Did Marvel Just Address the MCU’s Kang Dilemma Ahead of Avengers: Doomsday?

Did Marvel Just Address the MCU’s Kang Dilemma Ahead of Avengers: Doomsday?

As the anticipation grows for the upcoming Avengers film, Doomsday, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) finds itself at a crossroads. A critical narrative hurdle has emerged, one that challenges the MCU in ways it has not confronted before. With the recent turmoil surrounding Jonathan Majors and his exit from the franchise, the trajectory of the Multiverse Saga has faltered, struggling to resonate at the same level as previous threats like Thanos. The character of Kang the Conqueror, initially positioned as a formidable villain, has not generated the same connection with audiences.

Initially introduced as He Who Remains in Loki and as Kang in Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, Kang was thought to possess immense potential as a multiversal adversary. Unfortunately, the reception of Quantumania and the complexities of Kang’s character, which often reset with each appearance, rendered him less impactful. This situation is now exacerbated by the fact that Avengers 5 is no longer titled The Kang Dynasty, and the MCU must come up with a viable resolution.

Enter Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, a surprising yet captivating pivot that could rejuvenate the narrative in the now-renamed Avengers: Doomsday. Although casting Downey Jr. back into the role is a stroke of genius, it raises the question of whether audiences—newcomers and long-time fans alike—will embrace a villain of such stature without any mention of Kang. While casual viewers may be easily entertained, dedicated fans know that introducing a fresh antagonist won’t suffice to address the current void left by Kang.

Marvel Still Needs A Kang Solution Ahead Of Doomsday

You Can’t Just Ignore A Villain This Big After So Much Set-Up… Or Can You?

Immortal
Kang the Conqueror

Reflecting on 2023, the finale of Loki season 2 may have inadvertently laid the groundwork for addressing the Council of Kangs. The introduction of a new TVA, which is actively monitoring Kang’s countless variants, provides a potential exit strategy for the studio. If Marvel wishes to adopt a cursory approach, perhaps with a brief exposition acknowledging Kang’s existence, some fans may find that acceptable. Yet, this feels like too significant an issue for such a nonchalant treatment.

In a nod to pop culture, the demise of the character Poochie in The Simpsons serves as a reminder of how characters can be quickly sidelined, engulfed in controversy without due attention. By uniting Loki’s TVA with the Avengers narrative, Marvel could effectively fuse the conclusion of Kang’s arc with the emergence of Doctor Doom, thereby preserving the multi-layered storyline of the Multiverse Saga. Alternatively, they might choose to bypass this entirely, dismiss calls to recast Kang, and avoid crafting a complex narrative that could be met with skepticism.

What If Season 3 May Have Subtly Solved The Kang Issue, According To One Theory

The MCU’s New Super-Team Could Have Taken Some Big Scalps

In what may seem like a benign addition, the penultimate episode of the final season of What If…? reveals that Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter returns with a formidable new Guardians of the Multiverse lineup. This team features characters like an Asgardian Storm and the intriguing new character Byrdie the Duck, making them potentially the most powerful ensemble seen in the MCU thus far.

Throughout their travels across the multiverse, this newly formed team tackles existential threats that could obliterate entire universes. Their mission takes a sharp turn as they seek to rescue the Watcher, Uatu, who is facing charges of heresy for intervening in the fates of the universes he observes. Here is where Captain Carter’s role comes to the forefront as a possible resolution to Kang’s dilemma.

Captain Carter appears in Kang’s Time Sphere, a key artifact from Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, which is essential to the film’s narrative. This multiverse-traveling device was previously a central element of Kang’s plot, but its decline in power came after his banishment to the Quantum Realm. Speculation is rife among fans that Carter’s encounter with the Time Sphere hints at a hidden narrative: it connects to the notion that the Guardians of the Multiverse may have eliminated the Kangs from the previous film off-screen, addressing their rising threat.

Marvel Fans React To What If…?’s Kang Easter Egg (But Are They Right?)

What If…’s Kang Easter Egg Is Causing Some… Feelings

Responses on social media platforms reveal that many fans are interpreting Captain Carter’s involvement with Kang’s Time Sphere as indirect evidence of her defeating the Kangs, effectively rendering them obsolete in the future. Some theories suggest that this might explain Kang’s absence moving forward, prompting a spectrum of emotions amongst the fanbase.

While the excitement is noteworthy, it should be emphasized that Kang’s Time Sphere was once a unique asset belonging solely to him, having been disabled prior to the events of Quantumania. The Council has not adopted the use of Spheres, casting doubt on the notion that Carter’s “trophy”holds any greater significance than her utilizing advanced technology for multiversal travel.

Despite the dissatisfaction that may arise from this narrative twist, the frustration among fans is valid. They have waited over a year for any mention of Kang, ultimately feeling left unsatisfied by the subtle insinuation that Carter may have eliminated at least one Kang variant. While this suggestion might seem significant, it is essential to remember that What If…? operates in a narrative space distinct from the overarching MCU storyline. Consequently, any resolution regarding Kang’s fate may be superficial at best.

While serious discourse around these developments remains prevalent, it’s important to acknowledge that there lies a missed opportunity for a more profound resolution to Kang’s storyline within the multiverse-centric series. Given the interconnected nature of the MCU, many fans hoped the narrative could have provided a memorable conclusion, but they were left with merely an Easter egg that has sparked further criticism towards the series.

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