After a year of anticipation, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League got a new trailer at DC FanDome 2021. Fans got to see more of the misfit team they'll be running through Metropolis with, as well as some story details. This included background on how the squad was brought together, and which other members of the Justice League fans can expect to see. There wasn't any gameplay, but at this point any news is better than no news for those looking forward to Rocksteady's next DC project.
While this newest presentation for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League answered a handful of questions, it left out one bit of information that many were hoping to learn more about. When Suicide Squad was revealed at last year's FanDome, it was made almost undeniably clear from the start that Brainiac would be the game's main antagonist. While it made sense to focus more on the Suicide Squad itself for the initial teaser, it seems like an odd choice to still omit Brainiac after the game was left dormant for so long. As one of DC's most dangerous villains, Brainiac is a threat that deserves proper recognition.
Brainiac Explained
DC has arguably more memorable villains than heroes, and Brainiac ranks high among them. He's taken many forms throughout the years, but the core of his character is as an extraterrestrial android with an incredible intellect. Brainiac is capable of understanding all sciences and mathematics, and his mental capacity is so great that he can control the minds of others. He also has the advantage of creating futuristic technologies, including shrink rays and force fields.
Brainiac is often associated with Superman considering his alien nature and immense power, and in many comics he's responsible for shrinking and stealing the Kryptonian capital of Kandor. In recent years however, Brainiac has evolved into a threat fit for the whole Justice League. Similar to Darkseid, Brainiac has found himself in a league of villains that come around rarely, but make a big impact whenever they do appear. That impact looks like it's going to be felt in a huge way in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
What Brainiac Can Bring To Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Brainiac's threat to Metropolis in Suicide Squad is that he appears to have taken control of core members of the Justice League. Superman, the Flash, and Green Lantern were all shown to be under the influence of Brainiac in the recent Kill the Justice League trailer, and just those three are world-ending threats on their own. There is some question about whether or not Wonder Woman is controlled by Brainiac, but between the League and his minions, Brainiac has stacked the odds heavily against the Suicide Squad.
Now that fans have gotten a better look at how Brainiac has taken control of the Justice League, it's a matter of figuring out how his plan will play out in Suicide Squad. Given his track record, it's likely Brainiac is looking to shrink Metropolis and add it to his collection of intergalactic cities. When it comes to the final confrontation with Brainiac, the squad will probably have to use some unconventional means to reach him. This should make for some great action from each member of the team, and turn taking on one of DC's biggest villains into a good time.
Why Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Might Be Hiding Brainiac
With how much potential Brainiac has already shown as the villain for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, it's strange that he hasn't made any official appearance thus far. It's not like most fans are still scratching their heads about who the main antagonist will be, considering Brainiac's massive Skull Ship was the first visual in the game's initial teaser. Superman's glowing eyes are also indicative of Brainiac's mind control. Rocksteady appears to be purposefully holding off on a reveal, and it's either a good sign or a bad one.
Looking on the optimistic side of things, Rocksteady might not be ready to show Brainiac because it wants to wait for a better opportunity, like in a gameplay trailer. It isn't often that such a huge DC villain appears in a AAA game like Suicide Squad, and a reveal befitting the character would likely please more fans. On the other hand, the hesitance to show Brainiac might be an indication of development troubles. Suicide Squad could be in similar company to Gotham Knights with regards to delays, but they haven't been as public because of Suicide Squad's later release. If that's the case, Rocksteady could be trying to temper expectations in the event of any unforeseen delays.
Even though Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League hasn't fully shown its true threat, the game's most recent update was promising. The appearance of Amanda Waller and the Penguin have fleshed out a decent portion of Suicide Squad's story, and getting to see more of the Justice League expanded the scope of the game's threats. It's encouraging to see that the game is still set for its scheduled 2022 release, so hopefully Rocksteady will be willing to show off Brainiac sooner rather than later.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is scheduled to release in 2022 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.