Kang Falls Short: Thanos Reigns Supreme as the Ultimate MCU Villain

Article Key Points

Thanos is the ultimate MCU villain because his goal of wiping out half of all life, although horrifying, makes a twisted kind of sense.

Thanos underestimates the strength of unity and the unwavering determination of the superheroes, resulting in the ultimate failure of his flawed plan.

In contrast to Thanos, Kang the Conqueror proves to be a much more intricate antagonist, showcasing intricate motivations and numerous iterations of himself.

The avengers have encountered a multitude of formidable adversaries throughout their time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the individual films serve as a build-up to a climactic battle against a central villain when the heroes unite in the Avengers movies. Thanos, portrayed by Josh Brolin, was the primary antagonist leading up to the spectacular double feature of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. In the current phase five, the main villain is Kang the Conqueror. Nevertheless, uncertainty surrounds his future involvement in the MCU due to assault charges against Jonathan Majors, the actor portraying this complex villain.

Thanos, an extraterrestrial warlord hailing from the planet Titan, held a grand objective of eradicating half of all life to curb overpopulation and prevent inevitable extinction. To achieve this, he sought after the acquisition of six infinity stones, which would grant him the power to accomplish his goal. In Avengers: Infinity War, his grand plan came to fruition as he gathered all the stones and, with a mere snap of his fingers, annihilated half of the universe. Subsequently, the events of this movie seamlessly flowed into Avengers: Endgame, wherein the Avengers countered his tyranny and reversed the devastating consequences of his malevolent scheme.

Thanos always had a clear goal

However, despite Kang the Conqueror's potential to cause great harm to the Avengers in Phase Five, Thanos is likely to remain the number one villain in the MCU. This is mainly due to the fact that Thanos has established himself as one of the best villains of all time, making him a tough act to follow.

Thanos's ultimate goal in the MCU was terrifyingly logical, despite its horrific execution. In his own mind, he was a hero, a fact that holds true for many villains. Thanos's unwavering pursuit of his objective solidifies his position as the ultimate villain in the MCU. Only through a clever manipulation of time in Avengers: Endgame was his plan thwarted. Had it not been for this intervention, Thanos might have actually succeeded in his plan to reshape the universe for the better. This possibility is deeply unsettling.

With a mere snap of my fingers, all will vanish. Consider it a merciful act.

Despite the logic behind Thanos' reasoning, he remains a despicable villain. The chilling manner in which he executes his plan leaves the surviving Avengers in shock, as half of the universe crumbles to dust. Thanos believes eradicating existence is an act of mercy, but this belief exposes the flaws in his plan. He underestimates the strength found in unity and the determination of the superheroes opposing him. While he may twist his intentions to save the world, Thanos remains selfish, indiscriminately killing innocents to achieve his own goals.

Kang is more complicated than Thanos

Avengers: Endgame marks the defeat of Thanos and his morally ambiguous yet understandable plan, as well as the heartbreaking demise of Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man. This turn of events sets the stage for the emergence of a more intricate villain named Kang the Conqueror. Marvel took a different approach in introducing Kang to the MCU. While Thanos was slowly teased in earlier phases before fully appearing in Infinity War and Endgame, Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania presents Kang as the central antagonist right from the start, initiating a thrilling story arc that could potentially culminate in the conclusion of phase five and the beginning of phase six.

Kang's existence is as intricate as his motivations. Having lived for eternity, he continuously manipulates and alters his past and future through time travel. Kang is detached from the struggles and aspirations of ordinary human beings. Additionally, due to the existence of multiple versions of Kang, each variant possesses distinct intentions, resulting in a highly intricate character arc.

I don't follow a linear path and can jump to the end over time.

Arguably, the Avengers movies in which Thanos appears are the best and will maintain that status because his motivations were exceptionally clear. However, the current issue revolving around the actor who portrays Kang, Jonathan Majors, adds a level of complexity to Kang's future. Majors is currently involved in an assault case, which leaves Marvel uncertain about what to do with the Kang character if he is convicted. Even if he is proven innocent, the court of public opinion could force Marvel to remove the character, which would create difficulties for phase five. Speculation has arisen that Dr. Doom might be introduced as a replacement for Kang, but it would feel odd if the character of Kang were to cease, considering the significant effort put into developing his story arc. Regardless, Thanos remains a far superior villain and will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest villains of all time.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an expansive franchise of movies and television shows that interconnect the narratives of various superheroes, including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and more. The franchise commenced in 2008 with the release of its first film, Iron Man. With both critical acclaim and considerable financial success, the MCU has emerged as a cultural phenomenon, grossing billions of dollars at the box office.

Editor's P/S

Thanos is the ultimate MCU villain because his goal, while misguided, is understandable. He believes that wiping out half of all life will ultimately save the universe from overpopulation and extinction. This makes him a more complex and sympathetic villain than Kang, whose motivations are more selfish and destructive.

Additionally, Thanos's plan is nearly successful, and he only fails because of the Avengers' combined efforts. This makes him a more formidable and dangerous villain than Kang, who is ultimately defeated by Ant-Man and the Wasp. Overall, Thanos is a more compelling and memorable villain than Kang, and he deserves his place as the ultimate MCU villain.