Annlyel James 
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. © 2023 MARVEL.
Hopefully, in future installments, Kang the Conqueror will be such an imposing threat he’ll make Thanos look like an Avenger in comparison.
Kang the Conqueror is the next big bad of the MCU. But is he that scary?
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the latest MCU film to hit theaters and it has sparked quite a conversation. Some found the film to be fun, thrilling, and entirely rewarding. While there are others with warranted, constructive criticism. The main consensus, however, is that Jonathan Majors’ Kang was indeed the highlight of the film, proving that Marvel Studios’ bet on the rising actor was a good one. Despite Majors’ profoundly moving performance as the purple-and-green-wearing time lord, there is a bit of worry among diehard Marvel fans who feel that this movie may have weakened Kang’s threat level moving forward.
HE WHO REMAINS
In Loki, we learned that He Who Remains was a Kang variant who won a multiversal war and created a single stable timeline. Instead of ruling time for eternity He Who Remains asked Loki and Sylvie to take up the mantle. Thus ruling all of time and keeping the multiverse safe from his other, far more devious variants. Of course, we know what happened. Sylvie killed He Who Remains allowing the single timeline to break into infinite realities. And now the Kang variants are coming to wreak havoc on the multiverse.
THE CONQUEROR
One such Kang variant is the primary antagonist of Quantumania. And this variant is the most well-known/beloved of them all, Kang the Conqueror. In the movie, we get an idea of how powerful he is. But unfortunately, we never get to see him live up to his full potential. Sure we see him plow through enemies with his blue laser beams as if they were nothing. And yeah, he can use telekinesis in a way very similar to Darth Vader using the Force. But that’s all we get to see him do.
Going into the film I predicted Hank Pym was going to be the character to perish. Because Kang is such a powerful villain I assumed there was a high chance that someone wasn’t going to make it out of the Quantum Realm alive. Instead, Kang got defeated by technologically advanced ants, Hank, Janet, Cassie, and Hope made it through the battle with barely any scratches. And Scott Lang got bloodied up a bit, that’s all. How does this happen if your villain is supposed to be one of the most powerful Marvel comic book characters? And this is the reason why people are a little bit nervous about Kang being the next Thanos.
A WORTHY AVENGERS-LEVEL THREAT?
We don’t even have to look far back to think of an antagonist who was utilized in a way that invokes genuine dread in the viewer. Namor in Wakanda Forever wasn’t just a highlight of the film because of Tenoch Huerta’s memorable performance, he also was a brilliantly written character.
When he goes to Queen Ramonda and tells her, straight in her face, that if she reveals him to the world he will kill her he wasn’t bluffing. Twenty or so minutes later after that scene not only does he display his power as he singlehandedly takes on Wakanda’s finest like they’re amateurs but he does kill Queen Ramonda. Suddenly, the viewer has no more questions as to whether he’s the real deal or not.
SHOWDOWN WITH SHURI
Even in the final fight between him and Shuri, he isn’t narratively weakened so that Shuri can beat him. He pelts her with powerful blows, fighting her with all his strength. In fact, he nearly kills her in that intense duel. This is an antagonist you can take seriously. And when we see him again there will be nothing but excitement.
Kang so far is a character that we’ve been told to fear but he hasn’t been allowed to do anything truly breathtaking yet. And that’s why, as of right now, Kang has some work to do before he becomes as exciting a foe as Thanos. Hopefully, when he returns in Loki‘s second season, he’ll finally be given a chance to shine as the powerful, ruthless villain everyone has been claiming him to be. Because if not, the excitement for the multiverse saga is going to dwindle even more and that won’t be great for Marvel Studios.
FAITH IN THE FUTURE
Thankfully, I have faith in this franchise. When the first two Thor movies didn’t fare that well they turned to Taika Waititi to revive the character. When Captain America was seen as a somewhat likable hero they made him instantly iconic in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. They even found a way to incorporate Natalie Portman back into the MCU that made me wish we had more time with her.
There’s no doubt that Marvel Studios is listening to the feedback we’re putting out there. And that means, hopefully, in future installments, Kang the Conqueror will be such an imposing threat he’ll make Thanos look like an Avenger in comparison. I’m waiting for that to happen.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is playing in theatres everywhere now!
Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
