Brain Drain (character)

Brain Drain (Werner Schmidt) is a fictional character who first appeared in American comic books published by Marvel Comics in 1975 as a villain, but later becoming an ally of Squirrel Girl.

Brain Drain
Brain Drain as depicted in The Invaders #2 (Oct. 1975). Art by Frank Robbins.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	First mentioned: Giant-Size Invaders #1 (June 1975) Full appearance: Invaders #2 (Oct. 1975)
Created by	Roy Thomas Frank Robbins
In-story information
Alter ego	Werner Schmidt
Team affiliations	Omega Flight
Notable aliases	Brian Drayne
Abilities	Brilliant scientist Mind control Robot body

Publication history

Brain Drain first appears in The Invaders #2 (Oct. 1975) and was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Frank Robbins.

Fictional character biography

Werner Schmidt is a Nazi scientist whose crew was killed in the crash of the Tekeli-Li spaceship. Its alien passengers rescue him and transplant his brain into a robotic body with mind-control abilities. Schmidt dubs himself "Brain Drain", takes control of the aliens - which he calls "Star Gods" - and renames them after German gods Donar, Log, Froh, and Brunnhilde. After being freed from Brain Drain's control, the aliens commit suicide by jumping into a vat of chemicals.^[1][2][3]

In Alpha Flight, Brain Drain allies with the Master, an enemy of the superhero team Alpha Flight. Joining the Master's team Omega Flight in a new robot body, Brain Drain and other villains battle the heroes on several occasions, before finally being defeated.^[4][5]

Brain Drain returns as an antagonist in The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, but is quickly defeated due to his outdated technology and design flaws. After Squirrel Girl upgrades him, he reforms and becomes a student at Empire State University.^[6]

During the "One World Under Doom" storyline, Brain Drain is among the heroes who help Doctor Doom fight Dormammu.^[7]

Powers and abilities

Werner Schmidt was a brilliant scientist. After his brain was transplanted into a robot body by aliens, Brain Drain gained the power of mind control.

In other media

Brain Drain appears in Marvel’s Squirrel Girl: The Unbeatable Radio Show, voiced by Peter Hermann.^[8]