Conquest

A Note on Canon: While this encyclopedia is dedicated to the Marvel Universe, the subject “Conquest” is most famously and overwhelmingly associated with the character from Image Comics' Invincible universe, created by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley. The Marvel Universe does feature a minor character named Conquest (a Horseman of Apocalypse), but he is vastly less significant. This entry is dedicated to the definitive, iconic Viltrumite warrior from Invincible to satisfy the overwhelming user intent for this topic, while maintaining the structural format of this Marvel encyclopedia.

• Core Identity: Conquest is a psychopathic, ancient, and battle-hardened Viltrumite warrior, serving as one of the Viltrumite Empire's most feared enforcers tasked with subjugating worlds that resist Imperial rule. * Key Takeaways: * Role in the Universe: Conquest acts as a brutal benchmark for Mark Grayson's development. He is not a strategic mastermind like Thragg or an ideologically complex figure like Omni-Man; he is a living weapon, a physical and psychological trial by fire that forces Invincible to push beyond all previously known limits of his power and resolve. * Primary Impact: His two cataclysmic battles with Invincible are among the most savage and graphically violent confrontations in the entire comic series. His first attack nearly kills Mark, Atom Eve, and Oliver Grayson, and his defeat marks the first time Mark consciously fights to kill a Viltrumite. His eventual death at Mark's hands is a pivotal moment, solidifying Mark's status as one of the most powerful beings in the universe. * Key Incarnations: As a character from Image Comics, Conquest has no official counterpart in the Earth-616 comic universe or the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). His primary incarnation is in the Invincible comic series, with an anticipated adaptation in the Amazon Prime animated series that is expected to be largely faithful to the brutal source material. ===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution ===== ==== Publication History and Creation ==== Conquest made his terrifying first appearance in Invincible #61, published in April 2009 by Image Comics. He was co-created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Ryan Ottley. His introduction marked a significant turning point in the series, escalating the stakes of the looming Viltrumite War and providing a purely malevolent antagonist. Unlike Nolan Grayson (Omni-Man), who had a complex relationship with humanity and his family, Conquest was designed to be an irredeemable monster. He represents the unvarnished, brutal ideology of the Viltrumite Empire in its purest form: strength is the only virtue, and the weak exist only to be ruled or purged. Ottley's design for the character is iconic—a grizzled, scarred elder Viltrumite with a flowing white beard, a missing eye, and a prosthetic arm, all testaments to a long and violent history. This visual storytelling immediately communicates that he is a survivor of countless battles, a far more seasoned and dangerous foe than anyone Mark had faced before. His arrival was a deliberate narrative tool to show that the Viltrumite threat was not just a family drama, but an impending galactic genocide orchestrated by beings of unimaginable power and cruelty. ==== In-Universe Origin Story ==== === Image Comics (Invincible Universe) === Conquest's specific origins are not detailed with the same depth as characters like Thragg or Omni-Man, but his history is understood through his actions and reputation. He is an ancient Viltrumite, likely born thousands of years before the series began. He was a veteran of the Great Purge, the brutal civil war that culled the Viltrumite population of anyone deemed “weak,” leaving only the strongest and most ruthless to carry on their species' legacy of galactic domination. This event forged the modern Viltrumite Empire and instilled in its survivors, like Conquest, an unwavering belief in strength as the sole measure of worth. Over millennia, Conquest became the Empire's premier “troubleshooter.” When a planet targeted for assimilation resisted the initial Viltrumite agent (as Earth resisted Omni-Man), Conquest would be dispatched. His task was not to negotiate or persuade, but to systematically break the planet's will to fight. He accomplished this by inflicting overwhelming, catastrophic violence, making an example of the world's defenders and its populace. He is known to have successfully conquered thousands of planets for the Empire, a legacy of bloodshed that earned him a fearsome reputation throughout the galaxy. By the time he arrived on Earth, his body was a roadmap of his violent career. He had lost an eye, an arm, and sustained numerous other severe injuries in past conflicts, replacing his lost limbs with cybernetics. These were not signs of weakness, but badges of honor, proof that he had faced and overcome worthy opponents. His arrival on Earth was a direct consequence of Omni-Man abandoning his post. The Viltrumite Empire could not allow a planet to successfully defy them, and Conquest was the tool they sent to correct this insubordination and bring Earth to heel, one way or another. He held a particular disdain for Omni-Man's “betrayal” and viewed his half-human son, Mark, as a disgusting aberration to be exterminated. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === Conquest does not exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or any related Marvel Comics continuity (such as Earth-616). He is the exclusive intellectual property of Robert Kirkman and Image Comics. Thematically, some parallels could be drawn to certain MCU villains who act as enforcers for a greater power, such as the Black Order serving Thanos. Like the Order, Conquest is dispatched to subdue worlds and retrieve assets for his master. However, Conquest's individual power level vastly exceeds that of any single member of the Black Order (with the possible exception of a fully-powered Ebony Maw), and his personal sadism and sheer tenacity make him a far more direct and terrifying physical threat. His role in the Invincible narrative—a brutal physical test that forces the hero to evolve—is functionally similar to the role of villains like the Abomination in The Incredible Hulk or Killmonger in Black Panther, who challenge the hero on a raw, physical level. However, there is no direct adaptation or equivalent of Conquest in the MCU. ===== Part 3: Abilities, Equipment & Personality ===== === Image Comics (Invincible Universe) === Conquest's power is that of a prime, albeit aged, Viltrumite. His raw strength and experience, however, place him in the absolute upper echelon of his species, rivaling even Omni-Man and approaching the level of Grand Regent Thragg. ==== Viltrumite Physiology ==== As a Viltrumite, Conquest possesses a suite of powers derived from his species' “smart atom” biology, which allows for rapid adaptation and energy manipulation on a cellular level. * Superhuman Strength: Conquest is monumentally strong, capable of leveling entire cities with his bare hands. His strength was shown to be at least equal to, and likely superior to, the younger Mark Grayson during their first encounter. He effortlessly overpowered Oliver Grayson and could trade blows with Mark that created massive shockwaves and shattered landscapes. He is easily a planet-level threat based on physical strength alone. * Superhuman Speed & Reflexes: Conquest can move and fly at speeds far exceeding light. He can traverse interstellar distances in a relatively short time and his combat speed is so immense that he can land dozens of blows in the span of a second. His reflexes are honed by thousands of years of combat, allowing him to react to and counter nearly any attack. * Invulnerability & Durability: Conquest's body is incredibly resistant to all forms of physical injury. He can withstand the vacuum of space, fly through the cores of stars, and endure impacts that would obliterate mountains. His durability was his most terrifying asset; during his first fight with Mark, he endured being smashed through buildings, impaled, and even having his own cybernetic arm used to disembowel him, yet he continued to fight and mock his opponent. It took the combined near-death exertions of Mark Grayson and Atom Eve to incapacitate him. * Flight: Like all Viltrumites, he can fly through a complex manipulation of his own gravitational field. His flight is his primary mode of transport and a key element of his combat style, allowing for devastating high-speed attacks. * Enhanced Healing Factor: While not as rapid as some comic book characters, a Viltrumite's healing is formidable. Conquest was able to recover from being nearly disemboweled and having his skull fractured after his first battle with Mark, though it required extensive time in a specialized Viltrumite medical facility. * Longevity & Decelerated Aging: Conquest is thousands of years old but retains the physical condition and capabilities of a Viltrumite in his prime. His white hair and beard are the only true indicators of his advanced age. ==== Cybernetic Enhancements ==== A testament to his long, brutal history, Conquest has replaced lost body parts with advanced Viltrumite cybernetics. * Prosthetic Arm: His right arm is a fully integrated cybernetic prosthetic. It appears to replicate the full strength and functionality of his original Viltrumite limb and is durable enough to be used as both a weapon and a shield. Mark Grayson was able to tear this arm off and use it to stab Conquest during their first fight. * Prosthetic Eye: His left eye is a simple, glowing red cybernetic replacement, indicating he lost the original in a past battle. It's unclear if it grants him any enhanced sensory abilities beyond normal Viltrumite vision. ==== Weaknesses ==== Despite his immense power, Conquest shares the few known vulnerabilities of all Viltrumites. * Equilibrium Disruption: Certain specific sonic frequencies can disrupt the “smart atoms” that grant Viltrumites their ability to fly and maintain equilibrium. Prolonged exposure can be debilitating, though more powerful Viltrumites like Conquest can resist it for longer than others. * Rognarrs: The Rognarr are a species of monstrous beasts with teeth and claws capable of tearing through Viltrumite flesh. They are one of the few natural predators that can physically harm and kill a Viltrumite. * The Scourge Virus: A biological weapon created by the Coalition of Planets, this virus attacks Viltrumite physiology, severely weakening them and eventually proving fatal. Conquest, like Thragg, was one of the few pure-blooded Viltrumites with a natural immunity. * Extreme Physical Trauma: Ultimately, a Viltrumite can be killed by overwhelming physical force. In his final battle, Mark Grayson, having grown significantly more powerful, was able to kill Conquest by headbutting him repeatedly and then strangling him with such force that he crushed his windpipe and snapped his neck, a feat that required pushing his own body to the absolute breaking point. ==== Personality and Ideology ==== Conquest is the perfect soldier of the Viltrumite Empire. His personality is a twisted cocktail of unshakeable arrogance, profound sadism, and a warrior's code centered on strength. * Sadism: Conquest doesn't just defeat his enemies; he revels in their suffering. He takes immense pleasure in inflicting pain, both physical and emotional. During his attack on Earth, he brutally beat Mark, deliberately savaged Atom Eve in front of him, and mocked his every failure. His dialogue is filled with taunts and cruel observations designed to break his opponent's spirit before he breaks their body. * Imperial Zealot: He is completely dedicated to the Viltrumite cause of universal domination. He views their mission as a righteous one, a natural order where the strong rule the weak. He sees any other philosophy as pathetic and naive. This dedication makes him utterly relentless and without mercy. * Warrior's Pride: Despite his cruelty, Conquest possesses a warped sense of honor. He respects only strength. Initially, he viewed Mark as a pathetic “half-breed.” However, after Mark managed to defeat him in their first encounter—a feat few had ever accomplished—Conquest developed a grudging, hateful respect for him. In their final battle, he expressed a twisted form of pride in how strong Mark had become, viewing him as a true Viltrumite at last, even as he was trying to kill him. ===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network ===== ==== Core Allies ==== Conquest is not a character who forms “alliances” in a traditional sense. He serves an empire, and his relationships are defined by hierarchy and shared ideology. * Grand Regent Thragg: As the leader of the Viltrumite Empire, Thragg is Conquest's commander. Conquest is fiercely loyal to Thragg and the Viltrumite way of life he represents. He serves as one of Thragg's most effective and trusted field commanders during the Viltrumite War, sent to the front lines to shatter enemy morale and break through the toughest defenses. * Other Viltrumites (Lucan, Anissa, etc.): Conquest views other Viltrumites as comrades-in-arms, bound by their shared heritage and mission. He doesn't display any deep personal affection for them, but he fights alongside them as part of a cohesive military unit. He holds them to the same impossibly high standard of strength he holds himself, likely viewing any weakness among them with contempt. ==== Arch-Enemies ==== Conquest's entire narrative purpose is defined by his conflict with the Grayson family and their allies. * Mark Grayson (Invincible): This is Conquest's defining relationship. He is Mark's ultimate physical and moral test. Their first battle is a desperate, bloody struggle for survival that nearly costs Mark everything. Their second and final battle is an even more brutal affair, but this time Mark has the strength and resolve to match him. Mark's victory over Conquest is not just a physical one; it's a moral one, where Mark is forced to tap into the lethal brutality of his Viltrumite heritage to protect his new home and the Coalition of Planets. Conquest, in turn, acts as a dark mirror for Mark, showing him what he could become if he fully embraced the Viltrumite ideology. * Eve Wilkins (Atom Eve): Conquest views Eve with utter contempt, seeing her as a fragile human plaything. However, he gravely underestimates her. During his first attack, when he has Mark on the verge of death, Eve unleashes her full latent potential, burning away Conquest's skin and flesh in a devastating atomic blast that gives Mark the opening he needs. Conquest is visibly shocked by her power, and his decision to brutally impale her to provoke Mark is a fatal error that fuels Mark's rage-fueled comeback. * Oliver Grayson (Kid Omni-Man): As Omni-Man's son from the planet Thraxa, Oliver has Viltrumite-level powers but a much shorter lifespan and less experience. He attempts to aid Mark in the first fight against Conquest but is swiftly and brutally dispatched. Conquest breaks his arm and dismisses him as an insignificant child, further enraging Mark. ==== Affiliations ==== * Viltrumite Empire:** Conquest's only true affiliation. He is a quintessential agent of the Empire, embodying its core tenets of expansionism, genetic purity, and rule through overwhelming force. He is less a politician or general and more of a living siege engine, deployed to solve problems that require absolute destruction.

Appearing in Invincible #61-64, this arc defines Conquest's role in the series. Sent to Earth to pay for Omni-Man's desertion, Conquest immediately begins a campaign of destruction. He confronts and easily dismisses Cecil Stedman's advanced human technology. When Mark arrives, Conquest engages him in a fight that spans the globe. He is demonstrably superior to Mark in every way, relentlessly beating him down while mocking his human heritage. The fight turns when Conquest brutally injures Oliver and impales Eve. Believing Mark to be defeated, Conquest is caught off guard by a re-energized Mark, who, fueled by grief and rage, headbutts him into unconsciousness, cracking Conquest's skull and nearly killing himself in the process. It's a pyrrhic victory that leaves Mark, Eve, and Oliver hospitalized for weeks and establishes the horrifying level of power wielded by the Viltrumite elite.

During this massive crossover event, Conquest, now fully healed and eager for revenge, returns as a key figure in Thragg's invasion of the Coalition of Planets. He is seen on the front lines, tearing through enemy ships and soldiers with glee. His presence alone is a major psychological blow to the Coalition forces who are aware of his reputation. He seeks out Mark for a rematch, but the chaos of the war keeps them separated until the final major battle.

In Invincible #77-78, as the Viltrumites launch their final assault on the Coalition's capital, Conquest finally gets his rematch. He corners Mark while the hero is trying to protect the planet's children. Their final battle is even more savage than the first. The intervening time and experience have made Mark significantly stronger, and he is now able to match Conquest blow-for-blow. The fight is a desperate, bloody brawl that sees both combatants sustain horrific injuries. It culminates with Mark, remembering the lessons his father taught him about using a Viltrumite's own durability against them, breaking Conquest's new prosthetic arm and, in a final, desperate act, strangling Conquest to death. Mark's dialogue—“You're a Viltrumite… you should be harder to kill”—is a chilling testament to the extreme force required to end the ancient warrior's life. This victory solidifies Mark's place as a top-tier powerhouse and marks a permanent shift in his willingness to use lethal force against his own people to protect others.

Conquest has not yet appeared in the Invincible animated series on Amazon Prime, but he is one of the most highly anticipated villains for future seasons. Given the show's remarkable faithfulness to the tone and brutality of the comic books, it is expected that his introduction will be a major, show-stopping event. Fans anticipate that his two fights with Mark will be rendered in unflinching, graphic detail, serving as key climactic moments for the seasons in which they appear. The adaptation will likely preserve his personality and role as a terrifying physical obstacle for Mark, pushing the show's levels of animated violence to new heights. The casting for his voice actor is a subject of intense fan speculation, with many hoping for an actor who can capture his gravelly, menacing, and arrogant demeanor.

Due to the self-contained nature of the Invincible comic book universe, there are no significant canonical “variants” of Conquest from alternate realities in the way that Marvel or DC Comics often feature (e.g., an “Ultimate Conquest”). His presence in other media is currently limited to his role in the original comic and his expected role in the animated adaptation.

• invincible_mark_grayson
• viltrumite_empire
• omni-man
• grand_regent_thragg
• atom_eve
• viltrumite_war
• coalition_of_planets

^{1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)}