Who the Clix? is a series of articles featuring information on comic book characters that have been made into figures for the popular tabletop game Heroclix. These articles are meant to help Heroclix players learn more about the characters behind their favorite pieces.

Today we look at one of the weirdest power couples in the DC universe: Monsieur Mallah and the Brain

Appearances in Heroclix: World’s Finest. Collateral Damage

First Comic Appearance: Doom Patrol #86

Team Affiliations: Brotherhood of Evil, Injustice League

Created By: Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani

A scientist raises the intelligence of a captured gorilla to the genius-level IQ of 178. The scientist names the gorilla Monsieur Mallah and educates him for a decade before appointing him as his personal assistant. The scientist’s colleague, Niles Caulder, grows jealous of his work and arranges for a terrible accident that destroys the scientist’s body and leaves only his brain behind. Caulder plans on putting the brain in a robot body.

Mallah rescues his mentor and transfers its brain to a computer network that keeps it functioning. The scientist now identifies only as the Brain and, alongside Mallah, form the Brotherhood of Evil in hopes of conquering the world and gaining revenge on Caulder. This is complicated when Caulder manufactures a number of accidents that allow him to form a team of misfits known as the Doom Patrol. Monsieur Mallah and the Brain battle against the Doom Patrol and Teen Titans several times.

Mallah later gains one of Robotman’s bodies and places the Brain in it. Once there, the Brain confesses he loves Mallah. Mallah reveals he feels the same and as they kiss the body, which has gained sentience, explodes in a self-destruct. Mallah and the Brain later resurface, with the Brain in his usual container, some time later.

The Brotherhood begin raiding genetic research facilities so that Mallah and the Brain can create a new body for the Brain. They ultimately succeed in this, achieving their “happily ever after.” Soon, however, this body begins to break down and so Mallah rips off its head and places the brain in a new container.

The Brain and Mallah are later sent to Cygnus 4019 with several other villains. They arrive at the Joker’s camp and Mallah attempts to forge an alliance with Gorilla Grodd. Grodd mocks him and the two battle with Grodd gaining the upper hand. The Brain pleads for Mallah’s life which only leads to Grodd using the brain and his container to beat both villains to death.

New 52

The Brain and Monsieur Mallah assist Gorilla Grodd in taking over what remains of Central City after the Black takes over most of the world. They capture Animal Man and his friends. Frankenstein and his Patchwork Army later arrive to defeat the gorillas and saves Animal Man’s group.

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