #1, and this is straight-up said in Superman (new 52). Outside of Earth it gets messy IMO just because there's so much high-level technology (Brainiac's, New God, Guardian, etc)....that you can only really consider them different flavors without crowning 1 best. My personal opinion would be either Brainiac or whoever develops New God tech.

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    Bogey

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    HumanRocket

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    No mention of gorilla grodd?

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    MartianManhunterIsBetterThanCyborg

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    utkanflash

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    smart and intelligence is little bir difference topics ı think.... Smart sounds like a more clever but İntellect is more far level somethin'

    I Think Dr.Manhattan has ultimate intelligence

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    RustyRoy

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    Darkseid is one of smartest beings in DCU.

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    FlashKnight

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    #37  Edited By FlashKnight

    Batman

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    ULTRAstarkiller

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    Brainiac 5, Brainiac, and Lex Luthor.......and Batman at number 4( I know you asked for 3 but you can't expect me to leave out Batman)

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    the_red_viper

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    #39  Edited By the_red_viper  Moderator

    Dunno about smartest character (may very well be Brainiac) but the smartes human is Adrian Veidt-Ozymandias.

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    SheenLantern

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    @the_red_viper: Not likely, his one intelligence feat wasn't even on Lex Luthor's level.

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    batmannflash

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    Humans: Lex Luthor, Bruce Wayne, Michael Holt, Ray Palmer, Professor Ivo, T.O. Morrow, Tim Drake, Edward Nigma, Barbara Gordon

    In the Universe: Brainiac no doubt

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    deactivated-64332b810a025

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    1.All the Brainiacs

    2.Darkseid

    3.Lex Luthor/Batman

    4.Superman (I put him behind Lex and Batman because he's not consistently displayed to be as intelligent, it varies with writers, sometimes he is a genius other times he is a total brick)

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    rogueshadow

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    #43  Edited By rogueshadow  Moderator

    Braniac.

    Humans

    Lex Luthor.

    Bruce Wayne.

    Michael Holt.

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    LexLuthor11

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    Lex,Braniac,or Abra Kadabra

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    ULTRAstarkiller

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    Brainiacs

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    El_Taza

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    Lex Luthor, Brainiacs, Ozymandias are the top of the list.

    Batman, Question and Mr. Terrific, Martian Manhunter. I'm not going to get them in any order cuz even intelligence is an objective thing.

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    PapiNacho

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    Lex Luthor is the smartest human in the world, but there are many who far outwit him Brainiac, Brainiac 5 Jor-El hell even Superman technically or Barry Allen. However if your question refers to human then Lex, Batman and Terrific. With Terry Sloane possibly being as edging out Terrific and Batman.

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    captaincoldsnart

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    And you can't forget Captain Marvel, He has the wisdom of Solomon.

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    ViperKing

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    #49  Edited By ViperKing

    @captaincoldsnart:

    Wisdom is not necessarily intelligence. Captain Marvel has never been seen as a very intelligent being, much less one of the most intelligent.

    @papinacho:

    Superman, Jor-El, and Barry Allen are definitely not smarter than Lex Luthor. Also, Batman should not be mentioned alongside Lex Luthor, Mr. Terrific, etc.

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    PapiNacho

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    @viperking: As a matter of fact they all are, since they happen to have super-intelligence that is the ability to think a lot faster than Lex Luthor ever will. As for the second question, Batman has long since earned his place as the second smartest human being in the DC Universe in my mind, disagree if you will but at the end of the day it is an opinion, and I have given mine.

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