Viltrumites

**Pure:**

* Thragg
* Kregg
* Conquest
* Nolan
* Anissa
* Thula
* Lucan
* Vidor
* Thaedus
* Alternate Omni-Man
* Various others

**Hybrid:**

* Mark Grayson
* Oliver Grayson
* Alternate Invincibles

> **Mark**: As far as we can tell, my dad is just gone.
>
> **Allen**: That is super weird for a Viltrumite. They don't just give up. They're relentless. They destroyed my world when my people rebelled against them. They blew up our planet rather than lose it.
>
> Invincible and Allen the Alien in *Where I Really Come From*

**Viltrumites** are a highly advanced alien race of extremely powerful humanoids native to the planet Viltrum and the titular/dominant race of the galactic **Viltrum Empire**. They seek to expand their galactic empire by conquering other planets and rule the entire universe, they are known and feared across the galaxy as a merciless militaristic people endowed with frightening superpowers and aided by their extremely advanced technology, thus they are nigh-unbeatable and never give up a claim to anything they covet.

## History

### Before the Expansion

The records of the Viltrumite's pre-rise to power are largely ambiguous, though at one point, they had humanlike lifespans but evolved into near godlike, living for thousands of years. Their planet appears to be far more advanced than most worlds, establishing tall skyscrapers and cityscapes that nearly towering Earth's cities. Additionally, at an unknown point, the Viltrumites created medical technology that far exceeded any other known world and was even successful at developing cures to end famine, cancer as well as other fatal scourge in the galaxy.

### Addition by Subtraction

> In order for our people to reach their full potential, we had to remove the weak from our society. It was a long and difficult process. When it was over, our population was cut in half, but what emerged from the ashes was unstoppable.
>
> Omni-Man to Invincible in *Where I Really Come From*

As stated by Nolan, thousands of years ago the Viltrumites were largely confined to their own planet, too busy dealing with their own internal problems to be concerned with anything else. At some point in their history however, one side of the Viltrumites decided to adopt a new regime similar to Eugenics. Believing that only the strongest should be allowed to live, and that for their species to reach their full potential, the weak needed to be culled from their own society. They decided to “purge the weak” from their society in what would come to be known as the "Great Purge" in an attempt to create a perfect civilization. This ignited a savage and bloody planet-wide civil war between various factions and resulted in their population of over 7 billion being cut in half but at the same time birthed an entirely new militaristic society of strong, formidable warriors and fighters. Convinced of their natural supremacy over all other races, the Viltrumites decided make the new Viltrum Empire the greatest and most formidable empire in the galaxy. Before long, fleets of warships carrying legions of super-powerful Viltrumites embarked out into the galaxy in all directions in the Viltrum expansion campaign, where they began conquering any useful or worthwhile planets in their path and adding them to their territory.

On their never-ending mission of manifest destiny, the Viltrumites had uplifted many worlds by offering them advanced medical technology and eliminating any and all global conflicts or disadvantages, such as war, disease and famine. However, because the Viltrumites demanded unwavering loyalty from their subjugated worlds, some species resisted and refused the takeover. To that end the Viltrumites had purged the species that refused to be a part of their empire, either through global genocide, or by obliterating the species' planet. One such species, the Unopans, had their planet destroyed by the Viltrumites after having refused to join the Viltrum Empire. The now space-faring Unopans joined the Coalition of Planets in an effort to stop the Viltrumites from expanding. With no world of their own the Unopans were forced to create breeding camps in order to maintain their numbers, as well as to create warriors who could match the Viltrumites in strength. Allen was one such soldier, who now acted as an evaluation officer of the coalition, was to report any and all Viltrumite activities to any worlds scheduled for conquest.

Eventually, the Viltrum Empire came to encompass thousands of planets with more being added every year but as it reached ever farther, the Viltrumite war-machines began to show signs of strain as their military forces, though still as formidable as ever, became stretched dangerously thin as the Viltrumite population was simply not large enough to provide an endless supply of manpower. Finally, the Viltrumite leadership decided to pause the expansion and look for more efficient methods of galactic domination. To counter the need for a full-scale invasion into target planets, it was instead decided that the most trusted officers of the Viltrumite military would be assigned planets to infiltrate and weaken sufficiently in order to allow for a seamless takeover.

### Viltrumite of Earth

> I'm a good liar. I'm a very good liar, but you, you're better. You fooled her. Hell, you fooled all of us for what, 20 years?
>
> Cecil Stedman to Omni-Man in *We Need To Talk*

Assigned Earth, Nolan traveled to Earth in 2002, where he created a new life, adopting the secret identity of a best-selling author named **Nolan Grayson**. Privately, he presented himself as a "superhero" to hide his true persona as **Omni-Man** and aligning himself with the original Guardians of the Globe and the Global Defense Agency. Despite refusing to join the team, he agreed to become a "reserved help" whenever they needed aid. Nolan married a human woman, he saved while on hero duty, named Debbie, and they had a hybrid son together named Mark Grayson. Nolan would tell Mark false stories about the Viltrumite's intentions until he had his powers to make sure he was on his side.

Twenty years after arriving on Earth, Nolan as Omni-Man became recognized as its "greatest superhero", when he discovered his son's powers finally awakened. He began eliminating potential threats to Viltrum's rule, starting with the Guardians that he massacred in their headquarters, and not long after he framed demon detective Damien Darkblood for the murders. Ultimately, when the truth began to come out, Nolan sought out his son Mark, which led him to a heated battle with the G.D.A.'s Director Cecil Stedman's advanced forces. At the same time, The Immortal was brought back to life by the Mauler Twins and he immediately went after Nolan to kill him. Arriving at the battlefield, he and Nolan fought and despite his best efforts, Nolan succeeded in murdering him again but not without revealing to the world, including his son, his true persona. Mark falsely believed his father was being mind controlled till Nolan finally admitted to his son, that he is fully conscious of his actions and of his true origins as a Viltrumite. Nolan tried to convince Mark to aid him in conquering Earth for Viltrum, but Mark was adamant on his decision of protecting Earth from the upcoming Viltrumite invasion. As a result, a world-changing battle between father and son erupted, which destroyed most of Chicago City.

### Remedying Treason

> Your father will be executed, and you will return to Earth. You will assume his mission and prepare the planet for our rule. I know this may not appeal to you, given your sympathies, so I'll put it like this. You can kill a few humans to convince them to capitulate, or we will kill millions if we arrive to find you or your planet still defiant against us. We will check on your progress soon. And unlike your father, we do not change our minds. Good luck on your mission.
>
> General Kregg "recruiting" Invincible in It's Been A While

Unwilling to kill his son, the emotionally traumatized viltrumite spy abandoned his post on Earth, and after months of wondering the universe, Nolan found his way to Thraxa, where it's population made him their emperor due to his heroic actions towards them. At the same time, three Viltrumite soldiers were tasked on tracking the traitor down, after learning from their spy inside the Coalition of Planets, that he abandoned his mission and that he sired a hybrid heir with a human woman. They soon found him on Thraxa, where they decimated a number of the populace in search of both Nolan and his son, Mark, who was brought to the planet in order to help his father protect his newly born younger half-brother, that Nolan had with one of the thraxans he saved. The Viltrumites were interested in testing Mark's abilities to see if he was worthy of joining their empire, and after a gruesome battle against the Graysons, they emerged victorious. An injured Nolan was arrested and taken away to be tried and then executed for treason, while an injured Mark was welcomed into the empire by high-ranking General Kregg, by forcibly assigning him with his father's original task; to prepare Earth for Viltrumite rule, or else they would arrive to massacre millions of it's population, if neither he nor the planet's population are ready to capitulate.

## Culture

### Might Makes Right

> Remember, you're not just a superhero, Mark. You're a Viltrumite. We have... responsibilities that normal humans don't.
>
> Omni-Man to Mark Grayson in *Who You Calling Ugly?*

Not much is known about Viltrumite culture, but their defining characteristic is their social darwinistic and supremacist beliefs. Viltrumites typically look down on other races, as demonstrated when Omni-Man called the people of earth “Cavemen”. They don't seem to embrace petty discrimination such as colorism, given how many different skin colored Viltrumites are treated equally and are only judged through their strength alone. Furthermore, they seem to discipline their children to be unquestionably obedient as it's unnatural for a Viltrumite offspring to defy their parent. Given their brutal history, they believe only those with great strength are worthy of living and will not hesitate to subjugate entire planets, species or outright annihilate them if they see them as weak. They are willing to offer a species they subjugate with various benefits such as advanced medical technology, an end to global conflicts (wars and famine). All in exchange for absolute unwavering loyalty towards their new alien rulers, otherwise the price of resistance is death and extinction.

> If you fight well, we may allow you to join the empire. If not, you'll die.
>
> Lucan's ultimatum to Invincible in *It's Been A While*

Due to their prideful and supremacist nature, they have low tolerance for genetically imperfect Viltrumites, and thus they are only allowed to procreate with genetically similar species (such as Humans), which is why they tend to give hybrid Viltrumites, a chance to prove themselves worthy of being a part of the Viltrum Empire, by form of combat, if they can best a pure Viltrumite then they will be assigned a planet to conquer for the Empire.

### Unusual Empathy

> **Nolan**: Why? Why do I care about them? They were weak, short-lived, barely a species. They shouldn't matter to me.
> **Mark**: That doesn't mean they should die.
> **Nolan**: You don't understand! I'm not supposed to feel this way! How is this better?
>  **Mark**: This is how you should've felt on earth.
>
> Nolan and his son, Mark on his emotional conflict in *It's Been A While*

Astonishingly, there are very rare cases of Viltrumites developing compassion and love for what they considered to be lesser races. One such Viltrumite, Nolan, developed genuine feelings of love for his human wife and hybrid son (and by extension humanity) after spending decades protecting Earth, although he attempted to deny this. However, this anomaly did not stop him from killing anyone who got in his way, including those who would threaten his family. Eventually, he soon began caring for other forms of life (such as the Thraxans), whom he ruled over, for a time.

## Powers and Abilities

> Viltrumites are very similar to humans, except we can fly, move at super speed, and possess great strength."
>
> *Nolan Grayson to Mark Grayson in* It's About Time

**Viltrumite Physiology**: Viltrumites are a race of highly advanced beings with extremely potent and developed genetics. Some time ago, they started a civil war among their own people to cull weakness from their population. While this greatly diminished their numbers it also meant that the remaining Viltrumites were the strongest of their people. The incredible adaptability of their genome and strength of their genetics means that they can breed with a wide variety of races. If the race they couple with is compatible enough, the Viltrumite genes will start taking over the genome of the hybrid offspring while giving them access to Viltrumite abilities. While Viltrumite genes will overshadow the non-Viltrumite portions of their hybrid children if the species they mated with was compatible enough, greater compatibility means the hybrid will become closer to a full-blooded Viltrumite. Humans for example are so close to Viltrumites genetically that a Human/Viltrumite hybrid is genetically almost the same as a full-blooded Viltrumite and with time will become just as powerful.

* **Superhuman Strength**: Viltrumites have incredible superhuman strength that make them one of the most powerful species and are almost impossible to defeat. The average Viltrumite has enough strength to lift billions of tons. The upper limit is unknown as some Viltrumites are stronger than others.
* **Nigh-Invulnerability**: Viltrumites are nigh-invulnerable and are able to withstand colossal amounts of force and or power that could greatly harm or even kill other beings. Additionally, their cells have been proven to be immune to virtually all types of dangerous diseases and viruses.
	+ **Conversion Immunity**: Viltrumites are unaffected by Sequids.
* **Superhuman Speed**: Viltrumites can break the sound barrier.
* **Superhuman Stamina**: Viltrumites are able to fight and move for extended periods of time without collapsing from exhaustion.
* **Superhuman Senses**: Nolan was able to overhear a conversation between Debbie Grayson and Art Rosenbaum from outside a building and sense an invisible soldier. During his morning outing in a city, Mark was able to hear an ambulance from high in the sky.
* **Enhanced Lung Capacity**: Viltrumites have a lung capacity to hold their breath for weeks at a time.
* **Regenerative Healing**: Viltrumites have an enhanced healing factor, allowing them to quickly recover from injuries.
* **Decelerated Aging**: According to Nolan, the older Viltrumites get, the slower they age. This allows them to have an incredibly long lifespan, able to live for thousands of years. From this, it allows them to retain their health, vitality, conditioning, performance, and youthful appearance that much longer. Despite being several millennia old, they remain a robust individual.
* **Flight**: Viltrumites are able to freely move through physical space. Nolan said that flying is like using a muscle. This ability doesn't seem to be influenced by the gravity of planets as Nolan and Mark were able to fly in extraterrestrial planets and space.
* **Dominant Genetics**: According to Nolan, Viltrumite DNA is so pure that Mark, a half-Viltrumite half-human hybrid, is nearly a full-blooded Viltrumite.
* **Reactive Adaptation**: Viltrumites adapt constantly and get stronger when either pushed to the brink of death and heal or fight someone on their level. Viltrumites adapt very quickly whether it be magical or energy based attacks or learning their opponents movements and attack sequence.

## Weaknesses

* **Extreme Force**: While Viltrumites are among some of the strongest in the universe, they aren't completely unstoppable. Viltrumites can be harmed by beings of similar or greater strength.
* **Psychological Instability/Disorders**: Viltrumites as a culture are extremely stunted emotionally and spiritually. They focus only on the pragmatic and logical through a very Darwinistic mindset. This in turn has given them almost a cult like mentality toward their people, world and the way of the Viltrumite. However, Nolan repeatedly hints at this being primarily the result of having to live for so long and see so many others and civilizations fall into ruin that the weight of being practically immortal is in fact a serious burden psychologically. Their cold and callous nature seems to be a coping mechanism and the active effort to shun emotions and personal connection being a way to protect themselves from emotional pain and trauma. Tellingly, it's when Nolan starts to live on earth among people so similar to his own but also exhibiting a full range of emotions along with finding a woman and having a son that truly love him and value him is what brings about Nolan changing from the cold, indifferent soldier he was and into a genuine father and husband. When he starts to actively attack earth he shows many hints of uneasiness and sadness. It isn't until he fights his son Mark and how Mark tells him that he isn't alone and that they would still have each other even 500 years after Mark's mother died and their friends were gone that something inside Nolan broke. For the first time in centuries Nolan understood how it felt to be genuinely loved and cared about and the weight of what he had just thrown away for the sake of an empire that neither loved nor cared about him filled him with deep agony and remorse choosing instead to fly away and abandon his mission than destroy more of what he cherished for his cold and callous people.
* **Excessively High Frequency**: The effects of high-frequency noise through Viltrumite's ears can be detrimental. It throws off his equilibrium, inhibiting his ability to fly, causing extreme pain, and may even possibly kill him. Depending on how strong the frequency determines that pain of attack.

## Trivia

* The Male Viltrumites are known for their mustaches, according to Robert Kirkman in a Honest Trailers video of Invincible, he admitted the mustaches were there because his father had a full grown mustache.
* The Female Viltrumites like Thula are shown to have short hair or ponytails.
* The Viltrumites are loosely based on the Kryptonians from DC Comics.
* The Viltrumites share similarities with the Saiyans from the *Dragon Ball* franchise.
	+ Both are powerful, planet-conquering, humanoid races with a might-makes-right mentality.
	+ Both are well-known for their trademark characteristics (their tails and their mustaches respectively).
	+ Both steadily grow more powerful and efficient the more they struggle and recover from injuries.
	+ Both can create offspring with other races and those hybrid children can become just as powerful, if not more powerful, than their full-blooded parents.
	+ Both are influenced off of the Kryptonians from DC Comics.
* The Viltrumites also share interesting similarities to the Decepticons of the Transformers franchise.
	+ An example a film from 1986, called **Transformers The Movie**, showed a scene where the Decepticons dumped out their own warriors in space who were all weakened from a battle, and the survivors fought for supremacy for leadership.
	+ One can consider it similar to how the Viltrumites fought each other in the great purge.
	+ Both factions are miltary based, and thrive on conquering the galaxy to be led by their will.
	+ In some cases, much like the viltrumites, the decepticons take no holds of mercy towards those who betray their cause.
	+ Both species lifespan goes about hundreds to thousands of years.
	+ They also live in advanced planets and have technology and resources that far exceeds earth's technology, both worlds were ravaged by their own species war.
	+ Similar to the Viltrumites expanding their armies, a cartoon series than ran from 2007-09, Transformers Animated, mentioned and showed the Decepticons wide spreading their armies across the galaxy, following the return of their leader who was supposedly deceased and the comics, the decepticons established a galaxy wide attack on all outposts of their enemies and nearly conquered the galaxy, in another comic and a film in 2018, the Decepticons had succeeded in winning over cybertron and forcing their enemies to flee.