Warning: Spoilers for Ant-Man and the Wasp: QuantumaniaAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania made changes to Kang’s relationship with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes ahead of their upcoming showdown in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. In Marvel Comics, Kang has a reputation as one of the Avengers’ greatest villains. The two sides have been embroiled in a conflict that spans decades.
Though Kang hasn’t met the Avengers onscreen yet, it’s been confirmed that Jonathan Majors’ character is already acquainted with the group. As the movie reveals, the time-traveling villain fought the Avengers at some point in the past. And based on his remarks, it would seem that at least some within their ranks have even died at his hands during his adventures across the multiverse. Kang even alluded to Thor himself being among the casualties of their fights.
How Kang’s Relationship With The Avengers Is Different In Marvel Comics
What Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania establishes about Kang’s connection to the Avengers is quite telling, especially in terms of what it might mean for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Kang’s attitude toward the Avengers in the movie contrasts considerably with their history in the source material. From the looks of things, the MCU’s Kang has experienced greater success at fighting the Avengers than his comic counterpart. In spite of his power level, Marvel Comics’ Kang doesn’t have a winning record against the Avengers, which has greatly influenced his feelings toward the team.
Whereas the MCU’s Kang acts indifferent toward the Avengers, the comic book version of the character hates them immeasurably. Repeated defeats in the early Avengers comics bruised Kang’s ego and led to the character developing a deep resentment toward the team and everything they stood for. Driven by his need for revenge, Kang made killing the Avengers one of his biggest priorities. Perhaps because Majors’ take on the character has had comparably better luck, he doesn’t seem to be as concerned with them, as evidenced by the fact that he mistook Ant-Man for Thor in Quantumania.
What Kang’s Avengers History Means For His MCU Future
If Kang the Conqueror’s relationship with the Avengers in Quantumania is a reflection of how his variants perceive the team, this could have massive implications for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’s story. If his new Kang variants, like the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania version, are accustomed to beating the Avengers, they may not regard Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as a real and present danger. In many comic stories, the villain specifically sets out to beat the team, either to get revenge against his hated rivals or to stop them from getting in his way. The Council of Kangs, on the other hand, could lack the same motivations. If they haven’t been defeated by the team in their respective timelines, seeking out the Avengers may not be one their goals. Believing that Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are of no consequence could be what leads to their downfall.
