BRAIN GREMLIN
Brain Gremlin (also known as Mr. Glasses or The Brain) is a primary antagonist in Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990). After consuming an experimental Brain Hormone in Clamp Tower's genetics lab, he mutates from a chaotic monster into an articulate, highly intelligent leader who speaks refined English. Voiced by Tony Randall with physical design by Rick Baker, he stands out as the sophisticated spokesman seeking to civilize the Gremlin horde.
Cronologia
Biografia
Brain Gremlin originally begins his life as an ordinary brown Gremlin, spawned from one of the secondary Gremlins such as Lenny, Daffy, or George inside Clamp Tower. Upon breaking into the Splice O' Life genetics laboratory, he ingests a potion known as the Brain Hormone, developed by Dr. Cushing Catheter.
The serum causes a rapid transformation that dramatically elevates his intellect, bestows fluent speech with a transatlantic accent, and alters his mindset. Unlike his wildly destructive counterparts, Brain Gremlin becomes fascinated by human culture, diplomacy, politics, and etiquette.
He views the Gremlins' chaotic behavior not as pure evil, but as mere stumbling along their path toward civilization. Functioning as the articulate spokesperson and ideological leader of the horde, he outlines their goals during a live televised interview with host Grandpa Fred, though his lethal and mischievous nature remains intact—demonstrated when he casually shoots a fellow Gremlin on live television for annoying him.
Storia
Brain Gremlin's origins are directly tied to the bio-engineering experiments conducted at the Splice O' Life lab inside Clamp Tower in New York City.
Notably, he is the first leader of a Gremlin horde in the film series who was not spawned directly from Gizmo, but rather from one of the other secondary Gremlins. Immediately after drinking Dr.
Catheter's Brain Hormone, his expanded intellect allows him to analyze his surroundings, discuss scientific topics like atavism, and evaluate the Chiroptera order (bats). Recognizing the threat that sunlight poses to his species, he discovers a beaker of genetic sunblock in the lab. He injects this serum into the Bat Gremlin, granting it immunity to sunlight and sending it out into New York City to scout ahead for the horde.
I PEZZI DI BRAIN GREMLIN
Poteri & Abilità
* **Hyper-Intelligence & Advanced Articulation**: Gained after consuming Dr. Cushing Catheter's Brain Hormone, granting him human-level speech, an extensive vocabulary, and comprehension of complex subjects like genetics and philosophy. * **Cultural Understanding & Manipulation**: Possesses deep knowledge of human society, politics, manners, and media, enabling him to navigate TV broadcasts and articulate his species' goals.
* **Leadership & Command**: Serves as the de facto spokesman and tactical organizer for the Gremlin horde inside Clamp Tower. * **Handgun Proficiency**: Capably wields a firearm, using it to execute a fellow Gremlin during a live television interview. * **Scientific & Medical Application**: Capable of identifying chemical compounds and administering injections, as shown when using a syringe to administer genetic sunblock to the Bat Gremlin. * **Vocal & Musical Performance**: Leads hundreds of Gremlins in organized musical numbers, including singing 'New York, New York'.
Apparizioni
* **1990 – Gremlins 2: The New Batch (Film)**: Main secondary antagonist who drinks the Brain Hormone, conducts a televised interview, leads the 'New York, New York' song, and dies during the wet lobby electrocution. * **1990 – Gremlins 2: The New Batch (Novelization by David Bischoff)**: Featured in a meta chapter where he objects to being called 'Mr. Glasses,' attacks author David Bischoff, locks him in a bathroom, and takes over typing the novel. * **1990 – Gremlins 2: The New Batch (DC Comics Adaptation)**: A 3-issue comic miniseries depicting his lab mutation, television interview, and death. * **1990 – Gremlins 2: The New Batch Movie Storybook (Children's Book)**: Picture book adaptation detailing his lab transformation. * **1990 – Gremlins 2: The New Batch (Video Games - NES, Game Boy, Amiga, Atari ST, C64, DOS)**: Appears across video game adaptations; serves as a major boss in the NES Control Center stage and features on the pause screen.
* **1990 – Clarion Hotels & UK TV Commercials (Promotional)**: Played by the film animatronic puppet in UK television promos and hotel advertisements. * **1991 – Warner Bros. Classics & Great Gremlins Adventure (Theme Park Attraction)**: Featured in the ride story at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast, Australia. * **2016 – LEGO Dimensions (Video Game)**: Interactive NPC in the Gremlins Team Pack Adventure World, offering the 'Studio Ready' quest; voiced by Christopher Swindle. * **2023 – Teen Titans Go! (TV Series)**: Appears in the 'Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary' episode as an ally to the Teen Titans; voiced by Jeff Bennett. * **2024 – MultiVersus (Video Game)**: Featured as an official Legendary Character Skin/Variant for Stripe with custom dialogue voiced by Daniel Ross. * **2024 – Gremlins: The Wild Batch (Animated Series)**: Season 2 features a prequel nod involving a Mogwai drinking a speech potion that grants fluency in human language.
Relazioni
* **Dr. Cushing Catheter**: Unintentional Creator / Enemy. The head scientist whose Splice O' Life laboratory contained the Brain Hormone potion. * **Bat Gremlin**: Subject / Ally. Mutated fellow Gremlin whom Brain Gremlin injects with genetic sunblock before sending him to scout New York City. * **Grandpa Fred**: TV Host / Interviewer. The Clamp Cable Network host who conducts the famous live interview with Brain Gremlin. * **Mr. Katsuji**: Cameraman.
The Clamp TV cameraman who records Brain Gremlin's television interview. * **Billy Peltzer**: Arch-Enemy. Primary human hero who destroys Brain Gremlin and the swarm by combining water sprinklers with the Electric Gremlin. * **Gizmo**: Enemy. The heroic Mogwai who works alongside Billy to stop the Gremlin invasion. * **Kate Peltzer & Murray Futterman**: Enemies. Billy's allies who assist in spraying the Gremlins with water prior to electrocution. * **Stripe**: Base Character / Alternate Self. Serves as the base playable fighter for Brain Gremlin's Legendary skin in MultiVersus.
Evoluzione
Brain Gremlin began his existence as an ordinary, unnamed brown Gremlin indistinguishable from the rest of his spawn group. His character underwent a sudden evolution upon ingesting the experimental Brain Hormone in the Splice O' Life lab. This single chemical transformation altered both his physiology and mindset, spontaneously manifesting reading glasses and bestowing fluent speech with a refined transatlantic accent. As his intellectual ambitions grew, his physical wardrobe evolved across the film.
He transitioned from simple reading glasses to a torn white button-up shirt with a black tie, then to a stylish blue turtleneck and gray jacket during his television interview, and finally to a full gray suit, white shirt, black tie, and gray fedora paying homage to Frank Sinatra during the 'New York, New York' sequence. Beyond the original 1990 film, his depiction evolved across mediums—from a meta fourth-wall-breaking antagonist in David Bischoff's novelization to an interactive NPC in LEGO Dimensions, a playable Legendary skin in MultiVersus, and an animated ally in Teen Titans Go!.
Da Collezione
For Gremlins collectors, Brain Gremlin is one of the most iconic and sought-after characters in the franchise due to his distinct tailored wardrobe and refined personality. Merchandising began in 1990 with vintage Applause PVC figurines, bendable figures, and trading cards depicting his suit jackets and glasses. Trick or Treat Studios has also produced high-detail prop masks based on Rick Baker's original animatronic designs.
In modern action figure collecting, NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) produced the definitive release with their 7-inch scale Ultimate Brain Gremlin figure in 2020. This collectible features a tailored fabric suit, interchangeable hands, a pipe, a syringe, and a beaker of brain serum. Additionally, Funko has immortalized him in their Pop! Vinyl line, making Brain Gremlin merchandise a popular centerpiece for horror and 1990s cinema displays.
Curiosità
* In David Bischoff's 1990 novelization of Gremlins 2, Brain Gremlin is referred to as 'Mr. Glasses' and takes over typing the book in a meta chapter after locking the author in a bathroom. * In the original script draft, Brain Gremlin had a different death scene: Gizmo was supposed to shoot him with a helium serum dart, causing him to inflate like a balloon and float out a window.
* Screen icon Tony Randall provided Brain Gremlin's voice in the movie, though Tim Curry was originally considered for the role. * Brain Gremlin is the first leader of a Gremlin swarm in the film franchise who was not spawned directly from Gizmo. * An unused birthday dialogue line in MultiVersus meta-references the Gremlins Wiki, with Brain Gremlin noting that his wiki page lacks a birth date.
