Omni-Man was the main antagonist of Invincible's first season. Although he spent the majority of the story as a caring (albeit short-tempered) father to Mark Grayson, his dark past eventually caught up with him, prompting him to embark on a massive killing spree.
There are many reasons why Nolan can be considered among the greatest villains of all time. Through identifying them, we can better appreciate the brilliance behind his character and the ways he has already severely weakened the planet in the name of Viltrum and its ultimate conquest.
10 Omni-Man Obliterated The Entire Flaxan Civilization
During the Flaxans' third invasion of Earth, it seemed as if all hope was lost. Invincible and the new Guardians of the Globe were unable to match the villains' rapid advancements in technology, with the heroes slowly becoming overwhelmed.
When Omni-Man intervened, he not only pushed the Flaxans back through their portals but also obliterated their entire civilization. Although this was a massive asset to the heroes since it meant they wouldn't have to face subsequent invasions for some time, Nolan's intention was only to ensure that Viltrum's prize was not compromised.
9 Omni-Man Let Invincible Get Mauled By Battle Beast
Battle Beast was an unspeakably powerful alien mercenary in Machine Head's service. During the Guardians' attack on his compound, the monster was ultimately responsible for fighting, defeating, and hospitalizing Invincible.
Omni-Man was aware of the altercation and observed it from outside the crime boss's tower. However, he chose to let his son be mangled in order to gauge his strength and make him realize the error of ignoring his wisdom. Doing so illustrated the darker side of parenting and the remorselessness he seldom allows others to see.
8 Omni-Man Shrugged Off Earth's Greatest Defenses With Ease
When Omni-Man closed in on Invincible, Cecil did everything in his power in order to stop his advance. This included harrying him with reanimen, igniting him with a large explosion, unleashing a brutal orbital strike, and even confronting him directly to talk some sense into him.
Ultimately, none of these techniques were adequate to stop the villain from his mission. Cecil's failures may be a testament of the Viltrumite's power, but it also speaks to the tenacity of humanity and its willingness to win no matter the cost.
7 Omni-Man Was Morally Nuanced & Compelling
Although Omni-Man has committed dozens of atrocities, he is distinguished from the series' other villains for his moral nuance. Nolan isn't single-mindedly driven to fulfill his goal; he also prioritizes his family and makes a concerted effort to appease his wife (when killing her would have been a safer way to preserve his identity).
Additionally, his slow decline was an excellent device for building tension that led to a satisfying final fight with his son. Without Omni-Man's more sophisticated qualities, he simply would have been a bland, world-ending threat whose defeat (or victory) would have been equally hollow.
6 It Took The Entire World Over A Decade To Uncover Omni-Man's True Purpose
Nolan's power may have been considerable, but his intelligence and discretion was even greater. He was able not only to integrate himself in human society but also act as its greatest defender for over a decade, avoiding the suspicion of Earth's denizens and the aliens purposed for finding invading Viltrumites and alerting planets about them.
Omni-Man was such a diabolical manipulator that he was even responsible for eulogizing the Guardians of the Globe - the same people he murdered.
5 Omni-Man Trained Invincible & Made His Friends Question His Allegiance
After realizing his son's latent Viltrumite powers, Nolan took a great interest in him and pledged his services as a trainer. He helped Mark learn how to fly and master his strength, honing him into a weapon that he hoped to use later.
Their bonding was much to the alarm of Cecil and his allies, who (correctly) interpreted Omni-Man's actions as an attempt to groom his son against the planet. Fortunately, Invincible ultimately chose to use his powers to protect the innocent, not kill them.
4 Omni-Man Murdered Donald After Discovering He Was Spying On Him
When an agent breached Omni-Man's house and was badly mangled, she attempted to crawl back to Donald's headquarters in a futile gesture of desperation. This alerted the villain to his whereabouts, compelling him to break through the door and attack those inside.
While Donald put up a valiant effort, Nolan defeated him in a matter of seconds. With his final breath, he thanked Cecil for their partnership and detonated the compound in a fiery explosion. Unfortunately, his sacrifice didn't even make his intended target flinch.
3 Omni-Man Murdered Hundreds Of People Just To Teach Invincible A Lesson
Having realized how much Invincible valued the lives of humans, Omni-Man hoped to massacre as many people as possible in order to break his son's spirit and disillusion him to their worth.
Consequently, he began to rip apart skyscrapers and crush the heads of those unfortunate enough to cross his path. Nolan ensured that Mark would have a close view of the carnage when he used his body to stop a train and massacre the passengers inside. However, the villain's barbarism only turned his son against him further.
2 Omni-Man Murdered The Guardians Of The Globe
Perhaps Omni-Man's most notorious atrocity was his slaughter of the Guardians of the Globe. He used an emergency signal that they entrusted to him to lure them into one place - somewhere secluded from the rest of the world, where he would be able to butcher the defenders without immediate retribution.
Although Nolan considered the heroes his friends, his goal of weakening Earth's defenses ultimately superseded his loyalty to them. However, once Damien Darkblood began investigating their murders, his days as a defender of human civilization were numbered.
1 Omni-Man Was Ultimately Undefeated
Despite the many challenges that Omni-Man faced, he reached the end of the first season undefeated. In the end, not even Invincible's Viltrumite lineage was sufficient to overcome him, even if he successfully managed to end his father's threat.
By risking his life in order to save his comrades, he forced Omni-Man to choose between duty and family. After great emotional turmoil and to the relief of billions, Nolan eventually chose the latter. His actions created momentum that Allen the Alien hoped to use against the imperial threat of the Viltrumites and set the stage for a tenuous future that Invincible will have a significant role in shaping.