Talking about the smartest humans in DC Comics is a bit of a loaded conversation. Part of the problem is that many of the most intelligent humans aren't completely human anymore thanks to any variety of accidents, modifications, and power-ups that they've gone through. But they are still technically classified as humans so they get to be part of the conversation.
Keeping that in mind, these human beings definitely stand head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to being intelligent in DC. Well, that's assuming they still have those physical attributes. The changes these people go through can be pretty crazy.
10 Professor Ivo Is A Brilliant Inventor
If Professor Anthony Ivo only had Amazo to hang his hat on, his career would still be a brilliant one, to say the least. But he is responsible for creating all manner of artificial lifeforms and other interesting pieces of technology.
But, to be completely honest, none of it comes remotely close to the accomplishment of creating Amazo. This robot has the ability to mimic the superhuman abilities of the entire Justice League at the same time. That's just impressive by anyone's standards.
9 Never Underestimate Ted Kord
Inventor. Millionaire. Industrialist. Ted Kord wears a lot of hats, including being the superhero known as the Blue Beetle. When he took the mantle from his predecessor, Kord lacked the power of the mysterious Scarab. Fortunately, that didn't stop him.
Ted invented an incredible range of gadgets, weapons, and vehicles, all of which were blue and beetle-themed. Still, a lot of people underestimate Kord's intelligence, partially because he spends a good portion of his time with Booster Gold.
8 Barbara Gordon Proves Brains Are Superior To Brawn
Barbara Gordon's journey has been a difficult one. As the daughter of Commissioner Gordon, Barbara was no stranger to a life of danger. But when she decided to become Batgirl and fight crime alongside Batman, she took things to another level.
Joker brutally injured her and her legs were paralyzed. She then became Oracle, the brains behind the Bat-Family's operations. Barbara Gordon has, without question, repeatedly proven that intelligence is what matters in this line of work.
7 Lex Luthor Is Evil, Not Dumb
When it comes to his ongoing battle against Superman, it's hard to say if Lex Luthor is more motivated by ego or jealousy. Regardless of which is the right answer, it's unlikely that he would admit to it. His ego was somewhat earned, though.
Lex is definitely one of the most intelligent and ambitious people on Earth. He has gone toe-to-toe with Superman on multiple occasions and come out on top more than a few times. He doesn't match the Man of Steel in physical power but brain power is another story.
6 Batman's Mind Is Why He Wins
After his parents were murdered in front of him, a traumatized Bruce Wayne set out to turn himself into a crime-fighting machine. He honed himself into one of the greatest fighters on the planet and developed some of the most impressive gadgets around.
On top of that, Batman may also be the most brilliant strategist on Earth. The man seems to have a plan to cover off virtually any eventuality. And being a human fighting amongst gods and monsters requires several good plans to survive.
5 Ozymandias Is Better Than Peak Human In Every Way
In the world of the Watchmen, the dominant force by far is Doctor Manhattan. He's the most powerful being in that universe and most others. The crazy part about that whole situation is that Ozymandias might still be smarter than the man-turned-god.
Ozymandias is considered to be a peak human from a physical perspective. From an intelligence perspective, he's far superior to that. While his plan to "help" the world was dubious at best, it was still quite ingenious.
4 The Brain Is What's Left Of A Super Smart Scientist
This is definitely one of those situations when someone is still human but certainly does not look it anymore. A jealous scientist attempted to kill the man who became the Brain. Only his mind survived and was maintained as a computer program.
The Brain is, in any way that counts, a human and a brilliant one at that. His experiments created Monsieur Mallah, an intelligent gorilla who serves as Brain's ally, friend, and bodyguard. That being said, it's hard to imagine why he hasn't made himself a more functional body.
3 Cyborg Is A Brilliant Metal Man
Much like the Brain, an accident ended with Cyborg becoming a cyborg. When Victor Stone was brutally injured, his father's risky experiments gave him a second chance at life and turned him into a major DC hero.
But the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Much like his father, Cyborg is also a genius. And having a computer hardwired into his own brain certainly hasn't hurt that situation in the least.
2 Mr. Terrific Isn't Just A Name
When it comes to being the best a human can be, Mr. Terrific is the example a lot of people strive toward. He is an absolute peak human in every possible way thanks to a lifetime of training. But Mr. Terrific is much more than that.
On top of being a remarkable physical specimen, Michael Holt is brilliant on another level. He is an inventor, a scientist, and a futurist of the highest order. If this was the Marvel Universe, Tony Stark would be incredibly jealous of him.
1 At Any Size, Ray Palmer Is An Absolute Genius
When it comes to being brilliant, Ray Palmer is more than just a one-trick pony, but his primary trick is still wildly impressive. His size-changing abilities are without compare, putting even the great Hank Pym and his Pym Particles to shame.
More than that, Palmer is an all-around genius with a complete and intuitive understanding of a variety of scientific disciplines. His powers are cool but like Batman, his mind is what makes him so dangerous to his opponents.