Brian Simpson is an 8-year old talking white Labrador who has lived with the Simpsons family since Homer picked him up as a stray. He also possesses various anthropomorphic qualities, such as the ability to speak intelligently, drive a car, read books, walk bipedally and his favorite, drinking. He also has a particularly sharp wit, and rivals Lisa in the intellectual way. Maggie is his best friend, as well as Homer's (despite Brian's vastly superior intelligence over the later - on several occasions, Brian has had to explain Homer's inability to do various things, such as haggling over prices). Brian once went to Silverman University in Capital City, but did not graduate. In the comics, it is revealed that Brian posseses a twin brother, Jasper, who later appeared in the series.