Omni Man

Nolan Grayson, also known as Omni-Man, is a Viltrumite sent to weaken Earth in an attempt to expand the Viltrum Empire. Despite the hundreds of years experienced in his Viltrumite ways, Nolan would end up betraying his mission as he had grown attached to his new life. He is a major supporting character in Invincible. Nowl-Ahn was born as a Viltrumite on the planet Viltrum, where he was indoctrinated with its brutal culture from birth. In his early years, the success of the world conquering committee made him and many other Viltrumites desire to join. He would apply for a position when he came of age, being assigned to the search committee; a unit responsible for finding planets ripe for conquest. Despite being stationed on a mobile base with little to no harm, Nowl-Ahn desired for a more active role in the organization. For the next three years, he would take auditions to prove his strength until he eventually gained a position. His outstanding results had impressed recruiters so much that they stationed him at the forefront of the empire's expansion efforts. ("Invincible: Issue 11") During this time period, Nowl-Ahn threw himself into work and found great enjoyment in it, birthing an undying sense of loyalty to the Viltrum Empire. As they added more civilizations to their empire, Nowl-Ahn quickly rose through the ranks until he eventually found himself leading his own division. For hundreds of years, he aided in the destruction and conquest of many civilizations, including the near extinction of the Unopans. His efforts netted him awards and adoration from many in his species. ("Invincible: Issue 11") When the Viltrum Empire became stretched to thin, Nowl-Ahn and a few other high-ranking Viltrumites were tasked with weakening a designated planet. Being ordered to acclimate with the planet's environment and ensuring they wouldn't be strong enough to combat them for the next five hundred years. After that designated period, they would bring back the knowledge collected in order to efficiently bring the civilization under their rule. Nowl-Ahn was sent to Earth and at first, felt relieved as it had practically been a vacation for him. ("Invincible: Issue 11") He spent his first few days surveying the planet, hating the people who inhabited it at first. Nowl-Ahn soon realized the difficulty of his task as dangerous threats kept appearing day by day on Earth. Viewing these threats as a danger to their future conquest, Nowl-Ahn spent the next few months taking care of them, eventually devolving into a routine of sort. It was during this period where he encountered an alien entering the solar system and under the assumption that they were another invader; immediately fought them off. ("Invincible: Issue 11") This alien would end up visiting periodically in the future, something he always assumed as a hostile threat returning to invade. ("Invincible: Issue 5") On one particular day; Nowl-Ahn would end up saving a human woman named Debbie Grayson from a supervillain calledGridlock. It was after meeting her that he realized the only way to enjoy his new environment was to live as a human. So, he told her a false version of his past and the two started going out with each other, presumably going under the name "Nolan" to sound more human. He found difficulty in settling into his new home; almost murdering a mugger and finding activities like menial labor strange, though he discovered enjoyment in physical love outside of procreating. Due to his time defending the planet, Nolan found himself entangled with the superhero community, presumably getting acquainted with Capes, Inc and Brit. When a behemoth sized crocodile started causing havoc in the city, Nolan helped other heroes from Capes, Inc to stop it, though not without some casualties. On one occasion, he, Brit, and Brit's wife Susan, went on a mission where they fought off against subterranean lava creatures called Magmanites. He would end up marrying Debbie around this time and soon after fought off a blue hulking scientist, catching the attention of the Guardians of the Globe. ("Invincible: Issue 11") Nolan presumably told them of his false story before the team invited him to their headquarters. They would all help him get accustomed to their planet, with Nolan eventually going under the superhero moniker "Omni-Man". He'd likely get into contact with with Art Rosenbaum shortly afterwards, where he'd try out his new costume with Red Rush present to aid him. Overtime, he'd begun to consider some of them as friends, with Darkwing presumably being his best as the two would enjoy chess matches from time to time. However, he knew they would never allow Viltrum's mission to be completed, which was why he always kept the thought of eliminating them in his mind. As the years passed by, he found himself getting comfortable with his new life which caused him to worry about failing the mission, having often flown to the top of a mountain to think about it. But his priorities shifted when Debbie birthed a son whom they named Mark. Seeing how happy his wife had been, Nolan decided to raise him as a human rather than a Viltrumite something which continued to gnaw at him as he watched him grow. He often thought about raising him as a Viltrumite on a secluded area, but never bringing himself to do it out of his fondness for Debbie. So, Nolan decided to put his duties on hold to focus on raising Mark, thinking that Mark's experiences would provide a unique perspective for the committee. ("Invincible: Issue 11") When Mark was seven years old, Nolan told him the false story of his people and said that he would one day receive superpowers just like him. ("Invincible: Issue 2") Family Matters In a middle of a family dinner, as Nolan talks about his eventful day, Mark reveals to his family that he finally got his superpowers. While not showing any sort of surprise, Nolan presumably realizes that he must put his Viltrumite duties back in priority. ("Invincible: Issue 1", "Invincible: Issue 11") Nolan encounters Mark Nolan encounters Mark in his prototype costume. When Mark battles with Titan, Nolan encounters him and remarks how ridiculous his first suit looks and decides to introduce him to Art. As Mark is testing out costumes, Nolan gets an alert that Gridlock is tearing up a bridge and speeds off to stop him. ("Invincible: Issue 1") Mark would come home from his part-time job and Nolan suggests that he quits since he's already gained his abilities, not knowing that he already had. ("Invincible: Issue 3") Nolan notices that Mark is getting dressed in his costume to patrol the city and he asks to join in. During their patrol, Nolan consistently stopped threats while they conversed in the air. They stop for a while to eat together until suddenly, a group of universe conquering aliens appear on Earth. Nolan, with the help of his son, tried to stop the invasion which proved to be difficult to handle. Nolan let a bit of his Viltrumite side out during the battle which surprised Mark. The aliens eventually retreated due to them aging rapidly on Earth as Mark calmed him down. ("Invincible: Issue 3") Invincible Issue 3 Image Part 4 Nolan is kidnapped by the Flaxans. After fighting off the aliens, Nolan would notice something strange occurring at Lakeside Mall. Nolan wakes up a person with a bomb strapped to his chest. He tries to question this individual but the explosive was about to detonate so he throws him through the hole in the roof. Mark comments on the person being one of the missing students at his school but before Nolan could give his input, he gets captured by the aliens. ("Invincible: Issue 3") Invincible Issue 4 Image Part 4 Nolan returns from his imprisonment by the Flaxans. He would spend the next eight months enslaved in the Flaxan dimension, holding a revolt against his captors about a week before returning back to his world. Nolan came back after his son had just asked if he had returned yet, with him appearing shortly after with a beard, seemingly unaffected from the whole situation. During a family dinner, Debbie asks them if anything interesting happened and Nolan starts talking about his escape from Flaxan imprisonment while Mark talks about the incident with Mr. Hiles. Debbie makes a light-hearted comment and prepares dessert. ("Invincible: Issue 4") Eight is Enough Nolan goes on a mission with the Guardians of the Globe and the periodical alien enters the solar system once again. He calls Mark to substitute for him while he's busy and briefs him about the intruder. Nolan prepares to hang up but Mark asks if he can breathe in space and Nolan remarks how he's capable of holding his breath for two weeks which meant that he just needed to hold his breath for an hour. ("Invincible: Issue 5") When Mark returns, he asks how it went and he explains the alien was actually a planetary evaluation officer. Mark explains that the alien had been going to the wrong planet for fifteen years and that Nolan had mistakenly seen him as a threat. Nolan is impressed with his diplomacy and Debbie remarks how Nolan should've followed Mark's example but he simply says that it was beginner's luck.