Unveiling the Epic Flaws in the MCU's Kang Backstory - Marvel Fans React
Loki season 2 raises questions about the potential of Kang as the MCU's new Thanos, highlighting missed opportunities in Quantumania
Summary
:The impact of Loki season 2 surpasses that of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania as MCU fans engage in detailed discussions about how it effectively establishes Kang the Conqueror as a formidable menace within a single episode, in comparison to the entire duration of the latter movie.
Alluding to danger has a greater emotional impact rather than explicitly showing it, as demonstrated in Loki season 2 episode 1, where Kang remains absent.
Although Kang's early defeat in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania diminishes his perceived power and credibility as a villain, there is still potential for Loki season 2 and other upcoming MCU projects to enhance the character, enabling him to rise above and outshine Thanos.
Warning: The following article contains spoilers for episode 1 of Loki season 2. The introduction of Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as revealed in Loki season 1 episode 1, has been met with criticism from MCU fans. The season 1 finale of Loki built up anticipation for Kang's arrival through He Who Remains' ominous death. However, in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Kang is easily defeated by Ant-Man and his family, greatly reducing the credibility of the character before he could face other Avengers in future MCU projects.
The ending of Loki season 2 episode 1 once again highlights Kang's looming presence, further emphasizing the stark contrast between the two seasons of Loki and the disappointing portrayal of Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Many MCU fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with the significant disparity between these two MCU projects on various platforms. Take a look at some of their posts below:
Loki seasons 1 and 2 effectively establish a sense of suspense, rather than relying on action, to craft a terrifying and credible threat. This approach, which has long been employed in thrillers, murder-mysteries, and horror films, hinges on alluding to danger without explicitly revealing it, as the fear of the unknown often proves more unsettling than the actual source of peril. In Loki season 2 episode 1, Loki's desperation resonates more powerfully with the audience than Kang's presence in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, where Kang's behavior and actions fail to distinguish him from any other supervillain.
Similarly, Kang's absence in Loki season 1 and 2 positions him as an omnipotent and inevitable force of nature, whereas his early introduction in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania exposes his vulnerabilities. Witnessing Kang the Conqueror struggle to overcome Ant-Man and his family while Loki desperately strives to prove the villain's menace to the TVA significantly diminishes Kang's perceived power. Adding insult to injury, Kang's embarrassing defeat following onslaughts from Hank Pym's ants, MODOK, and the Ant-Man family suggests that Loki greatly underestimated Kang from the start.
The fragment content remains the same:
Can Kang Really Be The MCU's New Thanos?
The jarring inconsistency in Kang's threat to the MCU between Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania proves that Marvel Studios not only needs to be careful while choosing what to include in the MCU's movie and show slate, but also while choosing what not to include in each project. Only one single disappointing look at the Multiverse Saga's main villain puts his credibility into question, so a less-is-more approach could be a possible solution to keep the franchise's overarching story consistent.
In addition to establishing himself as a formidable antagonist across multiple universes, Jonathan Majors' Kang the Conqueror must also live up to the high expectations set by Thanos in the Infinity Saga of the MCU. Thanos, despite only making three brief appearances before taking on the role of the main villain in Avengers: Infinity War, left a lasting impact with each tease, maintaining his foreboding presence throughout. When Thanos finally confronted the Avengers, he proved to be an unstoppable force, surpassing Earth's Mightiest Heroes in terms of power, strategy, and unwavering determination. By the time the credits rolled in Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos had achieved a resounding victory over the Avengers.
Loki seasons 1 and 2 have taken significantly longer than any project in the Infinity Saga did with Thanos to establish Kang the Conqueror as the primary villain in the MCU. However, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has done more to undermine Kang's potential. A crucial factor that can make a difference for Kang, either positively or negatively, is his almost ubiquitous presence as the Council of Kangs. Unlike Thanos, there are countless variations of Kang, ranging from weak and easily defeated to nearly unstoppable. This could potentially explain Kang's subpar performance in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as the worst Kang variant may be yet to appear.
Ultimately, comparing Kang's impact on the MCU to that of Thanos can only be done fairly after projects like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars have fully depicted the villain's journey within the MCU. While determining which villain is superior will be subjective, Marvel Studios' treatment of Kang in future Marvel Cinematic Universe endeavors will also be crucial. As proven by Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the success of Kang the Conqueror as a formidable adversary is contingent not only on his power and villainous deeds, but also on his ability to evoke terror on screen.
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