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Manhunter Special 1 (1984) by Archie Goodwin & Walter Simonson

Cover: Walter Simonson

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All-Star Comics 1 (1940) by Joe Kubert

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DC Special Series 27 (1981) by Len Wein & José Luis García-López

Cover: José Luis García-López

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From Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 46 (1993) by Doug Moench & Russ Heath

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Legion of Super-Heroes 293 (1982) by Paul Levitz & Keith Giffen

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Batman, Spectre, Green Arrow, Deadman poster (1974) by Neal Adams

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History of the DC Universe by Alex Ross

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Superman 167 (1964) by Cary Bates, Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan & George Klein

“In the mid-50s, Edmund Berkeley developed an educational toy that was advertised as a “computer,” while essentially a rotary switch construction set. It was called Geniac, which stood for “Genius Almost-Automatic Computer.“  

The toy was highly praised at the time, but was not a huge seller, so a little while later, Berkeley debuted a new, simpler version of the toy called “Brainaic,” which stood for “Brain-Imitating Almost-Automatic Computer.”  

Soon after this, Brainiac debuted in Action Comics #242 (by Otto Binder and Al Plastino)

Three years later, Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney introduced Brainiac’s descendent, Brainiac-Five, who was a HERO!

However, the owner of the Brainiac then threatened to sue DC over the trademark. Not that DC stole it from him, but rather that their use of the term was interfering with his ability to sell his product. So they cut a deal together. DC would help promote the Brainiac in their comics and he would not pursue the legal claim.

Part of the deal was to lean into the confusion and make Brainiac literally a computer! It occurred in 1964’s Superman #167 ( by Cary Bates, Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan & George Klein ).

Hamilton even made sure to explain away the Brainiac-Five confusion.

By the way, a young Cary Bates sent in the idea for the cover of Superman #167 (with Luthor and Brainiac teamed up against a shrunken Superman), so he sort of kind of co-plotted the issue, in a manner of speaking.“

Source

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From History of the DC Universe 2 (1987) by Marv Wolfman & George Pérez

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Retro Batman v Superman by Gaz Williams

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Batman - One Bad Day: Ra’s Al Ghul 1 (2023) by Tom Taylor & Ivan Reis

Cover: Ivan Reis

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Action Comics 1050 (2022) by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Tom Taylor, Joshua Williamson, Mike Perkins, Clayton Henry, Nick Dragotta & Steve Beach

Cover: Steve Beach

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Action Comics 1047 (2022) by Phillip Kennedy Johnson & Riccardo Federici

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Flashpoint: Abin Sur - The Green Lantern #2 (2011) by Felipe Massafera

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Sinestro by Felipe Massafera

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Detective Comics 603 (1989) by Norm Breyfogle

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Titans 24 (2010) by Fabrisio Fiorentino