Summary
Kang the Conqueror is set to become the next major villain in the MCU's Phase 5 and Phase 6 projects, with his impact on the multiverse being greater than Thanos'.
The verdict on whether Kang will surpass Thanos as the ultimate villain remains uncertain, as his story is still evolving in forthcoming movies and TV shows. However, the MCU is compellingly presenting Kang as a formidable adversary for the Avengers and the multiverse, potentially leading to a soft reboot in the franchise following The Multiverse Saga.
In new Marvel Cinematic Universe fan art, Thanos and Kang the Conqueror form a dangerous duo. While Thanos was a transformative villain in the MCU, Marvel Studios aims to surpass themselves with Jonathan Majors' Kang in The Multiverse Saga. Phase 5 currently places a greater emphasis on Kang, with the exploration of his latest variant, Victor Timely, in Loki season 2. However, Kang's story continues beyond this, as Phase 5 and Phase 6 projects are still in the pipeline before the release of the major Avengers films, namely Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, which are expected to delve into the core of Kang's MCU narrative. Although they may never have the opportunity to meet on screen, new MCU fan art shared on Reddit by ParticleParty1 envisions Kang and Thanos as the prominent adversaries in their respective sagas.
Although Earth-199999's Thanos was defeated and killed in Avengers: Endgame, there exist multiple variations of Thanos in the multiverse. If Kang and an alternative Thanos were to clash, whether it be in What If...? season 2 or another MCU venture, it would undoubtedly make for a captivating face-off.
Is Kang A Worthy Successor To Thanos As An MCU Villain?
Though Thanos was a monumental presence in the MCU, it's crucial to note that his impact was limited to just one universe, whereas Kang seeks to influence the entire multiverse. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania effectively showcased the threat posed by a single Kang variant. The post-credits scene took it a step further, revealing a multitude of Kang variants and hinting at the intense challenges that lie ahead for the MCU in future movies and TV shows.
At this stage, it remains uncertain whether Kang will surpass Thanos as a villain, given his involvement only in Loki and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. Once Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars unfold, it will be easier to gauge the mainstream audience's response to Kang in comparison to Thanos. Considering the potential for a soft reboot in the MCU after The Multiverse Saga, Kang could potentially be the catalyst, cementing his status as the ultimate adversary of the franchise.
The MCU faced a daunting task in trying to surpass the villain Thanos, regardless of whether they chose Kang or other notable Marvel adversaries such as Galactus or Doctor Doom. However, at present, the MCU is gradually presenting a compelling argument for Kang as a formidable opponent for both the Avengers and the multiverse. Only time will reveal what Marvel Studios has in store for audiences regarding Kang's ultimate endgame, with the upcoming Loki season 2 and other MCU projects.