This article contains major spoilers for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. After Avengers: Endgame, there was plenty of speculation among Marvel fans around who would succeed Thanos as the biggest villain of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But after Season 1 of Loki ended in 2021, it became clear that the Avengers’ next enemy would be none other than one of their biggest comic book foes, Kang the Conqueror — and with the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, fans have now been formally introduced to Kang himself.
While Quantumania has received mainly negative reception from critics, Jonathan Majors (star of Lovecraft Country and the upcoming Creed III) has been widely praised for his portrayal of Kang the Conqueror. And indeed, Kang in general is one of the strongest aspects of the entire movie. But just being a good villain isn’t enough for the next Thanos — as the new big bad of the entire MCU, does the Kang featured in Quantumania live up to the hype?
Why Kang Works
The best part of Quantumania’s Kang the Conqueror is, as many other critics have already pointed out, Jonathan Majors. With a lesser performer in the role, Kang could have easily been just another space tyrant with no personality — no better than Malekith the Accursed or Ronan the Accuser. However, Majors brings a level of charisma and menace to the role that elevates Kang above the level of a generic supervillain. That fact shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who watched Loki, in which Majors portrayed another Kang variant, He Who Remains. Despite only appearing for a few minutes in the season finale, Majors absolutely stole the show, portraying He Who Remains as a playful, theatrical figure who nevertheless possesses a dangerous cunning.
But while He Who Remains is a campier sort of evil mastermind, Majors plays Kang the Conqueror as a much more subdued and serious figure. That’s not to say he’s any less charismatic, of course: just look at his interactions with Michelle Pfeiffer’s Janet Van Dyne, who he successfully persuades to ally with him before she learns his true intentions. But even so, Kang is a far colder sort than his Loki variant. He presents himself as a benevolent protector of the multiverse, the only person who can save it from the Incursions. However, his scornful attitude towards everyone around him, including his right-hand man MODOK, betrays his cruel and callous nature.
In one of the movie’s most impactful scenes, Kang threatens to use his mastery over time to kill Cassie Lang countless times until Ant-Man agrees to his demands. It’s a genuinely chilling moment, sold entirely by Majors’s skillful performance. Later, in the film’s final battle, Kang effortlessly dismantles Ant-Man using only his bare hands. Majors brings an intense physicality to Kang that makes him feel like a truly powerful warrior, more dangerous with his own two fists than with futuristic blasters. It’s enough to cement him as one of the most intimidating MCU villains in recent memory.
Why Kang Doesn’t Work
However, the film’s depiction of Kang isn’t quite perfect. Despite Majors’ excellent work in the role, the material he’s given isn’t always equal to his talent. The movie as a whole suffers from largely forgettable dialogue, and Kang himself is sadly no exception. In addition, while Kang’s characterization isn’t bad by any means, it may ruffle the feathers of some comic book purists. Quantumania’s depiction of Kang as a would-be savior of the multiverse runs contrary to the comic Kang, who is driven solely by his hunger for conquest and battle. Indeed, his motives here feel more like Doctor Doom than Kang the Conqueror.
But of course, an adaptation should not be judged by faithfulness to the source material alone. The MCU’s Thanos was likewise a large departure from his comic counterpart, but he’s a phenomenal antagonist regardless. But unfortunately, the Kang in Quantumania isn’t quite on Thanos’s level. Infinity War portrayed Thanos as an unstoppable force of nature, effortlessly demolishing everyone in his way. In his first scene alone, he defeats the Hulk with ease and even kills Loki. By contrast, Kang kills only minor characters throughout the movie, and is ultimately defeated by Ant-Man and Wasp. Not exactly an imposing first impression for the MCU’s next big bad. Had Scott Lang sacrificed himself in the final battle while Kang escaped to plot another day, it would have established Kang as a major threat capable of killing an Avenger. But instead, he ends up coming off as a bit unimpressive despite his frightening facade.
What to Expect in Kang Dynasty
But perhaps most puzzling of all is the fact that Kang seems to die at the end of his debut film. His fate is initially left ambiguous, with even Scott worrying that Kang survived their climactic battle. However, the mid-credits scene introduces the multiversal Council of Kangs, who confirm that the main Kang of the film — or the Exiled One, as they call him — has indeed perished. But if that’s indeed the case, then that would mean the upcoming Avengers: The Kang Dynasty movie will not, in fact, be featuring Kang himself.
Of course, it’s entirely plausible that the titular “Kang Dynasty” refers to the Council of Kangs, led by the triumvirate of Immortus, Rama-Tut, and the Scarlet Centurion — Kang’s three most prominent variants in the comics. But even so, none of them are Kang the Conqueror proper, who was most faithfully adapted in the form of the Exiled One. Granted, the Council of Kangs all seem to reflect the comic Kang’s characterization. From what little is shown of the triumvirate, they’re much more melodramatic in personality than the Exiled One, and their coliseum lair echoes Kang’s bloodlust in the source material.
Yet even so, it’s very strange that the MCU’s adaptation of the main Kang the Conqueror variant would be killed off before The Kang Dynasty. Of course, it’s entirely possible that the Council of Kangs is wrong in their assumption, and that the Exiled One will indeed return to menace the Avengers alongside his variants. It’s equally plausible that Immortus, Rama-Tut, and the Scarlet Centurion will end up being entertaining, compelling antagonists in their own right, and that the primary Kang won’t even be missed.
Either way, one thing is certain: The Kang Dynasty has its work cut out in re-establishing Kang as a worthy enemy for the Avengers. And granted, not all hope is lost on that front. Even Thanos wasn’t cemented as a truly great villain until he took center stage in Infinity War. Let’s hope that the best for Jonathan Majors’ Kang — or rather, his Kangs — is yet to come. Because despite Majors’ best efforts, Kang has yet to live up to the high expectations set for the MCU’s biggest villain.