The man known as The Brain was an eccentric gang leader who wore a hat made to resemble a human brain. He was a slender man with freckles, small eyes and dark hair.
The Brain played the ocarina, which he sometimes used as a way to send non-verbal messages to his co-horts.
Encountering Dick Tracy
The Brain had employed Onyx Fencer to hide much of his stolen money and goods. Fencer's home was destroyed in a hurricane while Fencer had been arrested for his association with Big Brass and all of the money and merchandise was lost. Crystal posted Fencer's bond, which led the Brain to believe that an additional cache must exist.
Brain and his gang abducted Crystal and had her lead them to the hidden cache of money. They then killed her. They also attempted to kill Fencer, but he survived. Fencer later took his own life.
The Brain's girlfriend Toots was arrested by Dick Tracy, and she she informed him where the Brain's hideout was. While trying to escape from Dick Tracy and Sam Catchem, Brain and his gang drove into a train tunnel and were killed when they crashed into a freight train (January 26, 1975).
Notes
- The Brain's gang consisted of himself and three other men. Two of these men were identified by name (Stubby Chinz and Purce). The third man was never named.
- The Brain used Onyx Fencer to hide his money and stolen goods in much the same way that Big Brass had, but it was never stated that the Brain and Big Brass knew each other.
- A character called "The Brain" had previously appeared in a 5-episode arc of the 1950s live action Dick Tracy TV series starring Ralph Byrd. The Brain was played by Lyle Talbot (who had also played Big Frost and 88 Keyes). That character predates the Brain from the comic strip by nearly 25 years, and there does not seem to be any connection between the two.
