Line #42 Main/WorldsSmartestMan


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7	->''"Eurus, she was incandescent, even then. Our abilities were professionally assessed more than once. I was remarkable, but Eurus was described as an era-defining genius. Beyond Newton."''
8	-->-- '''Mycroft Holmes''', ''Series/{{Sherlock}}''
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10	[[TheSmartGuy Some people are smart]], [[ImpossibleGenius some people are geniuses]], then there's that one person who is the unparalleled, unrivaled, era-defining prodigy seen once in a lifetime. Congratulations, you've found the World's Smartest Man.
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12	The intellectual counterpart to WorldsStrongestMan. This is the person who is undoubtedly the brightest mind in their particular world. Though often times there can be multiple contenders of said title, with the runner ups wanting to prove they are truly the ones deserving to be called as such.
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14	Having an ImprobablyHighIQ is almost always a given and they may very likely possess SuperIntelligence. Frequent candidates will be [[MadScientist Mad]] or {{Omnidisciplinary Scientist}}s. If they dedicate their efforts to crime solving then they are likely a GreatDetective. If villainous, expect them to be a ManipulativeBastard or TheChessmaster.
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16	While vocal confirmation isn’t mandatory, it can help a lot. Otherwise very strong evidence is needed to determine said character really is at the pinnacle.
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18	May be someone who becomes a OneManIndustrialRevolution. If they're young enough they will be a ChildProdigy or a TeenGenius.
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20	Compare TheOmniscient or EnlightenmentSuperpowers for those with vast knowledge rather than merely intelligence. SubTrope of WorldsBestCharacter, for being that, but only for intelligence.
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22	Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease While there are certain real-life figures such as UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein and Creator/StephenHawking who are commonly cited as such, they are only to be mentioned for InUniverse examples only.
23	----
24	!!Examples:
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26
27	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
28	* In ''Manga/DeathNote'', L is at least this in the field of criminology, being the unrivaled "World's Greatest Detective" (and secretly the second and third greatest too). It wasn't until he met Light Yagami was he able to find an intellectual equal. WordOfGod states that L is the most intelligent character, although the official English translation of Volume 13 gives Light and Near a higher intelligence score than L. It turns out that this is a translation error and "Knowledge" was mistranslated as "Intelligence". L has the best analytical thinking, but he doesn't have the most knowledge.
29	* In ''Franchise/DragonBall'', Bulma and her father Dr. Briefs are usually considered the brightest minds in their world, having invented revolutionary shrinking technology, the fastest rocket in the world, and even a time machine. The only other person to compare to or possibly surpass their intelligence is Dr. Gero, though he typically gets shunned by the science community due to being a psycho MadScientist.
30	* In ''Manga/DrStone'', Senku is a high-schooler who wakes up 3700 years after [[ApocalypseHow all of humanity was turned to stone]] and immediately starts using his vast scientific knowledge to re-discover everything from metalworking, agriculture and sailing to telephones, radar, and even ''soda pop'', all while trying to find a way to undo the petrification process and save humanity.
31	* In ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' has Nezu, whose Quirk, "High-Specs", does not merely give him SuperIntelligence, but makes him smarter than any human on Earth, to the point that he's easily able to calculate the precise angles and velocities required to perform DisasterDominoes with a wrecking ball. He's also in charge of the most esteemed hero school in Japan and his official ratings give him [[BrokeTheRatingScale a 6/5 in intelligence]].
32	* In ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'', Dr. Genus is implied to be this. His intellect was so advanced that he soon became disillusioned with the rest of humanity and could find no one else able to keep up with his level of thinking. He soon came to believe humanity was too far behind him and sought to help the human race evolve so that he would no longer be alone.
33	* In ''Manga/ThePromisedNeverland'', Norman is stated to not only be the smartest child at Gracefield, but quite possibly the smartest human to ever live in the setting. [[spoiler:Peter Ratri eventually imprisons him in order to study and possibly clone him, and is shocked when he and his scientists are unable to come up with a test that Norman can't get 100% on first try.]]
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36	[[folder:Comic Books]]
37	* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': Infidel went from impoverished slave to reality-breaking EvilSorcerer through intense study, has challenged [[TheCape Samaritan]] countless times, ''destroyed reality'' at least once, and is only in a SelfImposedExile because [[IGaveMyWord he promised to do so.]] He once invented a machine to observe superstrings and considered it a mere trifle.
38	* ''Franchise/TheDCU'':
39	** Lex Luthor typically holds the title of smartest human, with no one being his intellectual equal. The only one that Lex considers to be in his league is the extraterrestrial being Brainiac who possesses SuperIntelligence. Lex is only held back by his incredible arrogance and all-consuming hatred of ComicBook/{{Superman}}, which usually makes him overlook something and allow Superman or others to beat him.
40	** Michael Holt, aka the second ComicBook/MisterTerrific, is often called "the third smartest man", just behind Lex Luthor (as mentioned above) and [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]], whose specialty as a super-genius is being a polymath with [[GeniusesHaveMultiplePhDs multiple Ph.Ds]] and a PhotographicMemory (being [[GeniusBruiser an actual Olympian and multi-disciplined martial artist is an added bonus]]). In his words, he has "a natural aptitude for having natural aptitudes".
41	* ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'': Professor Ludwig von Drake is an OmnidisciplinaryScientist who possesses academic degrees in every science field imaginable. He's often considered to be the smartest person alive, so he's sometimes challenged by others who want that title.
42	* ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'':
43	** [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]] is usually recognized as the smartest man in the Marvel Universe, being the most esteemed mind in the scientific community. In fact, he himself [[ScienceHero considers his intellect to be his real superpower]] rather than his [[RubberMan elasticity]].
44	*** Reed's daughter, Valeria, is on route to ''surpass'' him when she's older.
45	*** Reed's ArchEnemy, Doctor Doom, is the other contender for this title. Even when he isn't, Doom will be repeatedly trying to prove himself worthy of this claim but tends to get foiled by Reed ([[TooCleverByHalf or just as often his own ego]], but he'll [[NeverMyFault still blame Reed]]).
46	** [[ComicBook/AntMan Hank Pym]] is sometimes labelled the smartest man depending on the media. However, he's usually overshadowed by other scientific minds and remains reclusive.
47	** Other contenders for Marvel's top ten smartest minds include: [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]], [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]], [[Characters/IncredibleHulkSupportingCharacters Amadeus Cho]], [[ComicBook/XMen Hank McCoy, Apocalypse]], and [[ComicBook/BlackPanther T'Challa]]. At one point there was an established hierarchy with Amadeus frequently describing himself as the world's seventh smartest person (although it was suggested that the return of the real Hank Pym dropped him to eighth).
48	** A new contender is now [[ComicBook/MoonGirlAndDevilDinosaur Lunella Layfayette]] who may be able to claim the role of the smartest person in the Marvel universe (though this is at a time where Reed and Valeria are both out of the universe so whether Lunella will be able to match wits with them will be interesting to see).
49	* ''ComicBook/{{Prodigy}}'': Edison Crane is a Nobel Prize-winning scientist, a genius composer, an Olympic athlete, and an expert in the occult.
50	* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'': Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias is stated to be the smartest man in the world, being so smart that he was able to devise a way to neutralize [[PhysicalGod Doctor Manhattan]]'s power to see the future. However, his big blue friend demonstrates that Adrian's intellect doesn't matter anyway when faced with the raw power of a superman.
51	-->'''Doctor Manhattan:''' I have walked across the surface of the sun. I have witnessed events so tiny and so fast that they could hardly be said to have occurred at all. But you, Adrian, you're just a man. The world's smartest man poses no more threat to me than does its smartest termite.
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54	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
55	* ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'''s [[AlmightyJanitor garbage man]] is sometimes called the smartest man in the world, giving sage advice to Dilbert about both mechanical and philosophical issues and on one occasion bringing him BackFromTheDead at the end of a story arc. Why he retains a job as garbage collector is a mystery that is implied only he can understand.
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58	[[folder:Fan Works]]
59	* ''Fanfic/EquestriaGirlsFriendshipSouls ''
60	** Discord. He was the captain of the 12th Division and his intellect and invention are so advanced to put him on par with some heavy hitters in the setting. He's the one who created Hōgyoku, a device whose purpose is to break barriers between souls. While still incomplete it earned him an invitation into Zero Division. [[spoiler: The Zero Division had to turn to creating a memory copy of him to further their goals after he declined them.]]
61	** Twilight Sparkle has the potential to become one. While still young she manages to keep up with the setting's [[WorldsSmartestMan Discord]] and Human [[SuperIntelligence Starswil]]. She managed to create [[ArtificialLimbs mechanical limbs]] and a Reiatsu-detecting device. In a day. While not knowing something like Souls exists. [[spoiler: Her Shrift allows her to [[RealityWarper control every aspect of everything]] as long she the proper knowledge and understanding about it.]] With [[RequiredSecondaryPowers her mind, it's rarely a hindrance.]]
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63
64	[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
65	* [[ChildProdigy Jimmy Neutron]] from ''WesternAnimation/JimmyNeutronBoyGenius'' is depicted as the smartest human being in his universe to the point that he can save Earth from an alien invasion.
66	* ''WesternAnimation/MrPeabodyAndSherman'': Mr. Peabody is stated to be the smartest being in existence, having impressive feats such as graduating Harvard at age 3 ("Wagna cum Laude"), being a business magnate, inventor, scientist, Nobel laureate, gourmand, and two-time Olympic medalist.
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69	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
70	* In the ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'', for a long time, Tony Stark held the honor of "smartest person" in the MCU. In recent years, this has been challenged, however; ''Film/BlackPanther2018'' establishes Princess Shuri is at least on par with him, and ''[[AllThereInTheManual The Wakanda Files]]'' has Shuri note that Hank Pym is perhaps more brilliant than any of them, to the point that she mildly idolizes him for the sophistication of his Pym Particles, which not even a team of Wakanda's crack scientists can figure out.
71	** While [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]] isn't introduced in the main timeline of the movies yet, ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'' features a version of the character as part of "[[Characters/MarvelComicsTheIlluminati The Illuminati]]", who [[spoiler:Baron Mordo]] introduces as "the smartest man alive" of this universe.
72	* ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'' once again has Lex Luthor as the holder of this title.
73	* In ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'', true to the source material, Ozymandias is the world's smartest man, even outranking [[PhysicalGod Doctor Manhattan]] in raw intelligence.
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76	[[folder:Literature]]
77	* In ''Literature/AllianceUnion'', Union has codified this concept in law with the Special Persons Act. These “Specials” are legally classified as national treasures, with extensive protections and certain restrictions on their movement to preserve their value to society. ''{{Literature/Cyteen}}'' deals with such issues as the fallout when one untouchable supergenius apparently murders another and an attempt to recreate an irreplaceable intellect via [[NatureVersusNurture both cloning and a controlled upbringing.]]
78	* In ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'', the brightest human mind is the titular character [[ChildProdigy Artemis Fowl II]], a criminal genius mastermind. In the fairy world the brightest mind is the pixie, Opal Koboi. The two of them have clashed on several occasions in battles of wits. ''The Lost Colony'' also introduces [[DistaffCounterpart Minerva Paridez]] who is by WordOfGod stated to have an intellect equal to that of Artemis.
79	* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', the most intelligent man in the world is Leonard of Quirm, the Disc's version of Creator/LeonardoDaVinci. However, while he's very intelligent and routinely designs game-changing inventions in between his artistic endeavors, he is very much unsuited for normal life (case in point: he once tried to bring Nobby and Colon to the Palace at gunpoint and ''handed them the weapon'' in order to make adjustments to it). He also invariably fails to consider the military applications of his inventions (such as removing mountains or firebombing cities from orbit) and is horrified when other people bring up the possibility, sincerely believing the threat of horrible destruction will be enough to keep people from using them. The Patrician keeps him voluntarily locked up in the Palace and supplied with artistic and engineering supplies as much for his own good as for everyone else's (and he can leave at any time, having designed the locks himself).
80	* ''Literature/DocSavage'', in the pulp-world of Street and Smith, is conceded to be this, as well as the WorldsStrongestMan -- the ultimate GeniusBruiser. In the (much) larger Wold Newton universe conceived by Creator/PhilipJoseFarmer, though, his cousins [[Literature/SherlockHolmes Mycroft]], Literature/ProfessorChallenger, and [[Literature/FuManchu "Hanoi Shan"]], to name just three, would beg to differ.
81	* In the ''Literature/{{Lensman}}'' novel ''Gray Lensman'', Kimball Kinnison at one point needs to find fifty or so of the smartest beings in Civilization for a special scientific project. While consulting with a librarian to select this group, he learns that he has been assigned the highest rating of all. (Though this rating has less to do with academic ability, where he's merely above average, and more to do with his psychic powers.)
82	* In ''Literature/NoGameNoLife'', Sora believes Shiro to be this, seeing her as humanity's potential. She's a ChildProdigy with a computer like mind, able to win 20 consecutive games against a simulation designed to beat grandmasters and compute complex physics equations to pull off AwesomenessByAnalysis. If she didn't have this status in the real world, she certainly does in Disboard, as when she and her brother arrive in this world governed by games, their status as {{Godlike Gamer}}s made them the unbeatable Kings of Imanity.
83	* ''Literature/RamaII'': Each astronaut has listed his or her percentile in terms of intelligence, and they are all above 99%. Among the very top are Francesca Sabatini and Wakefield (two of the most prominent characters); of the two, Sabatini is ranked higher.
84	-->Wakefield's intelligence rating was truly exceptional and placed him in the supergenius category; Nicole had never before personally known someone with such high scores on the standardized tests.
85	* In ''Literature/SoImASpiderSoWhat'', [[spoiler:Potimas]] is an unparalleled genius of the ancient civilization who mastered every subject of science and [[OneManIndustrialRevolution then added to each of them]]. When they failed to show him a [[ImmortalitySeeker path to immortality]], he taught himself how to manipulate [[spoiler:MA Energy]] solely by observing a dragon's magic and invented new technologies based on it that reshaped the world as a ''side project''. He's continued developing magitech in secret since the ancient civilization's collapse and has gained significant knowledge of how to manipulate souls.
86	* In ''Literature/SoonIWillBeInvincible'', VillainProtagonist Doctor Impossible is known as the world's smartest man. The book spends some time deconstructing the trope by showing that exceptional intelligence doesn't actually lead to much success when it's not accompanied by [[SanityHasAdvantages the emotional maturity]] to [[CutLexLuthorACheck work within the system]] instead of trying to take over the world (and invariably getting slapped down by superheroes who, while not as smart as you, have inherent powers that all the smarts in the world can't come up with a counter to). One early chapter has him wondering "if the smartest man in the world has really done the smartest thing he could with his life."
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88
89	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
90	* In ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', UsefulNotes/StephenHawking has been stated InUniverse to be the smartest person in the world and the reason why Sheldon is so keen on becoming friends with him, considering this one of his [[IntelligenceEqualsIsolation rare chances to find an intellectual equal]].
91	* ''Series/DoctorWho'': Luke Rattigan from "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E4TheSontaranStratagem The Sontaran Strategem]]"/"[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E5ThePoisonSky The Poison Sky]]" is a TeenGenius who is able to pull off technological feats centuries ahead of his time. While he isn't directly started to be the smartest, he was [[IntelligenceEqualsIsolation unable to find anyone in the world to be his intellectual equal]] until meeting the Doctor. He's able to invent pocket dimension technology in the 21st century, which the Doctor describes as like finding a smartphone in the Stone Ages.
92	* ''Series/TheFlash2014'': WordOfGod states that Clifford [=DeVoe=]/the Thinker is the smartest man on Earth-1, largely due to his metahuman power being SuperIntelligence. He exhibits extremely advanced methodical thinking and is able to plan things out years ahead. He is so thorough in his planning that he's pretty much an InvincibleVillain due to him anticipating everything.
93	* ''Series/KamenRiderBuild'': WordOfGod has stated that genius physicist Sento Kiryu has the highest IQ of the Heisei era of ''Franchise/KamenRider'', making him the smartest Kamen Rider by default in that phase of the franchise. Incidentally, the original Kamen Rider #1 -- Takeshi Hongō -- is established in the first episode of [[Series/KamenRider his series]] as having an IQ score of 600. How his brain compares to Sento’s is unknown, but he probably qualifies as the smartest Rider for the Shōwa era of the franchise.
94	* ''Series/LabRats'' has Chase. He's a teen with a bionic chip in his neck. Said chip makes him the smartest man alive.
95	* ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'': In the "Doomworld" reality that the Legion of Doom creates, Eobard Thawne is hailed as the smartest man in the world. He's so highly regarded that he is personal friends with the President of the United States.
96	* In ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'', Eurus Holmes is described by Mycroft as being "an era-defining genius, beyond [[UsefulNotes/IsaacNewton Newton]]". Her intellect is so great that anyone who talks to her is able to be 'reprogrammed' to carry out her bidding, with only other geniuses like Sherlock, Mycroft, and Moriarty being immune from this.
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98
99	[[folder:Video Games]]
100	* Lord Recluse of ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' is stated to be this, gifted with intellect and wits to surpass any other being on the planet in his lifetime. Unfortunately he is the BigBad, so this leads to some phenomenally bad news for heroes. As he got this boost from a magic well that is a dimensional nexus point, this is a status calculated out across all realities. In game play this is used to account for him having Dev Team level preparations covered for his evil works.
101	* Queen Rennala of ''VideoGame/EldenRing'' may not look it when you meet her, but in the past she was the brightest mind of the Lands Between and likely the most powerful sorcerer in existence. This can even be seen in-game: the requirement to use her signature spell, Rennala's Full Moon, is a staggering 70 Intelligence. To put this into perspective: Comet Azur, the strongest primeval current spell that was devised by a sorcerer who was implied to have been driven mad in the process, only requires 60 Intelligence. She was even superior to her own daughter Ranni, herself a freakishly talented demigod sorceress, as Ranni's signature spell, Ranni's Dark Moon, requires 'just' 68 Intelligence; and unlike Ranni, Rennala is a human woman with no divine blood.
102	* Mimir in ''VideoGame/GodOfWarPS4'' proclaims himself as "The Smartest Man Alive" and can answer as to whatever question that Kratos asked, although he does admit that there are some gaps in the knowledge, particularly as to why Odin wants to hunt Kratos and his son down, or whether or not there is a weakness to Baldur's invulnerability (the latter being due to being cursed not to remember it).
103	* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': Dr. Eggman likes to proclaim himself to be this. Although, given the ridiculously complex, innovative, and varied stuff he's built over the franchise (various mechs, whole bases, robotic machines, etc.), it's hard not to agree with him.
104	* ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny2'': Harold Berselius is an OmnidisciplinaryScientist far beyond [[spoiler:her]] peers, to the point where [[spoiler:her]] inventions are barely understood, let alone replicated a thousand years after [[spoiler:her]] death. After time traveling, Harold is notably disappointed in the lack of technological advancement in the present.
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107	[[folder:Western Animation]]
108	* ''Franchise/Ben10'':
109	** Azmuth is considered the brightest mind in three to five '''''galaxies''''' and sometimes even the universe. He's a Galvan, a species already known for SuperIntelligence, and he's the brightest of them all, to where they named him First Thinker.
110	** Azmuth's ArchEnemy, Dr. Psychobos. is stated to be the second smartest being in the universe, and is constantly trying to usurp Azmuth from first place. He is a Cerebrocrustacean, an intellectual rival race to the Galvans.
111	* In ''WesternAnimation/ClassOfTheTitans'', Odysseus appears to be held as the standard for the pinnacle of intelligence, with his descendant Odie taking after him and inheriting his SuperIntelligence.
112	* In the ''Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse'', Lex Luthor is once again considered the smartest man on Earth, which Batman himself recognizes. In the ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]'' episode "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueUnlimitedS3E13Destroyer Destroyer]]", Lex intends to journey into the Source Wall, where he is warned only a "twelfth level intellect" could survive. Lex states he's "overqualified" and he indeed survives and retrieves what he's after.
113	* Dexter from ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' considers himself to be the smartest person in the world, and considering that he has an entire underground lab with all sorts of incredibly advance high-tech inventions he has a good claim, nevertheless his rival Mandark disputes it.
114	* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': The episode "Dumbbell Curve" has Timmy wish to be the smartest person in the world, but as this makes him know a lot of unhappy facts, he changes his mind and then requests for everyone to be dumber than him.
115	* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'' has Lilo wish that Keoni becomes the smartest man on earth so that he can impress Naiomi. He ends up so book smart that she can't make sense of what he's saying.
116	* Rick Sanchez from ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' is said to be the smartest man in the universe, which manifests in him being an ImpossibleGenius variant of MadScientist. This serves as a plot point in Season 5 when it's revealed that the Council of Ricks intentionally made this happen by creating the Central Finite Curve, described as a wall around reality where the dimensions where Rick is the smartest man in the universe are sealed off from the rest of TheMultiverse where he isn't.
117	[[/folder]]

Context Main / WorldsSmartestMan