Querl Dox

For other uses of "Brainiac", see Brainiac.

Querl Dox
Biological Information
Species	Coluan
Status	Alive (dying)
Universe Information
Home universe	Earth-38
Current universe	Earth-Prime
General Information
Occupation	Original multiverse Member of the Legion (formerly) Vigilante (in secret; formerly) Technician at the D.E.O. (formerly) Member of the Superfriends (in secret; formerly) New multiverse Member of the Legion (formerly) Vigilante (in secret) Director of the D.E.O. Member of the Superfriends (in secret)
Affiliation	Original multiverse Superfriends (formerly) D.E.O. (formerly) The Legion (formerly) New multiverse Superfriends D.E.O. The Legion (formerly) Lex Luthor (in secret; undercover)
Family	Unnamed (cousin) Unnamed (father) Unnamed (mother) Indigo (unclear relation; deceased) Unnamed (ancestors; deceased)
Alter ego	Brainiac 5 Barney Fife
Code name	American Alien (formerly)
Actor	Jesse Rath Sam Witwer (as Ben Lockwood)

"Well, no time like the present to create the future."

—Querl Dox^[src]

Querl Dox, also known as Brainiac 5, is a Coluan and a former member of the Legion. A 12th-level intellect, Brainiac 5 is an incredible scientist and combat strategist, affectionately nicknamed "Brainy" by the other legionnaires. He also goes by the alias Barney Fife when operating among humans. While organizing a pro-alien rally, he used the screen name American Alien. Unfortunately, during a rescue mission with J'onn J'onzz and Nia Nal, he is electrocuted by security guards, causing his mind to "reboot", making him cruel and emotionless, similarly to his evil ancestors. He later regained his emotions after seeing Nia in mortal danger.

Under advice from his female doppelgänger, Brainy has begun working with Lex Luthor to take down Leviathan, and cut off all emotional attachment. However, Brainy is in agony not only from having Nia in his life, but the fear of losing himself to the darkness within him.

Biography

Original multiverse

Early life

Querl was born in the 31st century on the planet Colu into the so-called "Brainiac clan". He is implied to have had a strained relationship with his mother. A genius with a 12th-level intellect, the highest ever recorded on the planet, Querl was inspired by the superheroism of the 21st century and Supergirl's ideals, as well as the story and legend about her. At some point, during Querl's younger years, he visited a planet with his parents, leading to his mother bottling the planet for him to keep. However, his father found out and placed personality inhibitors on him in order to prevent Querl from becoming like her.

At some point in his life, he joined the Legion, a group of superheroes founded and led by the time-displaced Daxamite Mon-El.

While on a mission, Querl, Mon-El, Imra Ardeen and three other unidentified legionnaires hit a wormhole and were transported 12,000 years into the past. They decided to put themselves into cryo-sleep until the 31st century, but Mon-El and Imra were awakened early when a torpedo hit their ship in 2017 and they later decided to awaken Brainiac 5 to help Kara after she lost her first fight against Reign.

21st century

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After Mon-El woke Querl to help Supergirl, they placed her in a suspension tank in the Legion's ship while they fitted her with a neural implant that allowed Querl to go into her mind. Once there, he found Kara in a mental simulation of her loft. He was surprised to find that everything seemed to be normal to both her confusion and irritation. He then introduced himself and told her that she was in a coma following her battle with Reign. However, it seemed like she was stuck. Back outside with the others, Querl told them that Kara seemed healthy enough but couldn't seem to wake up.

New relationship

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Nia Nal is getting ready for the morning while Brainy continues to read her poetry he wrote, as he has done for the past few days, already a poem 124. While at work, Brainy goes to work looking into the information on the USB stick Supergirl found at Caroline O'Connor's apartment, but it is incriminated with something he has never seen before. That night, Nia is woken from a nightmare, upon returning home, she finally confronts Brainy about his obsessive affection towards her. She tells him it's too much, visibly hurt Brainy leaves.

New multiverse

Whilst on a date with Nia, Querl met an alternate version of himself from another Earth, resulting in the D.E.O. learning that multiple doppelgängers of Querl had arrived on Earth-Prime through a wormhole during the Anti-Monitor Crisis. During this commotion, one of them was murdered, but not before talking about preventing someone from "opening a bottle". Whilst investigating the murder, Querl began to feel inadequate in comparison to his doppelgangers and eventually confided in his female doppelgänger.

Once it was revealed that one of the doppelgangers had effectively bottled his Earth and intended to set it free, Querl discarded his personality inhibitors in order to fully realize his potential, eventually being able to stop his doppelganger from releasing the bottled Earth, which would've resulted in the destruction of Earth-Prime. In his newly revealed true form, his two remaining doppelgängers granted him each of their life inhibitors in order for them to join the Big Brain. Before leaving, his female counterpart warned Querl of opposing Lex Luthor and encouraged him to instead help him, claiming that, on her Earth, their opposition of Lex led to destruction. Querl was then told to abandon the ones he loved in order to save them. Later on, he arrived at Nia Nal's apartment and informed her that he was ending their relationship, leaving thereafter.

Working with Lex Luthor

At night, Querl attacked a prison bus, and helped a doppelganger of Winn Schott,who had become Toyman, escape. He brought him to Lex, who had previously said that he wanted knowledge from the future. Later, Toyman attacked a toy convention but was interrupted by Earth Prime's Winn Schott who reunited with his friends. Alex tasked Querl with uncovering who Toyman's ally was, not knowing that in reality it was Querl. At the D.E.O, Querl told Lex to call Toyman off so that he didn't hurt anyone. However, Lex refused and Querl stared to begin to doubt Lex. The team meet again at J'onn J'ozz's new headquarters, The Tower, where Querl saw Nia Nal. When Nia Nal, didn't tell anyone what she saw in her dream, Querl started questioning her, which lead to her pushing him and using his old nickname. The team found out where Toyman was going to attack and stopped the assassination of Andrea Rojas. During the battle, Querl paused, worried for Nia Nal. Winn noticed this. Afterwards, Winn confronted Brainy about his behavior, and Querl told him the truth, visibly nervous that he was doing the wrong thing and saying that he was afraid he was becoming the bad guy. Winn reassured him that he still considered Querl, an old friend and that he would kept his secret.

When Kara, Alex, J'onn and Winn were at the dive bar, Brainy was on a call to Lex, who told him that he should keep Alex "under control" as she had planted spyware on her tablet. He was later attacked by a drone controlled by Toyman who had uploaded his conscious to the D.E.O servers. Kara, Alex, and Winn stopped the drone and Winn recognized the music the drone was broadcasting. At the D.E.O, they figured out that Toyman was attempting to get out into the internet. After, a brief skirmish, they got a call from Lex, stating that Supergirl couldn't use her power as they had kryptonite safeguards and no anti-kryptonite protectors. After, everyone left, Querl called Lex back. Lex told him to get Toyman's immorality code. Winn briefly confronted Querl on whether or not this was one of Lex's plans, where Querl said it was. While Alex was trying to delink D.E.O equipment, she found out that Querl has deleted her Spyware. Alex confronted Querl, who confessed to deleting the spyware but said it was to keep her safe. After, Toyman was defeated and Winn went back to the future, Alex told everyone she was quitting the D.E.O. Querl went to tell Lex this and give him the code which he gathered during the commotion. Lex then promoted Querl to the Director of the D.E.O.

In an alternate timeline designed by Mr. Mxyzptlk, Brainiac 5 is under the mind control as an enforcer for the city's dictate, Lena Luthor. The next day, everyone is hit with the unexpected news of the death of Alex and Kara’s father. They all attend the funeral in Midvale.

Lex came to visit Querl while he was working on a mortality code in order to kill Leviathan. He informed Lex that they would need something to weaken first. Lex quickly shot the idea down so Querl added there was another option but that they needed access to Leviathan’s base. At the same time, an agent informed him that there was an attack on Andrea Rojas. Lex decided to use this as an opportunity to gain Leviathan by using supergirl to defend Andrea. Later, Alex calls him asking for info about a suspect. Querl lies to her, in order to prevent her ffrom looking into it. Querl then, bring up a hologram of his doppelgänger and talks to him about how his worries of betraying his friends. His doppelgänger tells him that he has to work with Lex to save the future. When supergirl bring Andrea to the D.E.O, Querl puts her in a cell so that she is safe while he goes to stop the launch of Obsidian Platinum. When Querl is unable to stop the Launch, he calls Lex for him but he doesn’t respond. Supergirl eventually stops it and Querl confronts Lex. Lex tells him that Supergirl will always save the day and Querl starts doubting Lex even more.

When the D.E.O arrives to a crime scene where Nia had just taken down a dominator, Querl thanked her, and was about to say something but instead just thanked her again. Nia also was going to say something but then stopped. Later, Kara called him to ask him for help locating a homophobic attacker. Querl said that it was terrible, then rephrased his statement so that he could keep up his charade. After he helped Nia, and she had taken down the attacker, Querl went to the police and gave them files on a homophobic group that the attacker belonged to.

When Querl asked Lex help him locate the people kidnapped by leviathan, Lex said that he couldn't as it would put him and Lena in danger but encouraged him to help by using Myriad. Querl went to the super friends with this idea and they agreed. However, Lex just wanted this to happen so as to frame Kara and release a sun-eater. Querl helped stop the sun-eater.

Querl confronted Lex about releasing the sun-eater and helping Leviathan destroy the world. He stated that his friends could have died and that he wasn't going to stand back while Leviathan tried to kill his friends. Lex ordered to not intervene. Querl disobeyed Lex's orders and went to help the super friends fight Rama Khan. Kara tried to convince him not to take Rama Khan to the D.E.O but he did. Querl tried to strike a deal with Rama Khan to take him to their ship. However, it was a trap and Rama Khan completely desultory the D.E.O. Querl was shown looking sadly at the destruction of the D.E.O. He then attempted to talk to Kara and Nia but they shut him out. After Kara left, Nia got angry at Brainy as she thought that this Brainy was different the her Brainy and she couldn't trust him. She asked him to tell her the truth but he didn't after which Nia told him that if Querl couldn't choose a side then she would do it for him. Querl then met with Lex where he told him that the D.E.O's destruction was all his fault. Lex started laughing at that and Querl figured out that Lex wanted Rama Khan to go to the D.E.O to get kryptonite. Lex told him that he gave Leviathan a tool that could hurt Supergirl but it needed kryptonite. He added that Leviathan was pleased with it and gave him an invite to their ship.

Personality

• With his emotions
• Without his emotions

"You are caring, and selfless, and good."

—Nia Nal to Querl Dox^[src]

Querl is an extremely intelligent, logical, but compassionate individual. In the beginning, Querl's compassionate nature was shown in his efforts to help Kara awaken from her coma. Mostly likely due to being a synthetic being, Brainy sometimes comes off as socially awkward and slow to pick up on people's feelings.

However, Querl's massive intellect boasts an equally massive ego, calling himself a "12th Level Intellect", coming up with impossible solutions with technology that doesn't exist yet or dismisses other people's ideas in favor of his own, sometimes even to the point of vocally demeaning other intellects; in addition, he makes his decisions based on logic and calculations which occasionally compromises his morals, which is why he sided with Imra - behind Mon-El, Supergirl and the D.E.O.'s back - in her quest to rid themselves on Pestilence in order to save the millions of lives in the future, including Imra's own sister, Preya. He is also shown to overestimate his capabilities, especially back in the 21st century where the technology is far more limited than to what he is used to.

Even after spending months in the 21st century, Querl has some trouble understanding some things; he doesn't understand needing to keep quiet about carrying on off-the-books research while tending to not understand the purpose of tasks asked of him until explained in greater detail. However, he does have an appreciation for classic movies that both Mon-El and Kara told him about.

Querl seems to have an infatuation with Nia Nal, trying to act cool or becoming clumsy in her presence, she seems to return the attraction, flirting with him several times. Furthermore, after Querl lost his emotions, once he saw Nia in a mortal danger his original personality was restored, indicating he deeply cares about her. Querl later admits Nia is the first person he has truly loved in his life. Due to this fact, he tends to make some (hilarious) blunders in trying to be romantic. After Nia expressed gratitude for breakfast in bed, Querl attempted to make her happy by sending her lunch, in unfortunately large amounts. Though once Nia makes it clear that he's trying too hard to be romantic, Querl backs off and starts trying simpler methods. Querl tends to ask Alex and Kara for dating advice.

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After being tortured by the Children of Liberty, Querl's mind rebooted and made it line up to his more emotionless ancestors, the loss of emotions made him quite ruthless, leading him to leave both Nia Nal and J'onn J'onzz behind to be taken to an unknown location, disregarding their safety. He didn’t mind for if something bad happened to them and he acted carefree at this idea. Querl was very practical, never saying more than needed. However, his words tended to be very textbook to the point of exasperation.

Powers and abilities

Brainiac 5 inside Kara's mind reminds her of Supergirl's defeat at the hands of Reign.

"I am Brainiac-5. Half-computer, half-organic lifeform, all Coluan, and, not to brag, but a 12th-level intellect. My name is Querl Dox, but the Legionnaires just call me Brainy."

—Querl Dox^[src]

Powers

• Coluan physiology: Being a synthetic life form, Querl's physiology allows him to shape his body and interact with technology.
  • Cybernetic interface/Technopathy: Querl is a Coluan cybernetic being. He is able to transfer the body in the form of digital code and teleport through any technology by flying into it while in digital form. He can use any electronics as a portal to another destination, traveling through electronic and digital signals, while he is unable to travel through older broadcasting signals. He can interface with any machinery and manipulate computer systems with a mere gesture, as well as detect digital electronics and signals, while he could not do so with older broadcasting signals and technology. Being incredibly multitasking, he can project his own mind into another via cybernetics devices and maintain enough clarity to speak at the same time with the person to which he is connected and the others in the real world.
    • Telekinesis: In addition to his ability to manipulate technology, Querl also can telekinetically maneuver it. It appears to extend to metallic objects as well. After being tortured, Querl was able to pull his legion ring to him, as well as the dog tag of one of the soldiers, pulling the soldier himself in the process. He was also able to telekinetically move a bottled Earth from his doppelgänger to himself.
  • Super strength: Querl's strength allowed him to fight a Kryptonian on equal grounds.
  • Super speed: Being a Coluan, Querl also showcased blinding levels of speed.
  • Flight: Being a Coluan, Querl has the ability to fly, although since he mainly uses his legion ring to fly, it is unknown to how well he is capable of flying.
  • Invulnerability: Querl's body is denser and more durable than a human's, but not nearly as durable as a Kryptonian's.
  • Self-repair: As a digital being, Querl is able to self-repair, though only if he is conscious, otherwise the Omegahedron can be used to reconstitute him. In addition, he appears to have a degree of enhanced healing factor, with him quickly recovered from being tortured.
  • Shapeshifting: Being a Coluan, Querl can change his appearance.
    • Malleability: Being a Coluan, Querl is able to manipulate his limbs to stretch and elongate to almost no limit and turn his limbs into blades that can pierce into Martians. He is able to absorb bullets harmlessly into his body if shot.
    • Voice mimicry: Querl succeeded to perfectly mimic Lauren Haley's voice.
  • Hyper-metabolism: As Querl even states himself, he has the capability of recovering from alcohol libation with remarkable speed.
• Abilities via Legion Ring: Each member of the Legion is granted a special ring that serves as a form of identification, along with granting each member several other capabilities. Since having the ring taken by The Hat, he lost these abilities. After the defeat of Manchester, Brainy's ring was returned to him.
  • Flight: The ring has been shown to enable Querl the ability to fly through unspecific means. It seems to be activated through a telepathic suggestion, as no thoughts or movements were taken to activate it. It appears that it allows Querl to fly in a more hover-like stance rather than the typical vertical form of flying found in Martian Manhunter or Supergirl.
  • Telepathy immunity: The ring has been shown to give the wearer the ability to resist telepathic abilities such as when M'yrnn J'onzz loses control in the D.E.O. and cause everyone to display violence towards each other.
  • Oxygen independence: Querl's ring grants him the power to breathe unaided in harsh environments such as the vacuum of space.

Abilities

• Genius-level intellect: Querl has a "12th-level intellect", meaning he is a genius even by the terms of the 31st century, thus, he possesses superhuman calculation skills, amazing memory, and exceptional technical know-how. This increased intellect gives him superior calculating abilities, an encyclopedic memory and innovating scientific knowledge even by Coluan standards. By concentrating the power and disciplined nature of his mighty mind he safely operated many 31st century devices with ease.
  • Eidetic memory: As an AI, Querl can memorize anything that he had seen, heard and fully recall them all.
  • Psychotherapy: Querl is trained in psychology and tried to use his skills to enter Kara Danvers' mind and help her to wake from her coma.
  • Expert pilot: Querl is an extremely skilled pilot; being able to drive the Legion cruiser when in battle with Reign.
• Expert hand-to-hand combatant: As a Legionnaire, Querl has participated in Legion combat training and is an adequate hand-to-hand combatant. However, he has yet to overly exert himself in this regard, given his sophistication, such that his personal fighting style leans more on the non-contact defensive, and is content with simply and calmly dodging incoming strikes, watching his adversaries tire themselves as they attempt to assault the Coluan with virtually no avail. In fact, thus far the one time when he got aggressive was a case somewhat when he kicked down Pamela Ferrer to incapacitate her and nothing beyond that. In addition, after his mind was rebooted, he effortlessly brutally defeated several armed soldiers, with no harm to himself.
• Multilingual: Querl is fluent in various languages across the universe.
• Skilled medic: After Alex Danvers sustained an injury to her leg when Reign lashed at her with a heavy chain, Querl was seen tending to her by mounting a futuristic leg-cast over the agent's damaged limb, and though Alex had to use crutches for a time because of the cast, she recovered quickly enough in due time.
• Ancestral memory: Querl possesses full ancestral memory, claiming to remember all the evil deeds his ancestors performed.

Weaknesses

• Computer viruses: Since Querl is an A.I., he can be subjected to computer viruses.
• Ophidiophobia: Querl is deeply afraid of snakes. Hence, he had difficulty confronting Pamela Ferrer due to her serpent-like symbiote.
• Emotional state: Querl could be rendered unable to use his advanced intellect when disrupted by current emotional stress; for example, the experience of being prejudiced by his former friend at a pizza shop prevented Querl from completely focusing on a mission to help Kara escape from the Children of Liberty at L-Corp. After having his mind rebooted; Querl has lost all of his emotions. After seeing Nia Nal in mortal danger, his emotions returned and he went back to normal.
• Extreme electrocution: Being electrocuted by extremely high voltage caused Querl's mind to reboot, stripping him from all emotions. In addition, it caused a green substance to come from his mouth (likely some kind of bloodlike interval fluid).
• Personality inhibitors: While Querl was wearing his inhibitors, he was unable to connect to the big brain and also somewhat emotionally deficient, therefore; couldn't use his powers to the fullest.

Equipment

Original multiverse

• Personality inhibitors: Querl use to wear personality inhibitors his father gave him when he was little So he wouldn’t become cruel and ruthless like his ancestors. After talking with his doppelgängers Querl took them off and no longer uses them.
• Legion suit: Querl wore a protective suit during battle.
• Legion ring: Querl's legion ring allows him to fly , communicate with other legion member who has a ring, oxygen independency, and, under specific circumstances, travel through time.  
• Image inducer: Querl uses an inducer to make himself look like a normal human; when he goes out in public. It also allows him to take on the appearance of others such as Ben Lockwood.

New multiverse

• Brainiac 5 suit: Since reconnecting to the big brain, Querl has undergone a transformation that in result gave him a new protective suit.
• Legion ring: Querl's legion ring allows him to fly, communicate with other legion members who has a ring, oxygen independency, and, under specific circumstances, travel through time.  
• Image inducer: Querl uses an inducer to make himself look like a normal human; when he goes out in public. It also allows him to take on the appearance of others such as Ben Lockwood.

Former equipments

• Legion suit: Querl wore a protective suit during battle. Since his transformation Querl doesn't use his legion suit anymore.
• Personality inhibitors: Querl use to wear personality inhibitors his father gave him when he was little so he wouldn’t become as cruel and ruthless like his ancestors. After talking with his doppelgängers Querl took them off and no longer uses them.

Appearances

Supergirl

Season 3 "Wake Up" (mentioned) "Legion of Super-Heroes" "Fort Rozz" "For Good" (mentioned) "Both Sides Now" (mentioned) "Schott Through the Heart" (mentioned) "In Search of Lost Time" (mentioned) "Of Two Minds" "Trinity" "Shelter from the Storm" "Dark Side of the Moon" (mentioned) "Make it Reign" (mentioned) "Battles Lost and Won" Season 4 "American Alien" "Fallout" "Man of Steel" "Ahimsa" "Parasite Lost" "Call to Action" "Rather the Fallen Angel" "Bunker Hill" "Elseworlds, Part 3" "Suspicious Minds" "Blood Memory" "Menagerie" "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?" "Stand and Deliver" "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" "All About Eve" "Crime and Punishment" "American Dreamer" "Will The Real Miss Tessmacher Please Stand Up?" "Red Dawn" "The Quest for Peace" Season 5 "Event Horizon" "Stranger Beside Me" "Blurred Lines" "In Plain Sight" "Dangerous Liaisons" "Confidence Women" "Tremors" "The Wrath of Rama Khan" "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One" "The Bottle Episode" "Back From the Future - Part One" "Back From the Future - Part Two" "It's a Super Life" "The Bodyguard" "Reality Bytes" "Alex in Wonderland" "Deus Lex Machina" "The Missing Link" "Immortal Kombat"

The Flash

Season 6

• "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three" (mentioned)

Trivia

• Indigo is also Coluan, and a descendant from the "Brainiac clan", originally called Brainiac 8. However, there is no confirmation of what the lineage connection between Brainiac 5 and Indigo is. However, it is likely that Indigo is one of his ancestors, due to Brainy being from the future and also part of the "Brainiac clan".
• Brainy uses the alias "Barney Fife" when purchasing coffee and pizza.
• His favorite pizza is apples and olives.
• Brainy has ophidiophobia, a fear of snakes. This was showed in the episode “Menagerie”
• According to Brainy, he's had "romantic" experiences in his life, but Nia Nal was the first person whom he ever loved.
• Brainy knows a descendant of Nia Nal called Nura Nal.

Behind the scenes

• In the DC comics, Brainiac 5 is a descendant of the well-known enemy of Superman, Brainiac, a prominent member of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
  • In the Pre-52 comics, Brainiac 5 was the longest romantic partner of Kara Zor-El, as they both were members of The Legion.
• Brainy has the most appearances out of all The Legion members.

References

Other versions of Querl Dox
To see other versions of this character, click the Earth name below for that Earth's counterpart of Querl Dox.
New multiverse
Earth: Prime • Obsidian Platinum
Original multiverse
Earth: 38 • TUD15 • TUD16 • TUD17 • TUD18
Transmultiversal multiverse
Earth: