Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Invincible season 3’s finale, “I Thought You’d Never Shut Up”.
Invincibleseason 3’s finale was full of violent and intense action, and the battle between Mark Grayson and Conquest managed to pay homage to Robert Kirkman’s other mainstream series,The Walking Dead. Both franchises have subtly referenced each other for years, asThe Walking Deadhad severalInvincibleEaster Eggs, such as Sam having toys for some of the characters and RJ reading anInvinciblecomic. Likewise, severalWalking Deadactors have featured inInvincible, while a zombie universe appeared during Angstrom Levy’s multiversal travels and the franchise even has a character called The Walking Dread.
Given Kirkman created each comic series, it’s no surprise that both adaptations have had plenty of overlap, andInvincibleseason 3 continued this tradition. Ironically, having played Negan inThe Walking Dead,Jeffrey Dean Morgan was involved inInvincible’slatest nod to the zombie series, as his character’s fight against Mark Grayson replicated an iconic Rick Grimes scene. Having been constantly overpowered and at the mercy of Conquest,Invincible’s protagonist channeled his inner Rick Grimes and used a ruthless tactic to turn the odds in his favor, which ultimately proved pivotal to Mark winning season 3’s brutal final battle.
Steven Yeun’s Mark Bites Conquest Just Like Rick Grimes Bit Joe In The Walking Dead
Both Protagonists Bit Their Opponents After Being Fueled By Rage
Towards the climax of Mark vs. Conquest, the hero sinks his teeth into his opponent’s shoulder to break his grip, which appears to be a subtle nod to Rick killing Joe inThe Walking Dead. With Mark fueled by aggression and desperate to hurt the Viltrumite, he was able to bite a chunk out of Conquest’s tough skin, proving how much force he put into his attack. This seems reminiscent of Rick taking down Joe, as he is desperate to save his son from the antagonist and his group, prompting him to bite the faction leader in the throat.
Overcome with rage and anguish, Rick’s bite managed to kill his enemy, allowing him and his allies to pick off the rest of the Claimers. The badass moment remains one of Rick’s most memorableWalking Deadscenes and proves what he was willing to do to save his allies, something Mark seems to have adopted inInvincible.WithMark killing an alternative version of The Immortaland attempting to kill Angstrom Levy,season 3 has made it clear how far Mark is willing to go to protect his loved ones, and his latest Rick-inspired scene further emphasizes that.
Invincible Season 3’s Epic Finale Fight Paid Homage To Robert Kirkman’s Other Hit Franchise
While Mark’s bite seemed to be a direct reference toThe Walking Dead, his battle with Conquest had plenty more subtle nods. The most obvious was Steven Yeun and Jeffrey Dean Morgan facing off again, as they shared an iconic scene in the zombie franchise when Negan (Morgan) brutally killed Glenn (Yeun) in front of his loved ones. Having the actors rekindle their on-screen feud paid homage to their grizzlyWalking Deadmoment, and Mark watching Eve die - before she healed herself - also mimicked Maggie witnessing Glenn’s death, both of which came at the hands of Morgan’s characters.
Conquest also shares some key similarities to JDM’s iconicWalking Deadcharacter, as they both enjoy brutalizing their victims.
The overall nature of Conquest’s introduction also mirrors Negan’s, as they are both powerful enemies who arrive at a vulnerable time for the main characters and immediately make an impression. Conquest also shares some key similarities to JDM’s iconicWalking Deadcharacter, as they both enjoy brutalizing their victims and even share a similar line of dialog, despite their different meanings. Conquest told Mark “I thank you for it”, seeming genuinely grateful that the protagonist put up a worthy fight, while Negan told Rick “And you thanked me for it” to mock the protagonist and remind him of his place.
Invincible Season 3’s New Viltrumite Villain, Conquest, Explained
Conquest has finally been introduced in Invincible season 3, and here’s who the Viltrumite villain is and what his role in the show will be.
Many aspects of Conquest vs. Mark felt reminiscent of Negan’s dark introduction toThe Walking Dead, and as the series progresses, I’m sureInvinciblewill continue paying tribute to Kirkman’s other major franchise by including more references and borrowing a few iconic moments.
Invincible
Cast
Based on the comic book character by Robert Kirkman, Invincible follows Mark Grayson, a seventeen-year-old who leads a seemingly average life save for the fact that he lives behind the shadow of his superhero father, Omni-Man. Mark goes on to develop superhuman abilities, but he must also learn that his father’s legacy isn’t as glitzy and glamorous as he’s been led to believe.
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a television series that premiered on August 14, 2025. It follows Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. He embarks on a journey to locate his family, encountering various survivors amidst the chaos.
