What's the Invincible War? A Complete Guide to the Epic Battle
WARNING: Spoilers for Invincible Season 3Mark Grayson will have a lot to think about after the ending of the sixth episode of Invincible Season 3. Fans of the animated series may not know what to expect after seeing a room full of Invincible variants, but comic readers certainly do. After the first glimpse at one of the biggest conflicts in the Invincible series yet, there will be massive consequences for Mark and his family.
The events of Invincible Season 3, Episode 6 lay the groundwork for the Invincible War, a massive multiversal battle between Mark and an army of his evil variants that takes place in Invincible #60 by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley. The story only spans a single issue, but its repercussions ripple through the entire series, transforming Mark’s approach to heroism.
The war marks a pivotal moment in Mark’s journey, and it should provide plenty of work for Mark's voice actor, Steven Yeun. It's also a crossover event that brings together different versions of Mark and a host of other characters across the Invincible universe, including Mohawkand Spawn. Invincible War is a monumental event, and its impact on the future of the series can't be overstated.
The Invincible War Started Years Before the Violence Truly Began
Invincible #60 by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, Cliff Rathburn, FCO Plascencia, and Rus Wooton
The Invincible War was set in motion years before it unfolded. It all starts in Invincible #16 by Kirkman and Ottley with the introduction of Angstrom Levy, a genius from an alternate universe where Invincible joined forces with Omni-Man to conquer Earth. After an encounter with Invincible that ended with the deaths of the Guardians of the Globe, Levy harbored a deep resentment toward Mark, marking him as his ultimate target.
I Refuse To Believe This Invincible Character's Secret Identity Is Actually Still Secret
Many Invincible heroes go out of their way to protect their identity, but one character has somehow remained anonymous despite their lack of subtlety.
Angstrom Levy’s biggest strength lies in his ability to access the multiverse. Using a device built by the Mauler Twins, Levy pulled together alternate versions of himself from countless dimensions. This collective knowledge, when combined, would allow Levy to reshape the multiverse and elevate himself to new levels of power. Things took a turn for the worse when Mark intervened, causing the Maulers’ machine to explode and leaving Levy horribly disfigured with an enormous head and exposed brain. His disfigurement fueled his thirst for revenge, and he vowed to make Invincible pay for what he'd done.
From Beginning to End, the Invincible War Marked a Major Moment for the Series
Levy Assembles a Dark Army of Invincibles
Following the explosion, Levy’s mind became a vast network of knowledge from countless dimensions, but his body was left malformed. Consumed by hatred and revenge, he used drones to travel across the multiverse. The culmination of his vengeance would take shape when he gathered an army of evil versions of Invincible from alternate timelines. All of them are just as strong as the original, but with far darker intentions: bloodthirsty murderers or even full-throated viltrumites. The battle that ensued caused global destruction as they fought heroes from across different Image Comics series, including characters like Spawn and Mohawk.
The Invincible War reached its conclusion after Mark managed to defeat one of the evil Marks, but the damage was already done. The evil Marks had successfully carried out their mission, laying waste to nearly every major city before Levy ordered them to disfigure Mark. However, the Invincibles refused to follow through, and in retaliation, Levy lost almost half of his forces.
The war had ended, but its emotional toll on Mark was far from over.
In a last-ditch attempt, Levy trapped the remaining Invincibles in another dimension, but Mark, with Bulletproof and Oliver, found him first. They ambushed and captured Levy, and for a moment, Mark considered ending the villain’s life to prevent further destruction. Before Mark could act, Levy managed to escape through another portal, leaving Mark frustrated and unable to finish the job. The war had ended, but its emotional toll on Mark was far from over.
The Invincible War Had a Major Impact on Mark Grayson
A Hero’s Guilt and the Dark Path Ahead
The Invincible War didn’t just shake Mark physically; it altered his entire outlook on heroism. Before the war, Mark was an optimistic and idealistic young hero, eager to save everyone he could. However, the brutal conflict with Levy and his army forced Mark to confront the harsh realities of his actions. He couldn’t save everyone, and sometimes, his efforts only made things worse. The casualties of this war weighed heavily on him and left him questioning the true cost of being Invincible.
Looking for more Robert Kirkman comics beyond Invincible and The Walking Dead? Check out Void Rivals, Kirkman's latest series with artist Lorenzo De Felici, available now from Image Comics.
The battle serves as a major turning point for Mark. After the war, he became more aware of the consequences of his actions.The brutality of the Invincible War made Mark understand that not all battles could be won and that some sacrifices were unavoidable. From this point on, his path was darker: his decisions were harder, and his willingness to compromise grew. This wasn’t the same optimistic Mark Grayson who first put on the Invincible suit. The war had changed him forever.
Though Mark’s transformation into a darker hero directly resulted from the Invincible War, the event also set the stage for future challenges. The emotional baggage from this conflict—combined with the constant threats from enemies like Angstrom Levy—stayed with Mark throughout the series. His evolution into a more complex and morally ambiguous hero was necessary for his survival, as Invincible continued to explore the cost of heroism in a world where things often go wrong.
The Legacy of the Invincible War Is Felt for the Rest of the Series
An Epic Battle that Shaped the Future of Invincible
With recent momentum due to the show's success, a lot is riding on the television debut of this pivotal moment from Invincible's history. The Invincible War is one of the most significant events in Mark Grayson’s journey, marking a turning point in both his character development and the overall series. It reveals that Mark’s greatest enemy might not be a supervillain, but rather the weight of his choices and the emotional toll of those decisions.
Invincible Season 3 Is Delaying The Viltrumite Invasion Storyline, But For A Good Reason
Invincible season 2 began teasing the impending Viltrumite invasion, but the show is wisely delaying its big storyline despite being a risky strategy.
For fans of Invincible, the Invincible War is a reminder that no battle is ever truly won without sacrifice. It’s one of the comic’s most intense and impactful arcs, highlighting the brutal reality of being a hero in a world where not every decision leads to a happy ending. If the animated adaption of Invincible ends up making this moment even half as monumental, fans will surely be in for a wild ride.
Invincible #60 is available now from Image Comics.
- Created by
- Robert Kirkman
- First TV Show
- Invincible
- Cast
- Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, J.K. Simmons, Gillian Jacobs, Andrew Rannells
- Video Game(s)
- Invincible: Guarding the Globe
- Character(s)
- Invincible, Debbie Grayson, Atom Eve, William Clockwell, Omni-Man
Invincible is a multimedia franchise that began with the graphic novel series by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley. The series follows Mark Grayson, the son of Earth's strongest hero, Omni-Man, as he enters into his powers at the cusp of adulthood. A television adaptation began in 2021 and retells the core story of the comics while fleshing it out and expanding on characters and concepts introduced in the medium.
