Marvel Studios has released its first trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, featuring Kang the Conqueror (played by Jonathan Majors), who's wearing new armor and has a blue face. After Ant-Man's family inadvertently transports themselves to the Quantum Realm, it looks as though a new variant of Kang will be their primary villain. Likewise, this new style helps establish Kang as a new variant compared to the version audiences were first introduced to in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel's a Kang variant known as He Who Remains, the man responsible for the TVA and Sacred Timeline. Despite his warnings that his death would unleash his variants across the multiverse, Sylvie murdered this version of Kang the Conqueror. This resulted in a TVA takeover by a new Kang in the series' final scene, confirming that the variants had already been set loose. Case in point, another variant of the Conqueror is now the main villain facing the Ant-Man Family in the Quantum Realm. As for Kang the Conqueror's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania look, his blue face is a result of special armor, not the species of the character.
Is Kang The Conqueror Human In The MCU?
Although it looks as though Kang the Conqueror has blue skin in the new trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, he is, in fact, human. Originally named Nathaniel Richards, Kang is believed to be Mister Fantastic's descendant, a fact which could be proven true in the MCU's near future given the impending arrival of the Fantastic Four. Born in the 31st Century, Kang was a scientist who learned to harness time itself, making it his mission in the comics to conquer time and build an empire spanning multiple eras.
While it's not confirmed what this new version of Kang's goal is in the Quantum Realm, he appears to have an entire army of soldiers and warships at his disposal. As such, the Quantum Realm is most likely the nexus of his empire, given its ability to access the time stream, as seen in Avengers: Endgame. Regardless, Kang is simply a human man wielding impressive technology that has helped him conquer beyond the confines of time. Why Kang is blue is simply a part of said technology.
Kang The Conqueror's Blue Armor Explained
While Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the classic blue face and armor strongly suggest he could be the primary variant audiences will interact with in the MCU going forward.
Kang’s Blue Mask Stays True To Stan Lee And Jack Kirby’s Design
Kang The Conqueror was born in Marvel Comics' Silver Age (1960-1970). Created by Marvel heavyweights Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, there are a lot of different versions of the character because of his different timeline variants. This version made his debut in Avengers #8 in 1964 and has remained mostly unchanged regardless of which artist draws him. Those other variants, like Immortus, Rama-Tut, and the Scarlet Centurion don’t have the same blue mask that Kang the Conqueror does. Fans might have initially been asking why Kang is blue when the variants from different timelines pile up, but the look is now iconic.
The MCU walks a fine line between staying true to comic book designs and modernizing looks for the movies. Some of those work out better than others. M.O.D.O.K.’s MCU design in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is a good representation of that. Fans have criticized his look since they were able to spot him in one of the trailers, though it’s very much in line with the jarring way M.O.D.O.K. appears in the comics. Kang’s design, with the blue mask and colorful clothing, appears to have married Lee and Kirby’s classic Kang the Conqueror costume with a modern movie approach to costuming and makeup in a way that comic book fans can appreciate.
