Brainiac 8

Brainiac 8 (also called Indigo) is a fictional superheroine in the DC Comics Universe, who is later revealed to be a supervillain.

Publication history

Brainiac 8 first appeared in Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1 and was created by Judd Winick and Alé Garza.

Fictional character biography

Indigo is a gynoid and a member of the Outsiders. Born in a distant future era, she comes to the 21st century badly damaged, and desperately looking for a cybernetic or mechanical organism capable of repairing her. In the process, she tries to install her self-repairing routines into the Metal Men, but they are incapable of assisting her in maintenance. Then she turns to Cyborg, but in the process, she damages him.

Attacked by the combined forces of Young Justice and the Titans, she retreats, switching into an offensive mode. Although the combined forces of the young superheroes best her, adding further damage, she is able to activate a dormant Superman robot before shutting down for repairs. Yet when the android comes after the young heroes (killing Lilith Clay and Donna Troy), Red Arrow (then going by the name "Arsenal") briefly reactivates the young female droid and sends her to stop the Superman Android before shutting down again.

When Red Arrow (still calling himself Arsenal at the time) reforms the Outsiders, he claims the female droid, now called Indigo, as a teammate.

Her memory was supposedly damaged in the aftermath of her dramatic appearance; any remainder was wiped out by S.T.A.R. Labs. Indigo displays a very naive personality, guilelessly taking pleasure in the simple things in life, like doing laundry for friends, bowling, and silent movies. She often struggles to learn how to behave in society, and takes her cues from those she lives with. As she grows more integrated in her quest to earn the acceptance and forgiveness of Nightwing and her teammates, she even manages to find love with Shift.

It was revealed in Teen Titans (vol. 3) #24 that Indigo is actually Brainiac 8, and every bit the ruthless, inhuman villain that previous Brainiacs were. Indigo as the Outsiders knew her is essentially a subprogram, designed by Brainiac 8's "grandfather", Brainiac 6, to endear her to the superhero community.

Brainiac 8 had been sent back in time to kill Donna Troy, because a living Donna would negate Coluan domination over the "organics" after the Infinite Crisis events. After a beating by the combined forces of Teen Titans and Outsiders, in Outsiders (vol. 3) #25, the Indigo persona wrests control from Brainiac 8, and reveals herself to be a genuine personality. Weeping, she begs Shift to kill her before the Brainac 8 persona could harm the people she loves. Shift, in tears, transforms her molecular structure into flesh, killing her in the process.

The Origins and Omens back-up story in Titans #10 indicated that Indigo might soon return, but writer Judd Winick left the book before this plot thread could be followed up on.

Indigo eventually returns in Teen Titans (vol. 3) #98 as part of Superboy-Prime's Legion of Doom. She now sports a cybernetic arm and eye, the origins of which are unexplained. During Teen Titans (vol. 3) #100, Indigo is once again destroyed after Red Robin and Robin decapitate her.

Powers and abilities

A unique inorganic being, Indigo possesses an analytical computer mind, can fly, and can project force fields and energy blasts from her eyes and hands. She is also able to interact with and control machines and robots.

Other characters with the name Indigo

• Indigo was also the name of a character in DP 7, one of the titles of Marvel Comics' short-lived New Universe imprint.
• Indigo was another name used by the DC superhero Deep Blue.
• Indigo was also the name of a member of Sovereign Seven.
• Indigo-1 was also the name of the leader of the Indigo Tribe in The Blackest Night crossover event in 2009. She and her tribe derived their power from compassion.

In other media

• Indigo appears in Supergirl, portrayed by Laura Vandervoort (who portrayed Supergirl on the TV show Smallville).^[1] She debuts in the episode "Solitude". It is mentioned that she had previously used the names Brainiac-8 and is a Coluan. Indigo initially appears as a blonde human on video monitors, eventually crossing paths with Supergirl. Indigo hacks a secret military base as well as teaming up with Supergirl's uncle and nemesis Non. She reveals to Supergirl as she dies that she was the reason Fort Rozz and Supergirl escaped the Phantom Zone. Her plan is to destroy National City with a nuclear weapon, but she is killed by Winn Schott, Jr. when he downloads a virus into her but Non reanimates her. Indigo reappears in "Myriad", now working with Non conducting Project Myriad. In the episode Better Angels, she and Non try to kill all of the people in National City using Myriad. Indigo is killed by the Martian Manhunter when he splits her body in half. Before she dies, she reveals that she has locked the system to deactivate Myriad, so Kara and J'onn will have no choice but to watch everyone on Earth die. Indigo is ultimately defeated in death when Supergirl saves the world by flying Fort Rozz into space, just before Alex brings her back to Earth.^[2]

References

External links

• Indigo at DC Cosmic Teams: frequently updated biographical information, spoilers.
• Indigo at Titans Tower: Short biographical information and two images.