Summary
- Thanos and Galactus take the title of the most well-known Marvel villains, but even they would fall victim to a variant of Kang.
- Kang The Conqueror variants in the comics possess unique powers and abilities, enhancing their strength through technology.
- Different versions of Kang, like Rama Tut and Iron Lad, bring distinct powers, technology, and storylines to the Marvel universe.
Disney+’s Loki introduced a variant of the Marvel Comics supervillain Kang The Conqueror known as He Who Remains. Countless powerful Kang variants exist in the comics, with some likely to appear in the MCU as the character ascends in The Multiverse Saga. Most Kang variants in the comics share the same basic abilities but have augmented their power through technology and other means. Advanced futuristic technology makes him effectively a god, with the ability to manipulate time and space in ways that are likely to prove consequential in the MCU.
The variant of Kang The Conqueror seen in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania played by Jonathan Majors hews very close to the original Kang in his armor and appearance. Given Kang’s tendency to create variants in the comics thanks to creating different timelines, Here are the most powerful versions of Kang the Conqueror that Marvel has created to date.
25 Rama Tut
The ancient Egyptian ruler Rama Tut first appeared in Fantastic Four #19. Like almost every Kang The Conqueror variant, Rama Tut possesses no superpowers. He relies on his genius and gift for technology to go back in time and establish himself as Pharaoh. He uses several hallmark Kang The Conqueror comic book powers like his Ultra-Diode gun.
Kang The Conqueror actually debuted the same month as Rama Tut, September 1963, in Avengers #8. The comics later retconned them to be variants of each other in “The Celestial Madonna” story arc in Avengers comics from 1974.
24 Keng
Keng makes an extremely brief cameo in Excalibur #49, which makes a case for being among the best Excalibur comic issues ever for its heady trip through the multiverse. Keng appears to share Kang’s powers and abilities, as well as the ability to alter his size on a massive scale.
Keng potentially appears in the MCU if the franchise goes all in on Kang variants. He appeared when another Marvel villain, Necrom, tried to condense the entire multiverse into one universe.
23 Zorr The Conqueror
Zorr was an immensely physically powerful alien. He roamed the stars fighting anyone he could, mostly coming into conflict with the Nova Corps. Despite their best efforts, Zorr would slaughter most of them, and it was only when he found himself on Earth that he met his match. On Earth, he fought against Richard Rider, who was capable of distracting him just long enough for Rhomann Dey, one of the last of the Nova Corps, to channel the full energy of his ship directly into Zorr, which ended up completely disintegrating him. Considering Zorr slaughtered everyone he came up against, he would’ve been a huge threat had Dey not finally brought him down.
22 Kid Immortus
Kid Immortus also possesses the ability to change someone’s size, though not necessarily his. He uses growth pollen from an alien world to enlarge his armies, including The Growing Man. They absorb kinetic energy, growing in strength and stature, similar to Giant-Man.
Kid Immortus exists as a younger Kang variant, centuries before his more well-known versions. Yet he embodies their strength and knowledge, making him a very powerful opponent.
21 Kangaroo The Conqueror
Kangaroo The Conqueror makes for an unlikely Kang variant in the MCU, but odder things have happened. Kangaroo appears to share all Kang’s standard powers and abilities, including the power to generate force fields that repel most attacks. He wears a slightly baggier armor than others, though it seems mostly the same.
This variant emerged from Earth-8311, the same alternate reality that spawned the powerful Spider-Man variant Spider-Ham. He exists alongside several other anthropomorphic variants of iconic characters.
20 Kang (Earth-6309)
As funny as the idea of Kangaroo the Conqueror is, not everyone was a fan. When Kangaroo the Conqueror was exiled from the Council of Kangs for being offensive to all Kangs everywhere, this Kang didn’t think that was enough. Infuriated by the mere existence of Kangaroo the Conqueror, Kang decided that the entire planet had to be destroyed. He then traveled to Larval Earth, home to Spider-Ham, and planned to destroy it. He very nearly succeeded but was stopped by Kangaroo the Conqueror, who recruited Spider-Ham and 616 Spider-Man. The fact he could destroy a planet for such a petty reason shows this Kang had real power.
19 Kang (Earth-267)
One of the biggest things that constantly get in Kang’s way is the Avengers. This has led to plenty of versions of Kang trying to get rid of them, and ultimately, one Kang succeeded, though he wishes he hadn’t. On Earth-267, Kang succeeds in destroying the Avengers by using a nuclear bomb, which naturally kills all of them. Unfortunately, detonating a nuclear bomb on U.S. soil wasn’t the smartest thing Kang had ever done, as America immediately blamed Russia, which resulted in a full nuclear war between the two states. This ended with the entire world destroyed, and Kang as the last survivor.
18 Scarlet Centurion
Kang adopts a new identity for a brief period after meeting Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four Annual #2. The Scarlet Centurion wears a new armor that takes some cues from Doom’s. The armor still largely derives from the future technology Kang possesses though, so it’s not too different in ability from what he had before.
Kang then uses it against the Avengers in Avengers Annual #2 in 1968. Numerous Scarlet Centurion variants exist within the Marvel multiverse including Kang’s son, Marcus, and it’s likely he appears in the MCU.
17 Mr. Gryphon
Mr. Gryphon founded Qeng Industries, which became a notable Easter egg in Loki episode five. He shares essentially the same powers and abilities as other Kang variants, though he proved his singular technological skill by commandeering The Vision.
He reprogrammed the android to help him in his fight against the Avengers. The Vision was able to wrest Jane Foster Thor’s hammer away from her, nearly defeating a stacked Avengers roster including Ms. Marvel and Miles Morales.
16 Victor Timely
The Victor Timely Kang variant traveled back to the year 1901. There he set up a town called Timely in Wisconsin and begins inventing things long before they ever develop, like robots. He possesses the basic powers and knowledge other Kangs do but can go back and forth to Chronopolis, Kang’s temporal kingdom.
He first appears in Avengers Annual #21 in 1992, but his place and significance in Marvel history go back much further than that. This story establishes that Victor Timely’s knowledge and experimentation eventually led to him creating the original android Human Torch from Timely Comics, Marvel’s real-world predecessor.
15 Kang The Conqueror Used Hulk To Control The World
Everyone knows that one of the most powerful and dangerous beings in the Marvel Universe is the Hulk. Hulk has become a worldwide threat a few different times, most notably in World War Hulk, he also helped bring down the heroes of the world in Old Man Logan. Which is likely why Kang the Conqueror targeted him on an unnamed Earth. Using chips infused with nanomachines, Kang was able to take full control of the Hulk. This led to Kang using the Hulk as an attack dog to kill everyone in his way until he took over the planet, and all it took was a tempting bag of chips.
14 Iron Lad
Iron Lad helped found the Young Avengers, a team with numerous MCU characters already established in the franchise. This teenage Kang variant possesses an armored suit that allows him to fly and gives him great strength and endurance, necessary as he fights his future self.
Neurokinetic nano-metal comprises the armor, which means Iron Lad can change its shape with his thoughts. He can also remove the armor and operate it independently with his mind as well.
13 Kang The Conqueror (Earth-6160)
Kang the Conqueror doesn’t tend to take kindly to other people using time travel, which the Maker learned the hard way. After the Maker took over Earth-6160, he wanted to see if his rule lasted forever, so he traveled as far into the future as he possibly could to see if he still ruled. What he found instead, was a very angry Kang who very nearly beat Maker to death. While Maker escaped, Kang continued sending armies into the past to kill him. This eventually culminated in a full-on battle between the two, and while Kang was ultimately killed, his identity was shockingly revealed as a Tony Stark variant.
12 Ultimate Comics Kang The Conqueror
The Kang from Earth-1610, the Ultimate Comics universe, first appears in Ultimate Comics Wolverine #4 in 2013. She arrives with a plan to change time and undo the horrible devastation the Ultimatum wave unleashed upon New York City, in which many heroes died. In the process, she reveals she’s also a Sue Storm variant.
Not only does she possess Kang’s power and knowledge, but she also still has her invisibility. Beyond that, she features powers no other incarnations do in the comics, including teleporting and shape-shifting.
11 Kamala Kang
Comic fans know Kamala Khan enjoys incredible power, but one Ms. Marvel variant gained even more. Kamala Kang emerged from the 2018 Infinity Wars comic book storyline, where Gamora folded reality and fused many characters, creating many new variants.
Not only did Ms. Marvel gain Kang’s intellect and tech-savvy, but she also retained her unique powers to shapeshift as well. While she existed, Kamala Kang proved equal to the time-traveling villain’s most powerful variants.
10 Immortus
Immortus possesses the talent and power as other Kang variants but arguably is even more knowledgeable. Comic fans know the Time Keepers taught Immortus about time and their truly cosmic power, giving the future version of Kang power and ability extraordinary potential.
He used these powers to delete numerous alternate timelines for the Time Keepers, though he was actually trying to establish himself as the ruler of all time. He also hunted down and exterminated many Nexus Beings, and attempted to do the same to the Scarlet Witch, who is the Nexus Being of her reality.
9 Prime Kang
Prime Kang existed before all other Kangs, so far as anyone in Marvel Comics knows. He persists thanks to his indomitable willpower, cunning, and intellect. He wears a suit of battle armor from the 31st century which augments his strength and stamina considerably.
He also possesses the Damocles Base, a massive spaceship shaped like a sword. Its armaments include endless Scarabs, foot soldiers that Kang unleashes on worlds to conquer them.
8 Chronos-Tut
Chronos-Tut debuted in Spider-Boy Team-Up #1, a comic from the DC-Marvel mashup crossover Amalgam Comics. This variant combined Kang’s power with The Time Trapper, giving him extraordinary power. The Time Trapper exhibited the ability to control time itself in Legion of Super-Heroes comics as Chronos-Tut does.
This powerful variant wielded the power to perceive how the two comic universes had been fused together. He also nearly separated Spider-Man from Superboy in a stunning feat unlikely ever to play out in the movies.
7 Doom The Annihilating Conqueror
Perhaps the most powerful Kang The Conqueror variant in the comics combines several awesome Marvel villains. Iron Lad eventually succumbed to the evil tendencies of his variants and fused with Doctor Doom and Annihilius to become Doom The Annihilating Conqueror.
This version possessed Kang’s powers as well as Doctor Doom’s genius and sorcery, which makes him among the most powerful magical beings in Marvel Comics.
6 The Time-Eater
The Time-Eater ranks atop the most powerful Kang variants thanks to his assuming Galactus’ power. This variant killed Galactus and absorbed the Power Cosmic. He then went on to kill all other Galactus variants he could find, destroying their universes and unraveling the multiverse.
This unimaginable variant potentially emerges in the MCU in some way as Kang may seek to destroy universes as He Who Remains warned. If so, The Time-Eater might appear alongside countless other Kangs in upcoming movies and shows.
