In the wake of Invincible's finale, it's hard to believe that the comic can get much more brutal. The animated series stayed true to its source material's reputation for leaning into the violence of its subject matter, and the result brought about a level of superhero carnage rarely presented outside of comics.
But as the show continues to adapt elements of Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley's fan-favorite Image Comics series, there is only more carnage to come. Now, here's a closer look at brutal moments the series is sure to adapt that seem destined to go down as some of the most memorably brutal moments in TV history.
Oliver vs. The Maulers
Pound for pound, the infamous train scene from the TV show's finale has more brutality than most moments from the comics. However, the comics manage to create are emotional moments where it's the characterizations of those involved that really add to the brutality, like when the childlike Oliver murders the Maulers. New to superheroics and eager to prove himself, the rapidly-aging little brother to Invincible set out to fight the cloned supervillains in order to prove himself, and he certainly proved something.
Not fully understanding his own strength, Oliver burst through one of the Mauler twins in a gory display of his own power. Seeing his clone's remains splattered everywhere, the other Mauler twin relinquished, but that wasn't enough for Oliver who punched straight through the surviving clone's head. What proved worst of all is that Oliver was not even remorseful of his actions, reducing the deaths to a cold utilitarian calculation in discussion with his brother afterwards. Seeing an innocent child turned into a cold-hearted murderer in the span of moments proved to be one of the comic's most chilling moments in Invincible #52.
Invincible vs. Conquest
It's hard to get much more brutal than the first clash between Invincible and the Viltrumite known as Conquest. Desperate to avoid a repeat of his fight against his father and keep Earth safe, Invincible faces off against Conquest as soon as he arrives. The battle nearly killed Invincible and Atom Eve, but Eve managed to vaporize half of his body. And yet, this wasn't even the villain's most violent clash with Invincible.
It was their rematch that takes the cake, with the hero considerably stronger and evenly matched enough to face Conquest alone this time. Still out-muscled, Invincible instead used his wits to time a grapple with Conquest just after the villain exhaled his breath. Invincible strangled Conquest as the warrior tore out the hero's own guts. As the two crashed down to a planet they were neck and neck on death's door, and when Invincible emerged victorious, that win came at the cost of weeks of recovery where he very nearly could have died.
Thragg vs. Battle Beast
Many of the comic's most brutal battles involve the main villain, Grand Regent Thragg. As the leader of the Viltrumites, he quickly established himself as one of the strongest beings in existence, decimating Oliver with a single punch and splitting Omni-Man nearly in half on no less than two different occasions. In fact, it's his reputation for being so outrageously strong that attracts perhaps his greatest opponent: Battle Beast.
Thirsty for a legendary death at the hands of a worthy foe, Battle Beast sought out Thragg specifically for the purpose of a duel to the death. Thragg disposed of Battle Beast with a single punch in their previous clash and the leonine warrior never had a chance to retaliate, but he makes up for it in spades as the two engage in a battle that spans several days decimating cities. Notably, the days-long battle only started after both combatants were disemboweled. Battle Beast could have had the upper hand with Thragg's injuries but gutted himself just to ensure an even fight.
Thragg's Children vs. Everybody
Much as with Oliver's fight, the battle against Thragg's children ends up being a particular gut-punch because of the mindset and age of the combatants. Just like Oliver, the army Thragg raises are hybrids of Viltrumite DNA and an insectoid alien species who rapidly mature several times faster than most other life forms. Brainwashed by their father to desperately seek his approval and give their lives for him in battle, when he finally unleashes them against Invincible, Omni-Man, Atom Eve, Space Racer and Allen the Alien.
The children are considerably weaker than fully matured, full-blooded Viltrumites, and that becomes quickly apparent as they literally explode on impact against Invincible and his father. Their sheer numbers prove to be what makes them truly devastating, and the result is a shower of innards as the alien army sacrifices wave after wave of their own numbers to drown the heroes in sheer exhaustion.
Invincible vs. Thragg
With Thragg suffering the loss of his homeworld and Invincible suffering the loss of his father and countless other lives at Thragg's hands, the emotional battle proved every bit as fraught with meaning and significance as it was with raw power and violence. Such a climactic fight needs an epic setting, and these two dueled on the Sun itself.
Though their fight started in the coldness of space, Invincible steadily steered the fight into the fiery corona of the nearby star. Much as he used his wits to gain the upper hand in his battle with Conquest, he used them again against the even stronger Thragg. With the aid of his ally Robot to protect him from the searing temperatures, the two Viltrumites duked it out even as their clothes and skin burned off along with their communication devices. Unable to hear each other, they continued to fight, and though the Amazon series is quite a ways away from adapting the final arc of the comic, fans can be sure the series will go out with a flash that burns every bit as bright.