Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania marks the start of phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In it, we also get to know the biggest villain of the next two phases of the Multiverse saga, who eventually even the Avengers have to face: Kan the Conqueror.
Kang actor Jonathan Majors is making his second appearance in the MCU in the new Ant-Man film. Already in Loki he appeared as nameless time ruler in appearance and will play a role again in season 2. But are we dealing with the same character as in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania?
Following Spoilers for Loki Season 1.
Forget Thanos: Kang is the most complicated Marvel villain yet
Disney
There is more than one Kan
Who is Kang anyway? Quantumania only answers this question to a limited extent. Jonathan Majors provides part of the answer in an interview with Gizmondo:
The quick answer to this is that Kang is a time traveling supervillain who is also a Nexus being, leading to this idea of variants. There are several versions by Kan. Versions mean “variants”. They inhabit different universes, multiverses, they have different intentions. They are all different beings.
This makes Kang one of the most complicated characters in Marvel Comics. It’s not just variants from different universes that appear. Also, thanks to his time travel technology, he can exist on multiple time planes within a universe – with different identities and names. So following Kang’s resume chronologically is a mind-boggling task.
And Kang isn’t even his real name. His true identity is called Nathaniel Richards. This is or was a scientist in the 31st century who has powerful technology. This technology allows him to travel through time, but also through the multiverse. In the process, he finds out that there are several versions of himself.
Does Ant-Man 3’s Kang also appear in Loki?
The Kang in Ant-Man 3 is just one possible version, which emerges from Nathaniel Richards. Whether this Kang even came from the universe of the MCU’s main continuity, we don’t learn. Despite its mysterious origin, it can be clearly seen that this a different variant than those from Loki have to be.
Check out the trailer for the Marvel series Loki here:
Loki – Mid-Season Trailer (English) HD
The Loki variant is called “The One Who Stays” and turned out to be the one at the end of Season 1 of the MCU series Mastermind behind the Time Variance Authority. This Kang has annihilated all possible variants of himself and condensed the multiverse into a single and true timeline. Which directly undoes Loki’s female variant Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) by murdering him, allowing for a renewed escalation of the multiverse and the existence of multiple Kangs.
Although Kang and The One Who Stays are not the same character, she is still driven the same goal An: You both want to stamp out the multiverse and be the only existing variant of yourself. While The One Who Stays could achieve just that and “destroyed” all other kangsQuantumania-Kang also wants to declare war on its variants.
Find out if he can do it in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania In cinemas from February 15th.
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