In a world brimming with colorful capes and inspirational heroism, Invincible threw fans headfirst into something much darker with the character of Omni-Man. Introduced as Earth’s mightiest protector, Nolan Grayson—better known as Omni-Man—seemed like a typical Superman-type at first glance. But beneath the dad mustache and All-American exterior was a Viltrumite warrior with a horrifying mission. His betrayal wasn’t just shocking—it was annihilating. Over the course of the series, Omni-Man commits some of the most cold-blooded and merciless acts in modern comic history, flipping the superhero genre on its head.
#10: The Death of the Flaxan Warlord
During an early episode, the Flaxans invade Earth through a time-accelerated portal, posing a recurring threat. While the Guardians and Invincible struggle, Omni-Man steps in—not to save the day, but to dominate. He follows them through the portal into their home dimension. What unfolds next is an unhinged massacre. With unrelenting force, Omni-Man slaughters their armies, crushes their cities, and ends the Flaxan Warlord with terrifying efficiency. But what makes this act especially ruthless isn’t the body count—it’s the message. Omni-Man doesn’t just defeat them; he teaches them. He makes sure they understand Earth is not to be trifled with, delivering genocide as a warning. When he returns to Earth, covered in alien blood, barely anyone questions it. This wasn’t heroism. It was a display of cosmic dominance.
#9: Killing the Guardians of the Globe
This is the moment that broke the internet. After being presented as Earth’s greatest superhero, Omni-Man lures the Guardians of the Globe—this universe’s Justice League—into a meeting. Without a single word, he unleashes fury. Red Rush is the first to fall, his skull crushed mid-sprint in horrifying slow motion. One by one, each Guardian is brutalized. War Woman’s head is caved in with her own mace. Darkwing, a Batman-type, is beaten to pulp. This wasn’t just murder—it was betrayal on a god-tier scale. Omni-Man slaughters the planet’s greatest heroes and leaves no one to stop him. It’s cold, calculated, and one of the most visceral betrayals in comic book history.
#8: Lying to Debbie for Years
What makes Omni-Man so chilling is that his cruelty isn’t always about fists—sometimes it’s psychological. Nolan Grayson lived with his wife Debbie for nearly two decades, pretending to love her. He played the doting husband, the concerned father, and the relatable alien among men. All the while, he was gathering intel, preparing Earth for conquest. When the truth comes out, it’s soul-shattering—not just for Debbie, but for readers. Nolan admits he saw her more like a pet than a partner. That line alone is a masterstroke of heartlessness. Debbie isn’t just devastated—she’s shattered, and so are we. This wasn’t just manipulation. It was emotional vivisection.
#7: Slaughtering the Pentagon Strike Team
After the Guardians’ murder, suspicion naturally falls on Omni-Man. Cecil, the head of the GDA (Global Defense Agency), sends in an elite strike team and even a reanimated cyborg to detain him. Omni-Man doesn’t just resist—he annihilates. Bones snap, limbs fly, and blood stains the halls of the Pentagon. It’s not a defensive scuffle—it’s a massacre. Even when confronted by his own government, Omni-Man doesn’t hesitate. He wipes out soldiers and scientists alike, showing that no mortal system of law or order can contain a Viltrumite. This is a clear turning point—Omni-Man stops pretending to be human and embraces being a conqueror.
#6: Training Mark Through Pain
When Mark finally learns the truth, he refuses to join Omni-Man’s mission of planetary domination. What follows is one of the most disturbing father-son “training” sessions in history. Omni-Man doesn’t hold back. He hurls Mark through buildings, destroys trains with him as a battering ram, and pounds him into unconsciousness. One of the most harrowing visuals is the subway scene: Omni-Man holds his son in front of an oncoming train, forcing him to watch as people are shredded around them. It’s not just physical torment—it’s psychological warfare. He wants Mark to break. But what makes this moment truly ruthless is that it’s done in the name of love twisted into ideology.
#5: Mass Murder to Prove a Point
To convince Mark of the Viltrumite way, Omni-Man commits one of the most horrific acts in the series: killing thousands of innocent people just to prove Earth’s fragility. He flies Mark across the globe, dragging him through crowds, toppling buildings, and causing untold collateral damage—all while lecturing him. This is villainy on a philosophical scale. It’s not about personal vendettas—it’s about ideology over empathy. Omni-Man believes in the survival of the fittest, and he’s willing to turn cities into ash to make his point. Few comic scenes match this level of cold, educational slaughter.
#4: The Death of Immortal (Twice)
Immortal, one of the Guardians, is brought back to life and flies in to confront Omni-Man in front of live news cameras. Rather than de-escalate, Omni-Man rips him in half—again. The first time, back during the Guardian massacre, Immortal was decapitated. This time, Omni-Man tears him apart mid-air. The message to the world is clear: even immortality won’t save you. It’s not just ruthless—it’s theatrical, using the death of a hero to publicly broadcast his superiority. And for Nolan, it’s not personal. It’s business.
#3: Crushing a Jet Fighter Mid-Flight
As Mark and Omni-Man clash, the military intervenes. A brave pilot in a jet tries to help. Mark saves him—only for Omni-Man to casually crush the man’s skull moments later. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it act of evil that underscores how little human life means to Nolan. He doesn’t see heroes, just obstacles. For viewers and readers alike, it was a moment that felt shockingly unnecessary—yet that’s what makes it so cruel. The pilot posed no threat. It was a flex, pure and simple.
#2: Laughing Off Earth’s Culture
Perhaps one of Omni-Man’s most subtle but damning traits is his utter contempt for everything Earth holds sacred. He mocks its history, belittles its people, and views its culture as childish. He tells Mark that he’ll outlive everyone he knows by thousands of years and that Earth’s emotional attachments are nothing compared to Viltrumite duty. For a character we once thought of as noble, this ideological arrogance is shattering. Nolan doesn’t just reject Earth—he laughs at it. For fans, it’s the moment we realize Omni-Man is not a conflicted anti-hero. He’s a true believer in conquest, and Earth is beneath him.
#1: Nearly Beating Mark to Death, Then Leaving Him
The most chilling moment comes after the most violent: after nearly killing his own son, Omni-Man pauses. He looks down at Mark’s bloodied face—his eye swollen shut, his body broken—and something shifts. He sees a flashback to his time with baby Mark. And then… he leaves. Not because he’s defeated, but because he finally feels something. But let’s be clear—he nearly killed his own child. Not in a fit of rage, but as part of a lesson. The emotional whiplash of that moment—violence followed by tears—cements Omni-Man as a character driven by a warped sense of duty, capable of feeling, yet willing to ignore it. It’s the perfect storm of ruthlessness and regret.
Omni-Man isn’t just a villain—he’s a force of nature. These ruthless moments reveal a character who views morality as weakness and survival as destiny. And yet, there are cracks in his armor—flickers of guilt, of inner turmoil, of the man who once tried to live as a father. That duality is what makes him unforgettable. Whether you fear him, hate him, or find yourself weirdly fascinated, one thing is certain—Omni-Man left an impact that no superhero cape can clean up.
