AVENGERS 5: 6 Villains Who Should Join (Or REPLACE) Kang The Conqueror

With Kang the Conqueror expected to take a backseat in the Multiverse Saga moving forward, we're exploring some of the possible candidates for who could either join the time-traveller or replace him...

By JoshWilding - Jun 10, 2024 12:06 PM EST

Filed Under: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

A combination of Jonathan Majors' firing and the tepid response to Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has led to Marvel Studios changing its plans for Kang the Conqueror.

While the time-travelling villain and his many Variants are still expected to factor into the Multiverse Saga, it's thought he'll be replaced or at least joined by one or more threats to the Multiverse. The question is, who will that be when Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars roll around?

In this feature, we're taking a look at the most intriguing possibilities. From those who can stand alongside Kang to the baddies who might just usurp him as the Multiverse's greatest threat, we think you'll have fun seeing who we've singled out.

To do so, simply click on the "Next" or "View List" buttons below...

6. Mephisto

The Marvel Universe's devil, Mephisto is rumoured to make his MCU debut in Ironheart as part of an exploration of what happens when science meets magic.

Providing that serves as an effective introduction for the villain, there's no reason to think he can't be a Multiversal threat. He could serve as a duplicitous ally the same way he once served Thanos, only to betray him in a bid to bring Hell not just to Earth-616, but every Earth.

Mephisto is a character with endless potential and this is a perfect opportunity for Marvel Studios to tie him into several stories, including the Scarlet Witch's descent into madness.

5. Thanos

Thanos-Earth-TRN666-from-Thanos-Vol-2-13-001-copy

This is tricky because returning to Thanos so soon after he was defeated runs the risk of feeling stale and repetitive. After all, we've already seen a Variant of the Mad Titan target The Avengers after his Earth-616 counterpart was killed by Thor.

The solution is to introduce a much different Thanos with a fresh set of motivations and desires which extend beyond gathering the Infinity Stones.

An older "King Thanos" who has already conquered the Multiverse - a mission Kang failed because he's too busy fighting himself - is a compelling notion. Then again, so is Kang making Thanos his sidekick and unleashing The Avengers' greatest foe on them all over again.

4. Galactus

Rumour has it The Fantastic Four will be a key chapter in the Multiverse Saga and we have a sneaky suspicion Galactus will factor into that.

Now the MCU has an endless stream of realities, how better to keep them under control than by unleashing a Galactus who isn't just a Devourer of Worlds, but a Devourer of Realities? After feasting on the home of Marvel's First Family, he can target Earth-616.

If we're being honest, we'd have waited a little longer before introducing Galactus, but The Fantastic Four is as good a place as any to reboot him. This is also a far more refreshing notion than seeing Doctor Doom immediately become a Multiversal threat.

3. Ultron

It's a shame in many ways that the Infinity Ultron concept has been wasted on What If...? On the plus side, the villain's return there as a threat to the Multiverse established that it would be simple enough to upgrade Avengers: Age of Ultron's big bad.

With a few clever retcons, Marvel Studios can make it so that Ultron has been pulling strings from afar ever since his supposed death at the hands of The Vision in 2015.

If the android can tap into the newly birthed Multiverse, he can usurp Kang to make the future his own, creating the Age of Ultron timeline seen in the comics. In some respects, that story almost feels too small, but if nothing else, visiting that timeline would make for a compelling subplot.

2. Iron Man

We see the appeal of going straight to Doctor Doom, but if Marvel Studios really wants to surprise us, then a villainous Iron Man - played by the returning Robert Downey Jr. - feels like the way to go.

While it's been said on multiple occasions that Tony Stark's Avengers: Endgame sacrifice won't be undone, his Earth-838 Variant coming to seek revenge for what happened to the Illuminati makes perfect sense...then, there's the fact the new Ultimate Universe has established Tony as a Kang Variant!

This evil Iron Man using time-travel technology and taking Kang's place has the makings of a bonkers twist which gives Downey something new to sink his teeth into as he reprises his most famous role.

1. The X-Men

We know what you're thinking: the X-Men aren't villains. However, there's a way to make this work that allows Marvel Studios to move on from Kang and immediately jump to a Multiversal Avengers vs. X-Men movie.

If, like the Secret Wars comic, it comes down to Earth-616 and the home of the X-Men (on the page, it was the Ultimate Universe) in an Incursion, then Avengers 5 can pit these heroes against each other. From there, the survivors can assemble to take on an even greater threat in Avengers: Secret Wars.

That could be any of the villains listed here or even The Beyonder; whatever the case may be, it feels like a good way to move on from Kang and bring moviegoers back to the MCU for a project which takes full advantage of the Multiverse.

RUMOR: Marvel Studios Wants SPIDER-VERSE's Spider-Man 2099 To Team Up With Kang In Upcoming AVENGERS Movies

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30 Comments

Malatrova15 - 6/10/2024, 12:21 PM

And why replace kang ? Jonathan majors is amazing stop poisoning the well pal

Batmangina - 6/10/2024, 1:03 PM

@Malatrova15 - Make Mephisto responsible for Kang beating up his girlfriend and then they kiss but make sure all the black guys are wearing masks for Chiner.

Feralwookiee - 6/10/2024, 1:07 PM

@Batmangina - Once again, you forgot the transgender pegging.

Feralwookiee - 6/10/2024, 1:11 PM

@Malatrova15 - Kang and his Queen, Doctor Doom!
The MCU is saved!

Batmangina - 6/10/2024, 6:55 PM

@Feralwookiee - You are officially promoted to UATU Leve EVP

GeekLegionofDoom - 6/10/2024, 12:21 PM

Well it won't be Mephisto for a start, because it won't get a Chinese release if they feature him

GeekLegionofDoom - 6/10/2024, 12:26 PM

@GeekLegionofDoom - and i know he's in Ironheart. But thats why he's there and not anything major, because that isn't expected to make much impact

KennKathleen - 6/10/2024, 12:29 PM

@GeekLegionofDoom - why?

Malatrova15 - 6/10/2024, 12:36 PM

@GeekLegionofDoom - but they love mephisto in china i mean look what they do to dogs and cats and how they act when some baby gets trampled ok the streets ...ansolute Mephisto fans

GeekLegionofDoom - 6/10/2024, 1:14 PM

@KennKathleen - Chinese ( and some other countries ) have some tight rules for depictions of Devil/Satan/Demon kind of things in film. This is why Mephisto has been relegated to the least anticiapted upcoming Marvel project

KennKathleen - 6/10/2024, 4:24 PM

Yet they have annual celebrations with dancing,smoking 🐉 🐲 🐉 🐲 🀄 🐉 🐲.... make it make sense!

S8R8M - 6/10/2024, 12:29 PM

Instead of A:Kang Dynasty/5. How about A:Age of Ultron Part 2????

Order66 - 6/10/2024, 12:30 PM

They built up Kang and his Kang variant army so they better finish that story. Still should be Kang Dynasty and just recast him. Simple.

HistoryofMatt - 6/10/2024, 12:57 PM

@Order66 - No one watched Ant-Man 3, and practically no one watched either Loki season.

It would be incredibly easy to move on from Kang. The vase majority of people who checked out after No Way Home and Guardians 3 have no idea who Kang is, and those are the people Disney should be desperate to bring back.

The1st - 6/10/2024, 1:16 PM

@Order66 - I thought Giancarlo could have been the definitive Kang, but I guess that was a little too on the nose for both parties. Feels like a missed opportunity.

JustAWaffle - 6/10/2024, 1:17 PM

@HistoryofMatt - Yeah, they COULD just assume he died at the end of AM3 and do a fast and loose expelling of the Kang hoard.

I don’t think that would be satisfying at all, but it’s possible.

HistoryofMatt - 6/10/2024, 1:39 PM

@JustAWaffle - Bingo.

TheVisionary25 - 6/10/2024, 12:39 PM

They don’t need to replace Kang or whatever variant of his they use…

I get the whole “he was beaten by ants” thing which is a complain I’m tired of and not even really true since he comes back from that and beats the living hell out of Scott until Wasp interferes.

Plus even though he had his army & stuff somewhat , he still wasn’t really at full power so there’s a caveat imo.

However , I would like someone like Ultron back in the main universe…

I always thought it would be a cool psychological thriller-esque story of him having had survived somehow in Vision’s mind stone and it becomes thus mental battle between them to assert dominance as the former tries to take over the latter but I don’t think you can do that now.

Plus , it would have been great to have Bettany & Spader opposite each other again.

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MotherGooseUPus - 6/10/2024, 12:41 PM

most people that go to see the movies don't watch the shows, especially What If, so i would LOVE to see Infinity Ultron in these movies. The show made him out to be a big badass and the movies could go even further. Otherwise, Galactus or Doom. Thats the list. none of that other BS here

MCUKnight11 - 6/10/2024, 12:56 PM

Beyonder and Doom.

Batmangina - 6/10/2024, 6:56 PM

@Feralwookiee - You are officially promoted to UATU Level EVP

harryba11zack - 6/10/2024, 1:15 PM

another sh1tlist.

Nomis929 - 6/10/2024, 1:18 PM

Squadron Supreme!

marvel72 - 6/10/2024, 1:27 PM

@Nomis929 - Long overdue.

NathanielX - 6/10/2024, 10:02 PM

@Nomis929 - Should do their obscure cómics into animated shows, Supreme Power, New Universe, Livewires, Strike Force Morituri.

dragon316 - 6/10/2024, 1:47 PM

Galactus will be better fit unless ultron comes back bigger and stronger

edj999 - 6/10/2024, 1:59 PM

I'm a bit behind with watching the MCU but has the Negative Zone already been introduced? Don't know what's gonna happen in Fantastic Four but wouldn't Annihilus be a good enemy, he has ties to FF, Avengers or maybe that's too complicated and they need more time to build him up, although I have no idea how they are going to introduce Galactus in FF so maybe it's possible.

2013venjix - 6/10/2024, 5:47 PM

Annihilus for Avengers 5!

SummersEssex - 6/10/2024, 9:12 PM

Avengers 5 just needs to be crazy multiversal shenanigans, and then it's Secret Wars that needs to be an all out brawl between every possible hero and every villain they can manage, who, after beating the ever-living shit out of each other, all team up to stop the Beyonder and save (and resolve) the multiverse.

NathanielX - 6/10/2024, 10:17 PM

Onslaught(Played by James Mcavoy)

Sentry/The Void

Apocalypse(from Xmen 97)

The King in Black fron the Venom's Universe

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