At the end of Invincible's previous episode, Mark Grayson's father Nolan (a.k.a. Omni-Man) returned to Earth with Allen the Alien. In short, he told Mark that war with the Viltrumites is coming and that the universe needs his help. Shocking to no one, Mark has some reservations. Not just because he’d be forced to leave Earth vulnerable, but that he still has unresolved issues with his father. Nevertheless, as predicted, Invincible agreed to help.
Allen the Alien and Nolan recruit Invincible and his brother Oliver, along with newcomer Zoe Thompson (a.k.a. Tech Jacket). And, like the source material, the Viltrumites attacked them before the team could get back to the Coalition of Planets, and Mark ended up in a fight with his biggest challenge, Conquest.
*** WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS from Invincible season 4 episode 5 ***
One major thing about this fight is that Mark stood tall against Conquest. It was clear that he was not only stronger but also more determined to make sure his enemy stayed dead. He knew that Conquest’s next move would be to hurt and kill everyone he loved. So, no matter how hard he was hit, Invincible wouldn’t let go. Even after the well-known Vlitrumite strike pierced his stomach and Conquest pulled the organs from Mark's body, Invincible kept his hands around his throat and made good on his promise of making sure that he'd never breathe again.
What's next? Recovery
Before the Viltrumites attacked, Oliver was furious with his father, Nolan, for not coming to see him. In the next episode, while Mark recovers from almost dying, the two will share moments that will help them understand each other better and grow as a family.
The anger that Oliver has for his father is justified. Omni-Man visited his son’s home but didn’t bother to see him when he returned. Anybody would be upset by that. Now, when they spend time alone waiting for Mark to heal (which took months in the comics), their growth together will feel more emotional.
During this time, look for Oliver to express his anger, and Nolan to open up about why he acted this way. This was another move by the show’s creative team that changed some of the story elements from the comics that worked even better than the source material.
Before the final credits start rolling, viewers see Tech Jacket and Allen hiding on the Viltrumite ship. Zoe plans to use her Geldarian war suit to keep them hidden in plain sight. Now, all they can do is wait for the right opportunity to eject. Too soon, and the minute they leave, the Vilturmites will find them. If this is like Invinible: Viltrumite War, then the Coalition of Planets will come to save the day.
Here's hoping that this is exactly what happens.
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