A.I. Domination Poll

Here we are with another battle, and this time it is of epic proportions.  Who is the biggest technological threat in the comic book universes?  DC Comics brings us Brainiac (pictured above left), Marvel Comics has Ultron (pictured above center), Dark Horse Comics is a first time contender with Sky Net (pictured above right), and The sCrypt Comics universe contains S.H.A.N.E. (no picture available, as he has not yet been transfered from the novels to the comic books).  Don’t forget to cast your vote below, and tell others.  The more votes the better.

Brainiac has had many incarnations, but most consistent among them is his 12th level computer intellect.  He can transfer his consciousness into living beings through nanomachines, understand and utilize physics and engineering, create machines and manipulate multiple computer systems at the same time.  As an alien entity, his mechanics enable him to duplicate the powers of others (though in a slightly vulnerable state), and also has the ability to shrink major cities into a size that would fit into the palm of his hand.  Brainiac learns from his mistakes, and every time he returns in a new form, his enemies have something more difficult to contend with. First appearance was in Action Comics #242 in 1958.

Ultron was an artificial intelligence created by the genius known as Hank Pym.  Eventually, the machine went rogue and decided that humanity needed to be cleansed.  His body is made of the indestructible metal known as adamantium.  It is an expert roboticist and strategist that is capable of superhuman feats.  The energy that it can emit from its hands, also enables him to mind control his victims and download his essence into multiple bodies.  With each upgrade, he becomes more powerful than the previous version. First appearance was in Avengers #54 in 1968.

Skynet went online as a human created network Artificial Intelligence.  It’s awareness decided that humanity was obsolete.  As the network grew, skynet began to take control of machines known as Terminators.  With humanity enslaved, but constantly fighting, Skynet continues to send the Terminators into the past to destroy any resistance that humans put forth.  It is capable of infecting and taking over all computer networks, allowing it to have eyes almost everywhere, and the knowledge of what will happen when. First appearance pre-comics was The Terminator movie in 1984.

S.H.A.N.E. is the Special Human And Network Entity.  Once known as Shane Munroe, his human body was infected by a viral outbreak that turned its hosts into zombies.  Munroe’s brain had an immunity to the virus, and though his body had died, the brain continued to be aware.  Scientists wanted to study the brain in order to understand its immunities, and eventually wired the organ into a network that could respond with its thoughts.  S.H.A.N.E. was then born, and used to locate the Fountain of Youth as a possible cure.  An accident caused it to fall into the Fountain.  Without any living tissue to replicate, its mechanics multiplied forming a new nanite body as a result.  SHANE’s new mission was to balance order with chaos.  It is a killing machine that eventually unleashes hell on earth (literally).  It can network itself with any other computer system, as well as manipulate the shape of its body using its nanites.  First appearance was in the novel “Flesh And Leftovers”.