WARNING: The following contains SPOILERS for Invincible season 1, episode 8, “Where I Really Come From.”
Nolan Grayson, aka Omni-Man, is a villain in Invincible — but the Amazon TV adaptation changes the character from the comics version, hinting at a big twist for season 2. Invincible is based on the Robert Kirkman comics, but changes subtle aspects of the original story. Although the basic story beats are the same, Amazon ultimately improves various aspects of the comics — including the characterization of Omni-Man.
For the most part, the Amazon Prime original Invincible is a faithful adaptation of its source material; however, there are subtle variances in the characters and plot. The story is updated to be more inclusive: for example, Amazon made the Green Ghost a female, and William Clockwell was changed to be openly gay at the beginning of the series, providing Invincible with a much-needed LGBTQ + character.
Omni-Man is different in Amazon’s adaptation of Invincible — although not so much to change his main story arc. Mark’s father is powerful and, as becomes increasingly clear throughout season 1, indifferent to human life. Like in the comics, Nolan admits to Mark that he killed the Guardians of the Globe, then reveals the Viltrumite Empire sent him to conquer Earth. Not only does he show a shocking lack of empathy towards his son — and even more so his wife, Debbie — but Omni-Man is a vocal proponent of the superiority of the Viltrumites, deeming all other living beings beneath him and his people. Underneath his harsh exterior, however, are clear signs of Omni-Man’s fondness for his family — which is much more obvious in Amazon’s Invincible than the comics.
Omni-Man’s relationship with his wife and son gets a slightly different treatment in Amazon’s show, setting up his likely return in season 2. In both, Nolan left Earth, choosing to abandon his Viltrumite post over delivering the fatal blow to his son. The series, however, adds a flashback memory of a key moment when Omni-Man allowed himself to soften towards Mark: watching his son succeed in a distinctly human sport — one Omni-Man clearly felt self-superior toward — the father allows himself to appreciate the moment for what it means to his son. It’s a sweet moment that underscores how proud Nolan is of his son just by virtue of him being his son — a stark contrast to the harsh, unfeeling ideology of the Viltrumite Empire. That, and his insistence to Mark that he loves his mother (even if he does compare her to a “pet”) is much more overt than the character’s seeming indifference to family in the comics.
Invincible episode 7 is great because of the comic changes; Amazon adds a significant lead-up to the Mark/Nolan battle that ties the season’s plotlines together. The character motivations in the Invincible comics are subtle and likely wouldn’t translate well to screen. The nuances that are easy to spot via a close reading — Omni-Man’s reaction to Mark getting his powers, or the hints that Cecil isn’t exactly morally infallible —are much less apparent in a TV series. By adding content that emphasizes these ideas, Amazon sets up season 2 to follow those stories in a way that can be both believable and surprising. Omni-Man’s return in season 2 — especially if he reconciles with Mark and Debbie — would make sense for his character, given the scenes that set up that motivation.
Fans of the original comic love the story’s rich continuity and painstaking attention to detail; the best way for Amazon to honor Kirkman’s Invincible comic is to find ways to maintain that spirit, but translate it to the different medium. In both versions of Invincible, it’s clear Omni-Man loves his son — and him leaving Earth is certainly not the end of his story.
