Brain Drain (character)

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

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.

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Brain Drain returns as an antagonist in The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl , but is quickly defeated due to his outdated technology and design flaws.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]

References

1. The Invaders # 1-2 (Aug.&Oct. 1975)
2. Marvel Premiere #30 (June 1976)
3. Marvel Two-in-One Annual #1 (Jan. 1976) & Marvel Two-In-One #20 (Oct. 1976)
4. Alpha Flight #108 (May 1992); #110 - 112 (July-Sep. 1992) & #129 - 130 (Feb.-March 1994)
5. Miss America Comics 70th Anniversary Special (Aug. 2009)
6. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl vol. 2 #1 (Dec. 2015)
7. One World Under Doom #5 (June 2025)
8. Fisher, Jessica (April 19, 2022). "Trailer and Poster for Marvel's Newly Launched SQUIRREL GIRL Podcast Series". GeekTyrant.

External links

• Brain Drain at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
• AlphaFlight.Net Alphanex Entry on - Brain Drain