If he’s a supergenius, then so is Amy Farrah Fowler.
Isaac Asimov wrote a number of them, but I’d single out Levular Mandamus:
[spoiler]Asimov wanted to link his ROBOTS books to his EMPIRE books; but how did folks with supereffective Three-Laws-compliant robots working in their best interests produce a future where Earth is a radioactive wasteland?
So as a mandated plot device in ROBOTS AND EMPIRE, enter Mandamus: a robotics expert gunning to be Head of the prominent Robotics Institute. But how can he stand out, given all the other folks who want that post?
Well, he’s run a computer simulation that’s apparently more elaborate and meticulous than anyone has ever managed, and it’s allowed him to reach a conclusion about physics and biology and chemistry that has apparently eluded all of the experts in those fields; and, with his knowledge of history, he’s come up with a plan to make the Earth a radioactive wasteland by assembling his invention at what’s maybe the one spot that doesn’t show up on maps in the future.
Two robots arrive in the nick of time, easily incapacitating the raygun-toting guy with Mandamus (because, again, supereffective and Three-Laws-compliant). But given their programming, Mandamus promptly says all the right things to talk them into not stopping him (because, again, as groundbreaking as he is in other fields, his specialty is ‘robotics expert’).
Honestly, that’s kind of messed up.[/spoiler]
Fair enough. Dr. Hathaway did hire him, after all.
Asimov is fond of the plot line where character A has the drop on character B, but character B manages to convince A that allowing B’s plot to continue is actually in A’s benefit (“Waterclap” is another example).
That “one spot that doesn’t show on maps” turned out to be overtaken by events, didn’t it?
Stewie Griffin.
Professor O. G. Wotasnozzle.
A good short story that I’ve been trying to remember (and just googled up) is Understand by Ted Chiang. Also, Maddie from the enjoyable YA novel Mad Skills.
One of my favorite movies of the new century.
And so humble, too!: http://youbentmywookie.com/wookie/gallery/0710_wtf/wile_businesscard.jpg
Agreed, although Jeremy Brett remains my favorite Holmes.
Oh, definitely. Not every day you find a brain surgeon, rocket scientist and rock star all in one.
Yes! The best thing about that story is how far you get into it before realizing
it’s a supervillain origin story.
Harold Finch, from Person of Interest. Credit to the writers, of course; but extra-credit to Michael Emerson for pulling it off, and making him a very human, relatable person, to boot.
Oh, yeah; “Understand” was great. I think the main character’s name was “Greco”
Yep, just checked–Leon Greco.
Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards)
Moon Girl (Lunella Lafeyette)
The Unstoppable Wasp (Nadia Pym)
The original Ant Man (Henry Pym) and the current comic book Ant Man (Scott Lang)
Bruce Banner
Lex Luthor
Dr. Tenma, creator of Astro Boy.
There is also John Travolta in Phenomenonon, Jack O’Neill in one episode of Stargate SG1 (and Daniel Jackson in another, but It Was All A Dream), Reginald Barkley in one episode of *STTNG, *and George Costanza in one episode of *Seinfeld. *
I assure you all, I am not fictional.
How about Takeshi Kisaragi, creator of Cutie Honey?
Frankenstein, creator of the monster.
I think it might depend on the telling, but Faust. (In some stories he’s seeking to become a supergenius with great knowledge and magical powers, in others he more just has the ability to ask the Devil to do things for him that let him practice debauchery. Varies.)
Spock, son of Sarek and Amanda.
Exapno Mapcase mentioned Poul Anderson’s Brain Wave.
I would submit Captain Sir Dominic Flandry might be considered a super-genius.
Urkel
The Phantom of the Opera had to be a supergenius to do all he did.