Viltrumite Physiology

Lore & Background

The Viltrumite race is defined by its ruthless efficiency and millennia-spanning history of conquest. Conquest, one of the oldest known members, illustrates the species' capacity for survival even after devastating blows to their population. He lived through the Great Purge, a civil conflict that eliminated those deemed weak, and the Scourge Virus, a bioengineered disease that decimated the Viltrumite numbers. The virus left most survivors with reduced strength, resilience, and an impaired healing factor.

Conquest's body bears the permanent marks of this history; he lost his right eye before his fight with Mark Grayson, and his right arm during it. He replaced his missing limb with a prosthetic, but not because the virus impaired his regeneration—his healing factor was unaffected at that point. Despite these injuries, he remains one of the Empire's strongest warriors, though he is explicitly weaker than other Viltrumites like Nolan, and is surpassed in physical strength by Thragg.

Reader's Guide

Viltrumite physiology grants users extreme durability and strength, allowing them to defeat powerful opponents while sustaining minimal injury. They can fly independently at high velocities in both atmospheric and extraterrestrial environments. Their healing factor enables recovery from serious injuries over time, though this is compromised if they suffer from the Scourge Virus. Conquest demonstrated that without full healing capabilities, injuries like a lost arm become permanent, requiring prosthetics. The virus also caused long-term effects such as reduced strength and resilience in survivors. While Viltrumites possess enhanced senses including improved vision and hearing to detect threats over long distances, their biology is not invincible; prolonged combat can lead to critical failure, as seen when Conquest was suffocated by Mark Grayson despite his immense power.

Origins and Historical Resilience

Conquest is a millennia-old Viltrumite warrior, regarded as one of the strongest and most experienced members of his species, surpassed only by Thragg in physical strength. He survived two pivotal events in Viltrumite history: the Great Purge, which cullled the weak, and the Scourge Virus, which reduced the population to about fifty survivors. The virus inflicted lasting damage on most survivors, causing reduced strength, resilience, and an impaired healing factor. Conquest suffered a temporary loss of power during this period, leading to an attack by Rognarrs that cost him his right arm and right eye. Because the virus prevented complete healing, he replaced his missing arm with a prosthetic. His face bears numerous battle scars, including a prominent scar across it, marking him as a survivor of the Empire's darkest hours.

Philosophy of Violence and Isolation

Unlike many Viltrumites who frame their actions as beneficial to expansionist goals, Conquest takes personal pleasure in combat. He openly states, "I'm here because I enjoy this," revealing his motivation is rooted in violence rather than duty alone. This preference for prolonged battles against strong opponents has led to a reputation among other Viltrumites that he is unstable. Consequently, he is often assigned difficult missions as a specialized operative rather than being integrated into broader social structures. His isolation reinforces his role as an enforcer who thrives on destruction, distinguishing him from figures like Nolan or Anissa who attempt to justify their conquests with ideology.

Earth Invasions and Initial Defeat

Conquest arrived on Earth shortly after the Invincible War, depicted in Invincible #61. He was sent to monitor Mark Grayson but was dispatched as a replacement when Mark failed to prepare Earth for Viltrumite rule. Conquest engaged Mark in a violent battle causing significant destruction and casualties. During the fight, he severely injured Atom Eve, provoking Mark's fury. Mark eventually overpowered Conquest with repeated headbutts, leaving him apparently dead. Unbeknownst to Mark, Conquest survived and was secretly imprisoned by Cecil Stedman in a concrete bunker underneath the Mojave Desert, where Cecil hoped to extract information about Viltrumite plans.

Final Confrontation and Demise

Conquest reappeared during the Viltrumite War after escaping confinement under Cecil Stedman's supervision. He returned to Grand Regent Thragg and was reassigned to intercept Omni-Man, Allen the Alien, Mark Grayson, Oliver, and Tech Jacket. Conquest attacked and destroyed their vessel, initiating a second confrontation with Mark. When Oliver attempted to withdraw to a nearby planet, Conquest pursued him until Mark intercepted and restrained the warrior. The two struggled across the planetary surface in sustained close-quarters combat; Conquest severely disemboweled Mark while Mark maintained his hold. The fight concluded when Conquest died from suffocation. Mark survived but was left critically injured and near death, falling into a coma before gradually recovering.