If you’ve spent any time reading Robert Kirkman’s Invincible or watching the blood-soaked adaptation on Amazon Prime, you know that Mark Grayson is basically a cosmic punching bag. He gets hit. A lot. But there is one name that makes even seasoned comic fans wince when it comes up: Conquest. He’s the scar-faced, one-armed lunatic who represents the absolute peak of Viltrumite bloodlust.
People always ask, how many times does Mark fight Conquest? It feels like an endless war because of how much damage is dealt in such a short window of time.
The short answer? They have two major, life-altering showdowns.
That’s it. Just two. But those two fights contain more gore and emotional trauma than most superhero series manage in a hundred issues. If you’re looking for a breakdown of these fights that isn’t just a dry list of facts, you’re in the right place.
The First Meat Grinder: Issues #61 to #64
The first time these two meet, it’s absolute chaos. Mark has just survived the "Invincible War," where evil versions of himself from other dimensions basically leveled every major city on Earth. He’s exhausted. He’s grieving. He’s covered in literal and figurative scars.
Then Conquest shows up.
He doesn't come with a complex plan. He doesn't want to talk politics. He’s basically the Viltrumite Empire’s "closer." His job is to see if Mark has successfully prepared Earth for takeover. Since Mark hasn't, Conquest is more than happy to just start killing people.
Why This Fight Is Different
Most superhero fights have a rhythm. There’s a back-and-forth, some witty banter, and maybe a tactical retreat. This isn't that. Honestly, it’s a slaughterhouse. Mark is fighting for his life from the first second.
- The stakes: Conquest threatens to kill everyone Mark loves, starting with Atom Eve.
- The turning point: There’s a moment where it looks like Eve is dead. Mark just... snaps.
- The "Headbutt": This is the moment everyone remembers. Mark, with both arms broken and his body failing, uses his head as a weapon. He headbutts Conquest until the villain’s face is literally unidentifiable.
Mark "wins" this round, but he ends up in a coma. He didn't win because he was stronger. He won because he was willing to be more of a monster than the monster he was fighting. It’s a recurring theme in the series: Mark is at his most dangerous when he’s desperate.
Round Two: The Viltrumite War (Issues #71 to #74)
You’d think after having your face turned into a pancake, you’d stay dead. Not Conquest. The guy is a biological freak even by Viltrumite standards. While Mark is off in space during the Viltrumite War arc, he finds out the hard way that the GDA couldn't keep Conquest contained.
This second fight happens on a remote planet. Mark is with his brother, Oliver, and his father, Nolan (Omni-Man). Conquest catches them separated, and we get the rematch no one—especially Mark—wanted.
The Brutality of the Rematch
If the first fight was about rage, the second is about pure survival. Mark is older now, slightly stronger, and definitely more cynical. But Conquest is also fresh and looking for payback.
This fight is famous for the "disembowelment" scene. Conquest literally reaches into Mark’s stomach and pulls. It’s one of the most graphic things ever put on a comic page. Most characters would be dead. Mark? He just gets angrier.
He eventually manages to strangle Conquest while his own guts are hanging out. It is the definitive end for the villain. No fake-outs this time. Mark finishes the job because he knows if he doesn't, Conquest will just keep coming back until everyone is dead.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Fights
There’s a common misconception that Mark is "stronger" than Conquest. If you look at the raw stats, he probably isn't. Conquest has hundreds of years of combat experience. He’s a veteran of thousands of planetary takeovers.
So why does Mark win?
It’s the "Willpower vs. Experience" argument. Conquest fights for the joy of the kill. Mark fights because he has no other choice. In the world of Invincible, adrenaline and emotional distress actually seem to give Viltrumites a temporary power boost. Mark spends both fights in a state of absolute psychological collapse, which pushes his body past its physical limits.
A Quick Reality Check on the Numbers
- Total Fights: 2
- Mark’s Win Record: 2-0 (technically)
- Casualties: Conquest (Dead), Atom Eve (Temporarily "dead" then resurrected), Oliver (Severely injured).
Does the TV Show Change Anything?
As of early 2026, the animated series has finally introduced the big man. Fans were worried the show might tone it down. They shouldn't have been. The show has actually leaned into the horror of these encounters even more than the comics did.
The voice acting brings a level of smugness to Conquest that makes you want to see Mark win even more. Seeing the "headbutt" scene animated is something that stays with you. It’s not "cool" superhero action; it’s a frantic, ugly struggle for life.
Why This Rivalry Actually Matters for Mark's Character
Before Conquest, Mark still tried to be a "traditional" hero. He tried to spare people. He tried to find the middle ground. After the first fight with Conquest, that version of Mark dies.
He realizes that some threats can't be talked down or put in a super-prison. Conquest is the catalyst that turns Mark Grayson from a boy playing hero into a man who will do whatever is necessary to protect his world. It’s the moment the series stops being a coming-of-age story and becomes a war epic.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’re looking to dive deeper into these specific moments, here’s how to do it:
- Read the Source Material: Pick up Invincible Compendium 2. It covers both fights and the fallout.
- Watch the Details: In the TV show, pay attention to the sound design during the fights. The wet, crunching noises are intentional—they want you to feel the weight of the Viltrumite durability.
- Compare the Two Fights: Notice how Mark’s tactics change. In the first, he’s reactive. In the second, he’s much more calculated, despite the horrific injuries.
The rivalry between these two isn't about who has the bigger muscles. it’s a study in what happens when an unstoppable force meets an object that is simply too stubborn to break. Mark Grayson isn't the strongest person in his universe, but as Conquest found out twice, he is definitely the hardest to kill.
