ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA Spoilers: 5 Things About Kang That Currently Make No Sense

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA Spoilers: 5 Things About Kang That Currently Make No Sense

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania was supposed to establish Kang the Conqueror as the MCU's new big bad, but we walked away with more questions than answers. As a result, Kang still makes little sense...

Feature Opinion
By JoshWilding - Feb 28, 2023 11:02 AM EST

Heading into Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, we expected Marvel Studios to establish Jonathan Majors' Kang the Conqueror as the MCU's new big bad. It seemed a little odd for him to be introduced in an Ant-Man movie, but the villain being tied to the Quantum Realm went some way in explaining that. 

Instead, Kang ended up being killed off in short order and a mid-credits scene introduced a Council of Kangs led by Immortus, Rama-Tut, and a Centurion. 

Marvel Studios not heading down the expected route isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's still a little frustrating to walk away from Phase 5's opening chapter with more questions than answers. It's also fair to say there's a lot about Kang that still doesn't make sense, and it's those issues we're taking a closer look at here...all while attempting to figure them out! 

Take a look through our latest MCU breakdown by clicking on the "Next" button below. 
 

5. Does He Travel Time Or The Multiverse?

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Marvel Studios has done a poor job of establishing a clear difference between travelling through time and the Multiverse. On the one hand, it appears that doing the former creates new timelines, but on the other, we've seen how different worlds are home to almost unrecognisable Variants (such as Loki being female instead of male). 

In the comic books, Kang has always been a time-traveller, with his exploits creating new versions of himself who have battled Earth's Mighties Heroes on countless occasions. 

The MCU's Conqueror, however, appears to just hop from reality to reality on a mission to destroy all other timelines and every single one of his alternate selves, and that's a far cry from what we've seen on the page. Based on the evidence we've seen thus far, it appears this Kang and his Variants are more interested in the Multiverse than time travel. 
 

4. Is He Who Remains Who He Was Or Who He Becomes?

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In Loki, we learned that He Who Remains was a Variant who unleashed the power of Alioth during the Multiversal War to destroy every other reality and ensure he was the last Kang standing. Creating the Sacred Timeline, he was then left to exist outside of time and ensure his Variants would never return by using the TVA to prune timelines. 

In many ways, He Who Remains was the Kang who won, but his story ended with a dagger to the heart courtesy of Sylvie. The villain seemed confident he would find himself back there but is that how time and the Multiverse work in the MCU?

As He Who Remains created Earth-616, we have to assume that was once his world (or an approximation of it). Whether history is doomed to repeat itself with that world's Kang helping The Avengers and becoming the last remaining Kang at the end of time remains to be seen. However, the only way to stop Kang may be to destroy every one of him...
 

3. What Became Of The Conqueror?

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An earlier cut of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumnaia saw Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne trapped in the Quantum Realm, with Kang the Conqueror escaping. That was clearly meant to set the stage for him to return, but the threequel instead ended with the villain's apparent demise after he was knocked into his Multiverse engine. 

It was a weird moment and one that saw Kang pulled into a device that was powerful enough to help him travel from timeline to timeline and destroy them. While it would be easy enough to assume he was obliterated, this was a somewhat bizarre way to end the Conqueror's story. 

It's been rumoured that Avengers: Secret Wars' big bad will be The Beyonder, though he'll be a Kang Variant in the MCU. That actually makes sense on a number of levels, and we're hoping the Conqueror being imbued with that immense power source is what transforms him into a being capable of rewriting reality itself...
 

2. What's The Deal With The Council Of Kangs?

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What should have been an exciting tease in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania's mid-credits scene has instead left us more confused than anything. The Council of Kangs is a concept from the comic books, but one that was never particularly well-defined or used beyond a handful of issues. 

Their main goal was to destroy any divergent Kangs that threatened the Prime Variant's eventual transformation into Immortus, but as the MCU's Multiverse is full of Variants, we'd assume the endgame isn't the same here. They know what Ant-Man did and now appear to be taking aim at Earth's Mightiest Heroes, so that could be The Kang Dynasty's premise.

We're not sure what sort of a movie The Avengers assembling to fight Immortus, Rama-Tut, and The Centurion will be, but with countless Variants waiting in the wings, it feels like a one-sided battle. Oh, and is there a Kang on Earth-616 or was that the Conqueror? 
 

1. Is There A Prime Kang?

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Despite how many Kangs there have been over the years, it always comes down to the Conqueror. With that in mind, it's hardly surprising that fans expected Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania to establish him as the MCU's new big bad. 

That didn't happen, of course, and we're no closer to knowing who the Prime Kang is. That appeared to be He Who Remains last time around, but if he was Earth-616's Nathaniel Richards, then every other Kang may now be a Variant...unless that world's Kang will be reborn after his demise? It's really confusing and something Marvel Studios has limited time to address.

In many ways, there needs to be a Prime Kang, but if time travel is taking a back seat to his story, perhaps not. The closest we get to an all-powerful, all-important Kang could be the Variant who returns as The Beyonder...as of right now, they all feel pretty disposable, unfortunately. 
 

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defenderofthefaith
defenderofthefaith - 2/28/2023, 11:02 AM
More negativity on CBM. What a shock.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 2/28/2023, 11:03 AM
Let's take a small world, low level entertainment like the ant man movies, and let's add grandiose crazy multiverse stakes because we need to hype the future movies. It makes so much sense.. oh and in the end nothing changed, lol they assume everyone who watches these is a dumb ass kid now? I know the answer, but I won't tell you because I need the plot to happen.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 2/28/2023, 11:10 AM
Well I guess Marvel is failing for making us wait to find out the answers to Josh’s questions.
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 2/28/2023, 11:10 AM
Enough with this movie already. It sucks. Move on.
Usernametaken
Usernametaken - 2/28/2023, 6:55 PM
@DudeGuy - don’t worry, a little more than 2weeks to wait and we’ll be able to dump on Shazam next.
Frshcoupe
Frshcoupe - 3/22/2023, 7:27 AM
@Usernametaken - this aged very well.
Usernametaken
Usernametaken - 3/22/2023, 11:23 AM
@Frshcoupe - The trailers were pretty telling on what to expect.
braunermegda
braunermegda - 2/28/2023, 11:13 AM
Why not wait, right? Why wait for something that just started and probably will be answered down the line, but no, let josh make another list absolutely no one ever asked for because everyone knows this crap will eventually be unfolded
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 2/28/2023, 11:15 AM
Kang does both as HWR and Kang said

They don’t view time the same way normal people do due to their travels

The multiverse and time to them are one and the same (which the MCU is saying as well) , waiting to be molded to their whim
Usernametaken
Usernametaken - 2/28/2023, 6:57 PM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - so like Dr Manhattan in the Watchmen TV show, with the difference being that Watchmen was amazing.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 2/28/2023, 9:07 PM
@Usernametaken - without the omnipotence. He’s just seen a lot also 31st century knowledge (we’d look like genius aliens to people in 1023 too)
JuanRGuijarro
JuanRGuijarro - 2/28/2023, 11:16 AM
As much as the marveltards on this site insist on saying otherwise. Changing from a 3 meter alien God from an unknown civilization, to a mere human being with "quantum power" magic science as the villain to defeat is just stupid. people don't care
JuanRGuijarro
JuanRGuijarro - 2/28/2023, 11:18 AM
@JuanRGuijarro - the next big bad should have been Doom, Galactus or Scarlet witch. Not the stupid Rick and Morty Kang
OmegaBlack13
OmegaBlack13 - 2/28/2023, 11:53 AM
@JuanRGuijarro - I do agree that making Kang’s abilities more tactile and less “My suit can do whatever I want because TECHNOLOGY” would help.
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 2/28/2023, 11:19 AM
Considering they have two whole Phases to finish telling this story, cozy on up.

Usernametaken
Usernametaken - 2/28/2023, 7:00 PM
@MosquitoFarmer - kang, variants, cameos and multiverse until everybody pukes.
And with Spider-Man Accross the Universe and Flash coming next, there is no way we’ll get tired of these tropes by the times the those phases ends.
Right?
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 2/28/2023, 11:55 PM
@Usernametaken - It's fine that these Multiversal shenanigans have already gotten old for you in these wildly spoiled times...

NoobNoob
NoobNoob - 2/28/2023, 11:21 AM
"Does He Travel Time Or The Multiverse?" i believe i can explain this...

its mostly like the buttlerfly effect, if you travel back and change one simple thing it could change the whole history as we know it, specially knowing that the MCU time travel has that continuity, so, if Kang do time travel, he will also travel on the multiverse
NoobNoob
NoobNoob - 2/28/2023, 11:30 AM
@NoobNoob - for example:
1 kang decided to time travel on may 2022, but there is a future version of kang that didnt travel on may and dediced to travel in june on the same year... you have now two variants and two alternate timelines, and those alternate timelines created a whole new universe cause it changed the course of history itself, so ...multiverse, changing one simple thing in history could change the sex of spiderman to the evolution of the primate on a universe of anthropomorphic pigs
BassMan
BassMan - 2/28/2023, 11:51 AM
@NoobNoob - This guy gets it 😉
JuanRGuijarro
JuanRGuijarro - 2/28/2023, 12:53 PM
@NoobNoob - And then Gokuh arrives and beats everyone because "multiverse"... It's even stupid trying to find logic in this nerdy nonsense
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/28/2023, 2:32 PM
@NoobNoob - yeah, that's pretty much it.

Ofcourse time travel isn't the only way a branch is created though. Even without that timetravel interference, one thing can change.

A thing, like a choice, always has more than outcome. And isntead of one outcome happening, all outcomes happen and each metaphysically branches off
NoobNoob
NoobNoob - 2/28/2023, 8:26 PM
@bkmeijer1 - yeah, even thing that had a low rate of replication, like "the same spermatozoon fertilizes the egg" i mean, how reproductible is that? a high rate of creating a new persona with new factions and gender
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 3/1/2023, 3:46 AM
@NoobNoob - exactly. And that's how you get a Sylvie and a Loki. Pretty much everything is a quantum system.
TheWinkler
TheWinkler - 2/28/2023, 11:21 AM
First two points are answered pretty simply, as he is just an incredibly powerful multiverse-centric being. Seeing as the Quantum realm is a gateway to time travel and the multiverse, it's all pretty easy to click those together.

Next three are literally questions to be answered in future appearances.

DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 2/28/2023, 11:24 AM
Majors is a hell of an actor tho

Just saw Creed 3 last night…he might be my favorite villain from the Rocky Franchise, and definitely from the Creed movies alone
99OPTIMISTPRIME
99OPTIMISTPRIME - 2/28/2023, 11:24 AM
Damn is he this convoluted in the comics?🤣 I hope they tease Galactus soon.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 2/28/2023, 11:36 AM
@99OPTIMISTPRIME - yes, which is why it’s funny people complain cause this was inevitable as soon as they introduced him , time travel and multiverse

But this is also what we all asked for
TheLobster
TheLobster - 2/28/2023, 11:28 AM
It’s quite an achievement when you get an actor as amazing as Majors and still manage to make their character feel forgettable.

Good job Peyton!
Origame
Origame - 2/28/2023, 11:35 AM
Ok, as someone who's been very critical of the mcu, these are just terrible points.

5) he's both. It's established the different dimensions of the multiverse are timeline variations. So by traveling to, say, the past, it creates a minor branch in the timeline that's no less a different universe than the paint universe.

4) neither. He who remains is his own variant. It's possible we might see how that Kang came to be, but he's still his own variant.

3) he's clearly dead. This could not be more obvious. Kang is ultimately a human, albeit a very smart one. And he had no tech to keep him safe from that.

2) and 1) these are both questions left open for follow ups. Not something that doesn't make sense.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 2/28/2023, 11:37 AM
@Origame - is the time #5 we agree ? I think so

Anyway I say point 4 is up in the air cause there are ways he could be a different one or the younger version (assuming he isn’t dead)
Origame
Origame - 2/28/2023, 11:45 AM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - except according to the logic of the multiverse and time travel, he's still a variant.

That's why the prime Kang is such a big deal. He's the one all the other variants derive from.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 2/28/2023, 11:47 AM
@Origame - but he could be the younger version of HWR who starts out pruning timelines himself prior to the TVA considering we only met him at the end

But then i guess HWR said he was part of the war and used alioth who this kang doesn’t have so maybe not

Open to either it ultimately doesn’t matter
Origame
Origame - 2/28/2023, 11:53 AM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - yes you see that though. Him not having alioth is what makes him a variant.

But even then, it's established simply entering a different time alone creates a branch timeline. So in endgame when they traveled to the battle of new York, you'd get a different variant of Spiderman, even though he and the main counterpart won't have any meaningful differences.
ptick
ptick - 2/28/2023, 11:38 AM
The multiverse and time travel are one and the same in the MCU. Every variant universe is a butterfly-effect variant. HWR was pruning those branches (or letting Rogers do so, in the case of Endgame). Sylvie took him off the table.

Now, this seems to contradict the first Doctor Strange movie, which does talk about a multiverse independent of butterfly-effect timeline splintering. But the other "universes" actually explored in that movie seem to be more of what we'd call alternate dimensions outside of what we'd think of as the "MCU Multiverse." I'd posit that the Quantum Realm fits in with those "dimensions" as well.
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