Before we can answer this question, let’s first structure how we define “intelligence” by borrowing Dr. Robert Sternberg’s three-part theory of  intelligence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob…), which is comprehensive but also simple enough to understand. Under this definition, there are 3 types of intelligence to consider and therefore 3 potential award categories for the title of “most intelligent being in the DC Universe.”

1. Analytical intelligence: In layman’s terms, “book smarts” or the ability to solve well-defined problems with a single correct answer. This intelligence type is essentially a measure of pure computational horsepower and therefore, the winner of this category would inevitably be Brainiac 13, who is gifted with a twelfth-level Coluan intelligence, the highest level attainable (each level signifies an increase in processing capacity by a power of 10, average human = level 1), while also possessing the ability to “infect” and control any kind of machinery akin to a computer virus — giving him virtually unlimited processing power. It’s worth noting that his gifts are the result of a genetic mutation unique to the Dox family of Colu, which is inextricably linked to a predisposition towards insanity.

2. Creative/synthetic intelligence: The ability to synthesize new answers to unusual problems from existing knowledge — thinking “outside of the box.” Creative intelligence is known among academics to be notoriously difficult to measure, so for simplicity’s sake, I  propose a simple qualitative question we can pose to identify the most creative being in the DC Universe: Assuming that every being is equipped with the same knowledge base, who would produce the most useful, original, and refined solutions to a given problem?

In my view, the answer is Ray Palmer, aka The Atom. As a world-renowned physicist, Dr. Palmer invents a matter-compression technology that allows him to shrink to subatomic size while maintaining his mass, which points to a far-above-average level of analytical intelligence. However, the key here is that he finds a near-limitless number of applications for this one ability of his. Those applications include: gliding on air currents to simulate flight, riding on phone signals for handset-enabled transportation, shrinking into Superman’s bloodstream and rearranging atoms to recreate Kryptonite (instant KO). There’s certainly room for argument, given that any DC character’s creativity will always be correlated with the creativity and effort of the given DC writer, but based on The Atom’s historical exploits, he’s in a class of his own.

3. Practical intelligence: Also known as “street smarts,”  this type of intelligence is somewhat similar to creative intelligence in that the problems are loosely defined — in the case of practical intelligence, the problem is the situation at hand, whatever it may be. The distinction here is the ability to execute the most effective and efficient solution possible, rather than to imagine a great number of possible answers. It’s in this category that some of our most revered heroes and villains are most dominant, namely Batman and Lex Luthor. These two characters reign supreme when it comes to combat tactics and strategy, as well as an uncanny knack for producing enormous amounts of wealth in their spare time. While both are blessed with above-average human intelligence, they stand out based on their ability to master any situation, usually against staggering odds — Lex Luthor in his undying mission to kill Superman and Batman in his cosmic-level exploits as a non-powered member of the Justice League. There will always be other contenders for the title of “most street-smart being in the DC Universe,” as characters find their way out of increasingly impossible situations, but I have to say that the only person capable of holding it is Batman because of his well-documented ability to win. The writers of the DC Universe will break most rules, laws of physics being foremost among those, but there’s one rule they’ll never break: Batman always wins.

Hope this clears things up.

Who is the most intellgent being in the DC Universe?