Robert Kirkman’s Invincible is a brutal, sprawling epic that doesn't pull punches. Most fans remember the blood. They remember Omni-Man cracking skulls or Mark Grayson's face being turned into literal pulp. But there is one specific sequence that remains the most controversial moment in the entire run. It’s the Mark and Anissa comic issue, specifically Invincible #110. It’s not just a fight. It isn’t just another superhero brawl where a skyscraper falls down. Honestly, it’s a moment that fundamentally shifted how we view Mark as a protagonist and how comic books handle the heavy, often avoided subject of sexual assault against men.
You've probably seen the discourse online. It never really goes away. Whether it’s on Reddit or Twitter, the moment Anissa—a Viltrumite warrior with a fanatical devotion to her empire—forces herself on Mark, people start arguing. Some think it was handled with necessary grit. Others find it gratuitous. But to understand why it’s so pivotal, we have to look at the context of the Viltrumite culture and the specific trauma Mark carries through the final third of the series.
What Actually Happens in the Mark and Anissa Comic?
The setup is deceptively simple. Anissa is a high-ranking Viltrumite. She's stronger than Mark at this point in the story, or at least more seasoned in combat. Her goal isn't just to beat him up; she wants to "repopulate." In the warped logic of the Viltrumite Empire, breeding with strong bloodlines is a duty. It’s a biological imperative that trumps consent, emotion, or basic human decency.
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When she confronts Mark in a remote forest, the power dynamic is instantly lopsided. Mark is already exhausted, emotionally drained from the ongoing war and his responsibilities as a father and husband. Anissa doesn't care. She pins him down. The art by Ryan Ottley is intentionally uncomfortable to look at. It isn't "sexy" or stylized in a way that caters to a male gaze; it’s frantic, violent, and messy.
Mark says no. He says it repeatedly.
But Anissa prevails. The scene ends with Mark laying in the dirt, shattered. It’s a jarring departure from the typical "hero wins at the last second" trope. He didn't find a hidden reserve of strength. He didn't get saved by Eve. He was victimized, and the comic doesn't let him—or the reader—forget it.
The Fallout and Why It Matters
Most superhero comics would have ignored this. They would have had Mark "tough it out" or maybe just never mentioned it again. Kirkman didn't do that. The Mark and Anissa comic storyline ripples through the next fifty issues. It affects Mark’s relationship with Eve. It makes him question his own strength. How can he be the protector of Earth if he couldn't even protect his own body?
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It's a heavy question.
The trauma isn't just psychological; it becomes a major plot point. Anissa eventually gives birth to a son, Marky. This introduces a layer of complexity that most writers wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. Mark is forced to reckon with the existence of a child born from his own trauma. It’s messy. It’s "kinda" gross. It’s deeply human.
Why the Fanbase Is Still Split
You’ll find two main camps when discussing this.
One group argues that Kirkman used sexual violence as a shock tactic. They feel like the series already had enough "grimdark" elements and that this was a bridge too far. They point to the fact that Anissa is later given a somewhat redemptive arc, which feels like a slap in the face to the gravity of what she did to Mark.
The other camp, however, appreciates the realism. They argue that in a world where people have the power of gods, "power" isn't just about throwing punches. It’s about the total violation of another person’s agency. By showing a male hero as a victim, the comic broke a massive taboo. It showed that being "Invincible" doesn't mean you're immune to being hurt in ways that can't be healed by a Viltrumite healing factor.
The Problem With the Redemption Arc
Here is where things get truly complicated. Toward the end of the series, Anissa is shown in a more "human" light. She develops feelings for a human man. She fights alongside the heroes. She even dies a heroic death in the final war against Thragg.
Does this negate what she did?
For many readers, the answer is a hard no. The fact that Mark eventually has to work with her and acknowledge her role in the Viltrumite reformation is gut-wrenching. It’s realistic, though. In real wars and real political shifts, victims often have to share space with their victimizers for the "greater good." It’s a bitter pill to swallow. Mark doesn't forgive her. He doesn't have a big "we're cool now" moment. He just... survives.
Comparing the Comic to the Amazon Series
With the Invincible animated series being a massive hit on Prime Video, the Mark and Anissa comic scene is the "elephant in the room" for future seasons. Fans are already speculating how showrunner Simon Racioppa will handle it. Will they tone it down? Will they cut it entirely?
Based on how the show handled the "Omni-Man vs. The Guardians" fight—which was much more visceral than the comic version—it’s likely they won’t shy away from the darkness. However, television has different standards and practices. Showing a female-on-male sexual assault is a high-wire act for any production. If they do it, they have to ensure it isn't exploitative. It needs to focus on Mark’s internal state, not the act itself.
Navigating the Marky Subplot
If you're reading the comics for the first time, keep an eye on the Marky storyline. It’s one of the most underrated parts of the series. Marky grows up knowing who his father is, but Mark is largely absent from his life initially because of the circumstances of his birth.
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The interaction between Mark, Marky, and Eve is masterfully written. It shows that there are no easy answers. Eve, to her credit, is incredibly supportive, but the strain is visible. It’s a testament to the writing that a comic about flying aliens can feel like a grounded family drama about navigating impossible trauma.
Practical Takeaways for Invincible Readers
If you are diving into the Mark and Anissa comic issues (starting around #110), go in with a clear head. It’s a trigger-heavy segment of the story.
- Read the aftermath: Don't just look at the controversial scene in isolation. Read the 10 issues following it to see how Mark processes the event.
- Look at the art: Notice how the color palette shifts in these issues. The vibrancy of the earlier "superhero" days is gone, replaced by more muted, somber tones.
- Acknowledge the era: Remember this was written in the mid-2010s. The conversation around these topics has evolved, and reading it today offers a different perspective than it did a decade ago.
The legacy of Invincible isn't just that it’s a "cool superhero story." It’s that it was willing to go to the darkest corners of the human (and alien) experience. The Mark and Anissa storyline is the peak of that willingness. It’s uncomfortable, it’s polarizing, and it’s a piece of comic history that continues to demand our attention because it refuses to provide a simple, happy ending to a horrific situation.
To fully grasp the scope of Mark's journey, you have to sit with that discomfort. You have to see him at his lowest to understand why his eventual rise as a leader actually matters. He isn't a hero because he’s strong; he’s a hero because he continues to choose peace and family despite the world—and Anissa—trying to strip those things away from him.
Follow the publication order closely to see the slow-burn development of these themes. Start with the Invincible Ultimate Collection Volume 9 if you want the most cohesive experience of this arc. Pay attention to Mark’s dialogue in the later issues; his perspective on "justice" changes drastically after his encounter with Anissa, moving away from black-and-white morality toward a much grayer, more empathetic worldview.