So I was browsing through this big book on the Hulk yesterday while I was in Barnes and Noble, and noticed that Bruce Banner is described as being so intelligent that normal IQ tests couldn’t measure his intellect.
“I wonder if he’s the most intelligent guy in the Marvel Universe?” I asked myself. “But no . . . Mr. Fantastic’s gotta be even smarter, right?”
Given the sheer variety of crap he’s invented, I’d guess that Reed Richards is the smartest mortal in Marvel U. Of course, Victor von Doom might object to that, and he may have a point. But Banner’s also gotta be up there. Who else is could make a legitimate claim to the title: Professor X? The Mad Thinker? Dr. Strange? Peter Parker – so smart, but he just doesn’t apply himself?
I’m throwing the question open to the SDMB: who’s the smartest person in the Marvel Universe? For purposes of the thread, I want people who are naturally smart, not super-smart because of mutant powers or magic. The definition of smart is open to debate, although I’d certainly say it’s different than wisdom (Odin) or street smarts (another battle in which Ben Grimm could wipe the floor with Stretcho).
And, of course, the corollary question: who’s the smartest person in the DC universe? I know far less about DC characters, so I don’t have a good candidate here. I’m just gonna guess that it wouldn’t be Batman – although given 24 hours to prepare, I’m sure he could wipe the floor with any IQ test.
Well, if you want to think weirdly Prof.X qualifies. Since he can read anyones mind he pretty much has limitless access to the smartest brains on the planet. So he just has to take control of someone smarter or more experienced and find out what they’d do.
So lets say the good Prof. is faced with the question of 3 words that end in -gry. He doesn’t know the answer so he goes within 200km of Cecil, takes over (if its possible to take control of Cecil) and finds out the answer. Bada bing bada boom.
I’ll say Dr. Doom. Not only does his knowledge of technology rival that of Reed Richards,
In the latest issue of Fantstic Four, we learn that while Doom was able to become one of the most powerful sorcerers on earth, Reed can’t comprehend magic in the slightest.
Not so sure about the DCU. I’d say Mr. Terrific ranks pretty high up there, though.
No doubt Cecil would, upon sensing the telepathic probe, instantly comprehend the Professor’s frustrating situation, and provide the required data without the need for any “taking over”. It’s Cecil’s chosen quest, to spread knowledge.
Spider-Man, in spite of the web-shooters, is not really a top scientific mind. He’s more like MacGyver… using a broad general scientific background in on-the-spot improvisations.
Considering the number of shots to the head he’s taken from people much more powerful than he is, it’s amazing he doesn’t talk like Rocky Balboa.
For DC:
inventors: Luthor, Batman, Ted Kord, John Henry Irons, Dr. Hamilton
planners/strategists: Luthor, Batman, J’Onn
scientists: Barry Allen, Batman, Luthor, Dr. Hamilton, Ray Palmer
Batman and Luthor get credit for being able to do practically anything. And, yes, I still cling to the characterization of Luthor as a genius, not merely a ruthless businessman.
In addition to those named above, Hank McCoy (Beast) is smart, but I’m not sure he’d rate at the level of Reed Richards or Anthony Stark. Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat) is supposed to be a genius, but she doesn’t come across as one most of the time.
If we’re just going by IQs, I’ll say Brainiac and his whole family must rank pretty far up there if not the absolute top, in the DCU. But I’m biased. Of course that’s just IQ, and for practical applications I’d lean closer towards Batman.
This aspect of their characters is almost never explored – but Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Black Adam, etc. should be among the most intelligent seeing as how they’re all blessed by goddesses/gods of wisdom.
The Marvel character with the biggest brain is obviously the Leader. How smart he is, though, is a matter of debate, since the Hulk seems able to outwit him.
Forge (excluded due to mutant power) has the ability to create almost any type of machine and instantly understand new technology presented to him, including alien. And he has a minor magical ability. Not quite Doctor Doom level brain, but still rather formidable.
Well in the Marvel Universe it is Clearly Reed Richards and Victor VonDoom struggling for the number 1 spot. But, the also rans are kind of interesting;
High Evolutionary
Tony Stark – who has close to as many patents as Reed and some stuff he’s just not sharing.
Hank Pym
Magneto - I wonder about this - he’s created a lot of stuff, but still Xavier outclasses him.
Prof. X – Along with his mutant mind powers he’s just staggeringly smart. One wonders what he could do if he weren’t always saving the planet and sending mutants to their rooms.
Leader – I agree, he’s supposed to be the menal opposite of Hulk – but you can’t prove it by his track record.
Bruce Banner – They continually tell you how smart he is and i seem to remember Richards being impressed with how quickly he grasped and applied some concepts, but I don’t htink they’ve really managed to portray him as in that class.
Whenever Reed Richards is presented as someone who is so smart he can pilot even alien spacecraft meaning by looking at their controls, all I can is - there goes a man who has never tried to run anything made by Microsoft.
Brainiac 5.1 of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Not only does he had a “12th level intelligence,” but he has 1,000 years of human knowledge that super-heroes in the present do not.
Invisible Kid is also top notch, and the old Dream Girl was pretty bright.
My original question was focused on non-mutated or otherwise super-brain-powered human beings (or mortals, anyway – Supes is eligible, technically), although it’s interesting to compare the top human capabilities with what’s available to augmented or artificial beings.
I’d forgotten how smart Tony Stark was – I was never an Iron Man guy, though, so I’m not familiar with the range of his work.
There’s probably a master’s thesis lurking about in this observation, especially when you realize how many more DC heroes are capable of flight.
What about Dr. Strange? He was an MD before becoming Sorcerer Supreme – that’s brains, right? Even if he’s not a tech geek.
And, I know he’s an artificial life form, but is Vision super intelligent as well?
And Vlad Dracul brings up an excellent category: who are the brilliant strategists of the Marvel Universe? Captain America?
Nick Fury might be up there as one of the top Marvel Strategists, probably Doc Doom too, athough I don’t know too much about either.
In specific fields, the New Mutant Cypher was able to translate languages intuitively and was apparently a genius at computer programming. But he’s dead. So he’s suddenly not so smart.
He simply does not wish to show off since merely making that accursed Richards feel inadequate isn’t as satisfying as crushing him entirely.
More seriously I’ve always been under the impression that Doom and Richards are dead even for the title of “smartest guy in the Marvel Universe”. Where Reed is weak Victor has it down pat and vice versa.
