Jonathan Majors appeared as Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, leading many to wonder whether he's the same variant as He Who Remains from Loki. After first being announced to be playing the MCU's Kang the Conqueror in 2020, Jonathan Majors debuted as one of the villain's many variants, He Who Remains, in Loki's season 1 finale on Disney+, revealed to be the man behind the Time Variance Authority (TVA). Despite He Who Remains' death in Loki, the MCU's Multiverse Saga allowed Majors to return as Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but the appearance of two Kangs could lead to some confusion.

Kang the Conqueror has been billed as the MCU's "new Thanos," the major villain for the Multiverse Saga, so the debut of one of his variants early on in Phase 4 came as a surprise but set the tone for the MCU going forward. He Who Remains was introduced as the man-behind-the-curtain of the TVA, maintaining the Sacred Timeline to prevent his numerous variants from wreaking havoc. However, since both of Majors' appearances in the MCU have come with warnings of what devastation Kang's other variants could cause, it might be easy to assume that He Who Remains and Kang the Conqueror are one-and-the-same, though this isn't actually the case.

Kang The Conqueror Is Different To Loki's He Who Remains: Here's How

jonathan majors as he who remains in loki season 1

While it might be easy to consider the idea that He Who Remains and Kang the Conqueror are the same variant, perhaps from different points in the timeline, the pair are actually two completely separate variants. Originally named Nathaniel Richards, Kang began as a 31st Century descendant of Reed Richards' time-traveling father, starting his conquest of the multiverse when he discovered his ancestor's technology. In each time period, Kang journeyed to, a new version of the villain was created, allowing an innumerable amount of variants to exist, and He Who Remains and Kang the Conqueror are only two examples of this occurring.

As He Who Remains explained in Loki season 1's finale, a multiversal war broke about among Kang and his variants, threatening the stability of all existence due to the possibility of major incursions. To end the war, He Who Remains utilized Alioth to establish the Sacred Timeline, effectively preventing any other Kang variants from being created. He Who Remains' death in Loki season 1 allowed the Sacred Timeline to branch out, creating the multiverse and enabling all of Kang's variants to reclaim their place in the cosmos - including Kang the Conqueror, a warrior variant. He Who Remains was a far more peaceful, though still dangerous, force than Kang the Conqueror.

How Powerful Kang Is Compared To He Who Remains

kang using his blasts in ant-man 3

While He Who Remains was a mostly benevolent presence in Loki, Majors showed off Kang the Conqueror's brutality in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Peyton Reed's third Ant-Man installment showed-off some of Kang's powers - gifted to him by his technologically-advanced suit of armor. With a flick of his finger, Kang could control matter, which he showed off while pressuring Paul Rudd's Scott Lang into helping him, and his suit also allowed him to fire energy blasts that could mow down the Quantum Realm's freedom fighters with ease. Kang the Conqueror's power is only increased by his bitterness towards his variants, who initially exiled him to the Quantum Realm.

Despite the shocking level of power expressed by Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Loki season 1 implied that He Who Remains was, in fact, stronger than the Conqueror and all his other variants. During the first multiversal war, He Who Remains was able to outsmart every other version of Kang and end the battle, isolating the Sacred Timeline, which he then spent eons protecting - pruning any branching reality that could potentially create a new Kang. Establishing the TVA, He Who Remains was able to stay hidden in the shadows, proving his lack of ego, a trait that's very prominent in his other, more menacing variants.

Kang & He Who Remains' Multiverse History & Timeline Explained

multiverse demonstration by kang in ant-man 3

Since both Loki's TVA and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's Quantum Realm are situated outside of time and space, it's difficult to pinpoint an exact timeline for Kang the Conqueror and He Who Remains' history. As it was explained by He Who Remains in Loki, however, Kang - then known as Nathaniel Richards - was a gifted scientist from the 31st Century who discovered the existence of the multiverse. Richards and his variants shared knowledge, resources, and compliments before the scientist's more dangerous variants began to make themselves known, culminating in a massive multiversal war, which He Who Remains thankfully thwarted.

After the multiverse was unleashed following He Who Remains' death, all of Kang's variants could rise once again throughout various realities. Forming the Council of Kangs, a gathering of thousands of Kang variants seen in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's mid-credits scene, they sought dominance over the multiverse, but Kang the Conqueror fought back. To spare themselves, the Council of Kangs exiled Kang the Conqueror to the Quantum Realm, where he would have remained powerless had it not been for the unwitting help of Janet van Dyne, who gave Kang the resources needed to establish a powerful empire in the subatomic realm - but luckily destroyed his only escape route.

Kang the Conqueror continued to gain power in the Quantum Realm, biding his time while growing an army and subjugating the beings residing in the minuscule universe. That is, Scott Lang and his size-changing team were dragged into the Quantum Realm, coming face-to-face with the villain, both providing Kang with the means to escape and perhaps his greatest chance of failure. Together, Scott and Evangeline Lilly's Hope van Dyne were able to defeat Kang the Conqueror, thrusting him into his exploding multiversal power core, seemingly killing the villain, though the threat of the Council of Kangs still looms overhead - leading into the upcoming events of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.

Other Confirmed Kang Variants Besides He Who Remains

immortus leading the council of kangs in ant-man 3

Jonathan Majors has portrayed far more than just the two central Kang so far: He Who Remains and Kang the Conqueror himself. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's post-credits scenes saw the surprising debut of the Council of Kangs, showcasing many more Kang variants who pose a huge threat to the MCU. The Council of Kangs seems to be led by Immortus, an ancient variant of Kang, though he's joined by the Egyptian Pharaoh Rama-Tut and a version of the Scarlet Centurion. Mr. Gryphon of Qeng Enterprises, a Lizard Kang, and a green-skinned variant all also appear as members of the Council of Kangs.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's post-credits scene introduced yet another variant of Kang, though this time in the form of a tease for Loki season 2, which is set for release on Disney+ on October 6, 2023. Tom Hiddleston's Loki and Owen Wilson's Mobius M. Mobius came face-to-face with Victor Timely in the scene, a variant of Kang who established the town of Timely, Wisconsin, in the early 20th Century to advance Earth's technology and conquer from before the modern age. Thanks to the events of Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Kang and his variants are sure to have a major presence in several upcoming MCU projects.

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