The MCU's Most Controversial 2023 Death Is Still Getting Misunderstood Almost A Year Later

The Divisive Death of Kang in Quantumania

It’s clear that Kang's death in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is still largely misunderstood, even almost a year later. Quantumania marked the beginning of the MCU Phase 5 when it was released back in February, and it introduced a new variant of the MCU’s Thanos-level villain of the Multiverse Saga, Kang the Conqueror. Because of Thanos’s popularity and audiences’ dissatisfaction with Marvel’s output with each post-Avengers: Endgame release, a lot of pressure was placed on Kang and his storyline to live up to Thanos’s Infinity Saga.

Kang (Jonathan Majors) scowls in Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania

After Quantumania premiered, this version of Kang proved divisive. One of Kang’s many criticisms is that his death in Quantumania was unbefitting his status as a major villain as he was seemingly killed by an army of ants. This would be fair if that’s what happened, but a closer analysis of Kang’s death proves that it was much more complex than the dismissive 'just ants' description would imply.

Kang (Jonathan Majors) watches his gauntlet malfunction in Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania

Kang The Conqueror Wasn't Just Killed By Ants

While ants did play a major role in helping Ant-Man's team defeat Kang, they did not kill him. Kang had the upper hand during his battle with Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Cassie Lang. When Hank Pym arrived, he brought his massive fleet of wolf-sized ants whose civilization was far more advanced than even humans. These ants stormed Kang’s base, taking out his army and forcing him to protect himself with a near-impenetrable force field. His force field was working well until he was unexpectedly betrayed by MODOK, who used his Kang-designed technology to override the tech in Kang’s suit and dismantle the force field.

It was only then that the ants were able to overcome Kang and completely rip apart his advanced tech suit, but they did not kill him. Right before Ant-Man has the chance to return home, an injured Kang appears and brutally fights him. Kang is only subdued after the Wasp blasts him into an overriding power source, which implodes, apparently killing him. While the climax that relies on giant CGI ants coming to save the day is true, that criticism should not extend to Kang himself, as the movie goes out of its way to show several elements compounding to weaken the villain.

Why Kang's Apparent Death In Quantumania May Have Secretly Helped The MCU

While Kang's death in Quantumania may have been disappointing for people who were invested in a villain who could replace Thanos, his death may have actually been a blessing in disguise. Kang's actor Jonathan Majors was recently convicted of assault and harassment, and he has since been fired from Marvel. While Kang may be recast, his death at the end of Quantumania gives the MCU the option of leaving this particular variant of the character behind.

Kang's death in Quantumania, as well as deaths in both seasons of Loki, portrays him as a villain not wildly difficult to beat. Had Kang still been alive at the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, a huge plot thread would have been left that the MCU would need to address. But now that all major Kang variants introduced in the MCU so far have died bar for one Quantumania post-credits scene, and it’s set up massive threats like incursions and the Celestials, the MCU has many opportunities to move on without Kang.