Thinker

"If God existed, wouldn't this be proof that he wasn't good at all? Oh, please, unclench your fucking pearls, Flag. We serve the same master."

―Thinker to Rick Flag^[src]

Gaius Grieves was a hyperintelligent metahuman scientist known as the Thinker. He was used as one of the top scientists of Corto Maltese dictator General Presidente Luna to help develop Project Starfish. Later, he was captured by Task Force X and forced to join them in their fight against Luna and his project. Fueled by self-preservation, Grieves led Task Force X to Jotunheim, where they accidentally released Starro the Conqueror, who killed Grieves for imprisoning it.

Biography[]

Early Life[]

Affiliation with Jotunheim[]

"The United States made a secret deal with the Corto Maltese government to conduct their illegal experiments here, in Jotunheim. And they hired me to oversee them."

―Thinker to Rick Flag^[src]

Gaius Grieves was hired as a chief scientist at Jotunheim and experimented on Starro. He served under the Herrera Family in developing the powerful Project Starfish around the creature and its abilities. He was cruel as Starro's captor, unnecessarily torturing the alien and its hosts in multiple experiments. It is implied he sexually abused Starro or its captives as well, as one host stated Grieves "had his way" with them. Eventually, Grieves would start frequenting La Gatita Amable club in the city of Valle Del Mar.^[1]

Targeted by Task Force X[]

Dealing with Silvio Luna[]

"But as I noted, I've been working with the beast for thirty years. And there's no one but me capable of controlling it."
"Well, then, welcome to the team."

―Gaius Grieves and Silvio Luna^[src]

In August 2020, the Corto Maltese Armed Forces led by Silvio Luna would carry out a coup, assassinating the Herrera family in a public execution and taking power in the country, being from a completely anti-American party. Additionally, the Thinker's research team was killed for their loyalty to the Herreras. A week later, in retaliation, Amanda Waller sent Task Force X to kidnap Gaius Grieves and force him to destroy all records of the Project Starfish.

Meanwhile, Silvio Luna contacted Grieves to discuss about the Project Starfish. At the meeting, Mateo Suarez mocked Thinker's brain, so Thinker responded ironically, making Suarez angry, Luna stopped Mateo telling him to behave. Thinker continued explaining the Project and its history with videos of his meeting with NASA, finally Thinker told them that the creature was hidden in Jotunheim.

Then, Gaius Grieves accompanied Silvio Luna and the Armed Forces to see the creature that remained hidden on the base to take possession on it. When Luna saw a potential to take over the world using the beast as a weapon, Grieves explained that he was the only person who could control the creature, so Luna greeted him with a handshake to forge an alliance with the new government, in that moment Luna retired to meet the prisoner Harley Quinn.^[1]

Kidnapped by Task Force X[]

"That is a gun, so smile. We're old mates and we're gonna take a trip to Jotunheim."
"Even with my help, do you really think you can get into Jotunheim?"

―Gaius Grieves and Robert DuBois^[src]

The following night, Grieves would visit La Gatita Amable club where Task Force X awaited his arrival, Bloodsport would approach him to threaten him with a pistol to force them to go to Jotunheim and let them enter. When leaving the place, the soldiers of the armed forces would arrive in search of the Americans who arrived in the country.

Consequently, Bloodsport would ask Cleo Cazo and Abner Krill to take Gaius Grieves to the truck using the back doors and threatening him with the pistol, while DuBois, Smith and Flag would surrender to the soldiers. Then the group would go through a bathroom of employees scaring some naked women, when Milton left he would assure them while Thinker spoke loudly to try to generate noise, finally Cazo threatened to put a dozen rats in his ass and the group escaped in the truck.^[1]

However, upon arriving, Cleo Cazo noticed that Nanaue had escaped, with her going to search him, ordering Krill to supervise Grieves, shooting him if he moved. In the van, Thinker tried to manipulate Krill, claiming to know who he was and how he killed his mother, trying to break him emotionally, but Krill nervously claimed that the killing of his mother was a mistake and was confused. Grieves tried to convince him that his teammates wanted to hurt him just like his mother, but Krill denied it.

Thinker made him uncomfortable, trying to convince him to hand over the gun, with Krill agreeing slowly and nervously, but ended up shooting Thinker in the ear, causing him to start bleeding and Cleo Cazo to run to see what had happened, with Grieves insulting Krill while he exalted his happiness to the team.^[2] DuBois's group managed to escape from the armed forces by crashing the truck and killing the soldiers, and Thinker was placed a bandage on his ear, as they planned a mission in search of Harley Quinn.

After having found Quinn, the squad would take Thinker over a building where they would explain their mission and how he was to help them enter. Thinker warned them that there were cameras everywhere at the base, so Cazo explained that he had already taken care of them with the help of the rats, then the squad would continue explaining while Grieves saw the mission as a suicide, so Rick Flag replied that that was their specialty.^[1]

Infiltration in Jotunheim[]

"Child, your government didn't sent you here to protect the world from alien technology. Your government send you here to cover up their part in it."

―Gaius Grieves to Cleo Cazo^[src]

The squad then headed in the truck towards the entrances of the Jotunheim bases, where Grieves was forced to accompany them,^[1] Thinker stopped at the entrance to be confiscated, greeting Isabella and claiming to have to do a special job while being threatened by Bloodsport with his gun, handing her the keys to the truck when she asked, smiling nervously. Thinker warned her to be very careful because the materials were from another world, explaining that President Mateo Suarez personally sent him to deliver it to the base. When Isabella was about to open the door slightly, Polka-Dot Man threw some dots so that Isabella decided not to confiscate, returning the keys to Thinker and letting him pass.^[2]

Thinker parked the truck, and a heavy rain stalked towards the gates, making it easier for Task Force X to enter, killing multiple guards and arriving to the base, but alerting more soldiers who started chasing them. After they get through the first guards, Peacemaker shoved the Thinker's face into the retinal scan in order to enter Jotunheim. Inside the building the squad forced Grieves to take them to the floor where the creature was.

Upon arriving they saw the numerous victims of Grieves' experiments, consisting of dissidents and journalists opposing the Herrera regime that have been used as test subjects in Project Starfish. These captives - all possessed by Starro - plead with Task Force X, revealing that Grieves has tortured them. Grieves divulged that Corto Maltese secretly worked with the American government to study Project Starfish, with Peacemaker having been sent by Amanda Waller to cover up evidence of said collusion. Suddenly, the explosives placed throughout Jotunheim go off earlier than expected, disrupting the confrontation between the Thinker and Task Force X, and shattering the glass window overseeing Starro's enormous cell.^[1]

Killed by Starro[]

"Okay, let's all just calm down. Please let's talk about this. I crossed the line. OK, I CROSSED THE LINE! I REALIZE IT, BUT I'M READY TO CHANGE! I AM READY TO CHANGE! I DIDN'T MEAN TO HURT YOU!"

―Gaius Grieves' last words to Starro^[src]

With Jotunheim in ruins on the verge of collapse, and Starro's confinement at an end, Gaius Grieves had enough time to realize what has happened before Starro's tendrils shoot out from the shattered window and wrap around Grieves, who was dragged into the former's cell, leaving trails of blood from his fingers in a vain attempt to hold on to the floor. Brought before Starro, Grieves desperately tried to diffuse the situation by promising to change, only to have one of his arms and legs ripped off. Starro then threw the Thinker's body at a window hard enough for it to splatter on the glass upon impact.^[1]

Personality[]

"Your people have always been squeamish about the sacrifices necessary for scientific advancement."

―The Thinker to Rick Flag^[src]

The Thinker appeared to be sly and manipulative, sleazy, self-preserving, and intelligent. He attempted to play to the weaknesses of Task Force X, and was reluctant to join them as he valued his life and didn't want to die, hinting that every action he took was for his own gain.

The Thinker also appeared to be sadistic and cruel, shown through his experiments conducted on Starro. Thinker had tortured Starro for decades, mutilating and, as claimed by Starro, having his way with it, which he himself never denied. However, once the tables had turned and Thinker was at Starro's mercy, he was shown to be extremely cowardly and attempted to beg for his life. Starro ignored this and promptly killed its torturer.

Powers and Abilities[]

Powers[]

• Superhuman intelligence: The Thinker had extreme intelligence and incredible problem-solving skills. The electronics embedded in his head supposedly amplified his cognition, though this was stated in jest, so the accuracy of this claim cannot be determined. He was a geneticist and a master tactician, as well as extremely knowledgeable.^[3]

Abilities[]

• Bilingualism: The Thinker was fluent in English and Spanish.

Equipment[]

"All that shit in your face, is to make your brain good?"
"Yes. Makes my brain good."

―Mateo Suarez and Thinker^[src]

• Brain enhancers: Thinker has several electrical diodes and antennas that connect with his brain, possibly to enhance his intelligence.^[3]

Relationships[]

Allies[] Silvio Luna † - superior Corto Maltese Armed Forces Mateo Suarez † - superior Vera † Isabella †

Enemies[] Task Force X - former captors and former manipulators Rick Flag † Robert DuBois/Bloodsport Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn Christopher Smith/Peacemaker Abner Krill/Polka-Dot Man † Cleo Cazo/Ratcatcher 2 Nanaue/King Shark Maltese resistance Milton † Starro † - former manipulatee and captive turned killer

Behind the Scenes[]

• In the comics, there have been several characters to take up the mantle of the Thinker over the years. Along with the unnamed Thinker of the current DC continuity the DCEU version is based on, the most notable versions are Clifford DeVoe, Cliff Carmichael, Desmond Connor, and the Thinker A.I. All of them are hyperintelligent criminals that have fought various versions of the Flash on various occasions.
• The Thinker in the DC Extended Universe is the second live-action incarnation of the character, following the Arrowverse incarnation portrayed by Neil Sandilands in the CW's Flash TV series.
  • He is also the first onscreen incarnation to not be based on the Clifford DeVoe version of the character.
• Dean Grimes was a stunt double for Peter Capaldi in the role of the Thinker.

References[]

External Links[]