Warning: Spoilers for Invincible season 1 and the finale below!
After nearly killing his son Mark Grayson in the Invincible finale, Omni-Man has left Earth and ventured deep into space, but Robert Kirkman teases it’s not the last viewers will see of Nolan Grayson. With the former hero abandoning his home and family, it remains to be seen what’s next for the Viltrumite following his face-off with Invincible. The series was created by Robert Kirkman, who also penned the comic with Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley the Amazon Prime Video show is based on.
While initially presented as a hero and an ally to the Guardians of the Globe, Omni-Man was revealed to be a brutal killer who violently wiped out the superteam in the animated series’ first episode. Throughout Invincible season 1, Omni-Man’s real intentions as a superpowered being were obviously villainous, but the reason wasn’t explained right away. In the show’s season 1 finale, Omni-Man is revealed to be a monster to his son, while killing hundreds of innocent people in his fight with Mark, while coming one more blow from killing Invincible.
In the Invincible finale, Omni-Man tells Mark why he came to Earth in the first place. Originally, he lied to his family and the general public by saying his race, the Viltrumites, came to help the Earth, when in reality, he served as a scout for the warrior race who conquered planets. He came to Earth to assess the planet before the Viltrumites’ attack. When he reveals that to Mark, asks him to join him, and tells him his mother means nothing to him, the two fight with Invincible nearly being killed. Omni-Man flies off to space, likely returning to his home planet. But what does his departure mean for the show? We spoke to Kirkman, who said this isn’t the last you’ll see of the villain while adding his thoughts on whether Omni-Man can be redeemed.
I think that’s the question. I love redeeming characters in various different series, and I think that it is a difficult road to travel. Especially when you see the things that Nolan has done, the thought of him ever being a kind and caring father figure or husband is kind of unheard of at this point. But I love a challenge, so we’ll see.
The answer to Omni-Man’s potential redemption is in the comics (which we won’t spoil here). That said, considering the number of changes Kirkman and the team behind the show have already made to the source material, the comics aren’t likely exactly how the show will go anyway. Kirkman did acknowledge to Screen Rant that this isn’t the last we’ll see of Nolan Grayson, saying “chances are, this is not the last we’ll see of him.”
When viewers will see Omni-Man next in future seasons is unknown, but Kirkman confirming the finale isn’t the last they’ll see of Nolan Grayson is good news. The character is an amazing villain whose emotions prevented him from killing Invincible, showing redemption is possible, even if it will be highly difficult given the atrocities he’s committed. Plus, more of J.K. Simmons voicing the role in future seasons is definitely a good thing. Invincible season 1 is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
