The MCU Needs To Fix 1 Kang the Conqueror Problem “Already”?
Marvel must address a significant issue before Phase 6 as Kang has been unveiled as the primary antagonist for the MCU’s Multiverse Saga.
Before his debut in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Marvel Studios must implement significant alterations to Kang the Conqueror. Portrayed by Jonathan Majors, this character is set to assume the role of the primary adversary throughout the Multiverse Saga.
Intriguingly, the menace posed by Kang in the MCU will manifest in diverse incarnations, as indicated by the post-credits scenes of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, revealing that the heroes will confront numerous variations of Kang.
Making his first appearance in The Avengers #8, the iconic villain known for time-traveling was frequently portrayed as an antagonist to both the Avengers and the Fantastic Four.
Hailing from the 31st century, Kang is a criminal equipped with advanced technology and possesses a brilliant mind, rendering him a formidable adversary for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
As he ventures through time, he leaves behind various iterations of himself, each with distinct motivations, although the majority share a common aim of conquering Earth and eliminating the Avengers. This objective aligns with Kang the Conqueror’s ultimate goal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Kang is a major villain, but we have not seen him in action
When Kang the Conqueror was introduced in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he had the daunting task of following in the footsteps of Thanos, who had established himself as the primary antagonist.
Thanos had proven nearly invincible, a formidable combatant driven by an unwavering determination to fulfill his mission. However, Kang was promoted as an even more fearsome villain, primarily due to the multitude of Kang variants that threatened the entire multiverse’s stability.
Unfortunately, despite two appearances by Jonathan Majors as Kang in the MCU, the portrayal of the character has yet to showcase his true power and has instead portrayed him as relatively weak.
Kang, a renowned and fearsome villain in Marvel Comics, has gained a reputation for his ruthless actions, including eradicating entire timelines and the alleged slaughter of numerous Avengers.
However, these deeds have been mostly limited to mere claims, as the glimpses of Kang’s destructive nature shown in the MCU have been brief. While a gradual buildup for the primary villain of the Multiverse Saga may be necessary (similar to how it took time for Thanos to emerge in the MCU fully), audiences have yet to witness substantial proof of Kang’s power.
This lack of evidence must be addressed to establish Kang as a genuine threat in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
In His Two Appearances, Kang Has Already Died Twice
When it was announced that Jonathan Majors would join Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, many anticipated Ant-Man would face his demise at the hands of the Multiverse Saga’s main antagonist.
However, to the surprise of many, Lang cleverly outsmarted Kang and, with the assistance of the Wasp, successfully defeated him by pushing him into his detonating power core.
Suppose Kang the Conqueror, supposedly one of the most ruthless and aggressive versions of Kang, can be defeated by Ant-Man. In that case, it becomes challenging to envision that the more formidable and enhanced Avengers members would encounter significant difficulty defeating the villain.
Thus far, the MCU has witnessed two instances where a Kang variant has been killed, indicating that the franchise’s main characters have been successful on both occasions. In the season 1 finale of Loki, the titular God of Mischief and his variant, Sylvie, confront He Who Remains, a Kang variant who resides at the end of time and oversees the Sacred Timeline.
He Who Remains had previously triumphed over his other variants, including the one featured in Quantumania. Consequently, his demise establishes a precedent that eliminating a Kang variant is relatively effortless.
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How Marvel Can Make Kang The True Villain Of The Multiverse Saga
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania gave audiences a substantial glimpse into the level of danger posed by Kang the Conqueror and his numerous variants. Particularly noteworthy were the moments when Kang boasted about his extensive record of eliminating countless Avengers to the point of forgetting their identities.
To enhance Kang’s portrayal as a formidable threat, Marvel Studios could incorporate flashback sequences that substantiate his ability to kill Avengers in The Kang Dynasty.
This approach would establish him as a significantly more terrifying adversary for the new Avengers team in Phase 6 of the MCU and potentially redeem his portrayal from his underwhelming encounters in Phases 4 and 5.
Marvel has the opportunity to enhance Kang’s reputation through its planned future iterations and variants. In addition to Victor Timely, who will appear in Loki season 2, the Council of Kangs, led by Immortus, Rama-Tut, and the Scarlet Centurion, will also be featured.
These introductions highlight the core reason why Kang is such a menacing villain: the existence of numerous versions, all driven by a desire for destruction. The concept that Kang can be killed yet persistently return is chilling. However, in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, it is crucial for Kang to genuinely pose a threat to the MCU to create a meaningful emotional impact.
What Kang’s Avengers Past Means For His Future In The MCU
If the portrayal of Kang the Conqueror’s relationship with the Avengers in Quantumania reflects how his variants perceive the team, it could have significant implications for the storyline of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
If the newly introduced Kang variants, such as the one in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, are accustomed to consistently defeating the Avengers, they may not view Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as a genuine and immediate threat.
In many comic narratives, the villain explicitly targets the team, driven either by a desire for revenge against their formidable rivals or to impede their interference. However, the Council of Kangs might have different motivations.
If the Avengers have yet to defeat them in their respective timelines, actively seeking out the team may not be among their goals. Dismissing the significance of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes could lead to their downfall.
