Argall is the overarching antagonist of Invincible, debuting in Season 4's flashbacks. He is the late mentor of his former protégé, Thragg.

He was the first, and remains the most revered Emperor of the Viltrum Empire; his reign is considered to be the Golden Age of Viltrum. He was murdered by Thaedus, the first Viltrumite to betray the Empire. Nearly a thousand years later, Argall would be avenged by his regent successor, Thragg, who killed Thaedus in the climax of the Viltrumite War.

Appearance

Physique

Argall was an older Viltrumite with a similar build to Thaedus. He was muscular, with a traditional white mustache and a balding head, with white hair along the sides. Following his assassination, his skull was left fractured at the crown where Thaedus struck him. His regent successor, Thragg, later kept the skull as a reminder of his duty to the Empire.

Clothing

Emperor Attire

Argall's Emperor attire comprised of a large fluffy furry white and red cloak with the gray Viltrum Empire symbol carved into the front of it and gray hanging pants. Both of these attributes were later soon adopted by Thragg as a reminder of his duty to the Empire and in remembrance of his reign.

Personality

Argall was a disciplined and authoritarian ruler of the Viltrum Empire who prioritized strength, order, and efficiency above all else. He promoted a governance model where discipline and calculated strength were valued over unchecked brutality, contributing to the Empire’s expansion and consolidation. His ideology was firmly rooted in Social Darwinism. He viewed weakness as a fundamental flaw that threatened the stability and survival of the Empire and supported harsh measures against populations that resisted Viltrumite rule. Under his command, conquest was framed not only as domination but as the natural ordering of inferior civilizations.

This belief system became embedded in Viltrumite doctrine and cultural memory, with later generations attributing the Empire’s unity and expansion to his leadership. His influence is frequently cited as foundational to Viltrumite identity, where strength is equated with legitimacy and resistance is treated as evidence of inferiority. Argall maintained a strict hierarchy within the Empire and placed significant trust in capable figures such as Thragg, who served as a high-ranking regent and advisor during his reign. He consistently reinforced Viltrumite doctrine in governance, including endorsing population reduction and extermination policies when resistance persisted.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

• Viltrumite Physiology: As a Viltrumite, Argall possessed extraordinarily advanced genetics that grant him a wide range of superhuman abilities typical of his species. Even among all Viltrumites, Argall stood apart due to his exceptional status and lineage, which contributed to his reputation as the most significant figure in Viltrumite history.
  • Decelerated Aging: Argall possessed an exceptionally prolonged lifespan due to his biology, which caused him to age increasingly slower over time. This decelerated aging allowed him to maintain peak health, physical conditioning, and combat performance for thousands of years.
  • Dominant Genes: Viltrumites genetics are incredibly potent and adaptive. Argall, like others of his kind, could reproduce with a wide range of species, with his Viltrumite DNA overwhelmingly asserting itself in the offspring, but even more strongly due to his superior genetics. As a result, the child will typically inherit predominantly Viltrumite traits, often appearing and functioning almost entirely as a Viltrumite. The more genetically compatible the mate’s species is, the faster and more reliably the offspring will manifest the full range of standard Viltrumite abilities.
  • Flight: Due to a complex balancing system located in his inner ears, Argall possessed the ability to levitate and propel himself in the air, able to alter his trajectory mid-flight and maneuver seamlessly through various environments. His control enables effortless navigation through a wide range of settings and outer space.
  • Superhuman Strength: Argall possessed immense physical strength, easily capable of lifting and pressing several tons.
  • Nigh-Invulnerability: Argall possessed extraordinary levels of durability, allowing him to resist most forms of physical trauma with only minor visible damage.
  • Superhuman Speed: Argall possessed exceptional speed. His reflexes and reaction time were highly advanced, allowing him to engage high-speed opponents with precision.
  • Regenerative Healing Factor: Argall possessed an incredibly powerful healing factor. The recovery rate depend on the severity of the injury. Minor harm takes mere minutes to at most a few days, whereas more grievous harm can takes weeks or even months. His regenerative abilities enabled him to heal broken bones, torn muscles, and damaged organs without any lasting effects. Additionally, Argall was virtually immune to most illnesses and contaminants.
  • Superhuman Lung Capacity: Argall possessed extraordinary lung capacity, allowing him to survive without air for extended periods. This ability enabled him to operate unhindered in oxygen-deprived environments, such as the vacuum of space without protection.
  • Superhuman Senses: Argall possessed extraordinary sensory abilities, far exceeding human limitations. His auditory perception allowed him to hear sounds from great distances with incredible clarity, enabling him to detect even the faintest noises and selectively ignore irrelevant ones. His vision was equally advanced, providing him with the ability to see distant objects with the same sharpness and detail as though they were right in front of him. Additionally, his heightened equilibrium and balance granted him exceptional poise and stability, allowing him to maintain control and coordination in even the most difficult situations.
  • Self-Sustenance: Viltrumites possess an extraordinary ability to go without food for extended periods, though the exact duration is not well documented. As a result, their physical needs are significantly reduced, allowing them to function effectively without regular nourishment. Argall, like other Viltrumites, experienced minimal requirements for sustenance, enabling him to endure long periods without food without any significant decline in health or vitality.
  • Superhuman Stamina: Argall possessed extraordinary stamina, allowing him to engage in prolonged combat or physical exertion without tiring. Like other Viltrumites, his body was built for endurance, enabling him to function at peak performance even after sustaining serious injuries. He can survive wounds that would be instantly fatal to ordinary humans, as Viltrumites typically only succumb to extreme trauma to the heart or brain.

Abilities

• Leadership: As the first Emperor, Argall ruled the Viltrumites for thousands of years, establishing a highly disciplined and expansionist imperial order that became the foundation of Viltrumite dominance across the galaxy. His reign is often regarded as the peak of Viltrumite cohesion and strategic efficiency prior to his unanticipated death.
• Intimidation: Argall exerts authority through absolute presence and unchallenged legitimacy rather than overt aggression. His word is final within Viltrumite hierarchy, instantly silencing even high-ranking officials and ending ideological disputes without resistance. Even elite Council members defer to his judgment, aware that dissent is only permissible until he chooses otherwise. His intimidation stems from certainty as his decisions are delivered calmly and decisively, creating an environment where disagreement collapses immediately under his authority, as demonstrated when both Kregg and Thaedus cease argument upon his intervention.

Weaknesses

• Excessively High Frequency: As a Viltrumite, High-frequency noise could have harmful effects on the ears of Argall. It disturbs his balance, restricts his flying capability and induces severe pain. The frequency's intensity dictates the degree of pain felt.
• Extreme Force: Like all Viltrumites, Argall remained vulnerable to opponents who match or exceed his own strength and durability. Extreme force from such foes could cause serious harm or even defeat him.
• Thaedus' Dagger: Argall was murdered by Thaedus with a dagger.

Sightings

Trivia

• Argall shares several qualities with Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic emperor whose wisdom shaped the final golden age of the Roman Empire. Yet, Marcus Aurelius never enforced Social Darwinism on his subjects. Moreover, much like Marcus Aurelius, Argall practiced limitations, asserting that strength and ambition must be tempered and used for the greater good of both Viltrum and his people. This emphasized why his followers worshipped him for his wisdom rather than his strength.
• His voice actor, Frank Welker, also voiced Megatron in the Transformers franchise, being the second Transformers actor who have voiced a character in the series, the first being Peter Cullen.
  • Interestingly enough, Megatron is often labeled as an emperor, or emperor of destruction in some iteration of past transformer media such as: Transformers G1 Japanese dubs, Energon, Call of the future.