MCU Theory - Kang the Conqueror's Invasion Started In Spider-Man: Homecoming

The MCU is soon to introduce its version of Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors - and he may have begun his invasion of the present day in Spider-Man: Homecoming. The first three phases of the MCU are collectively known as the Infinity Saga, because they focus on an overarching narrative featuring Thanos and the Infinity Stones. With the Mad Titan defeated, though, viewers are naturally wondering just what other comic book characters could pose such a threat to the Avengers.

Step forward Kang the Conqueror, who will be played by Lovecraft Country star Jonathan Majors and is confirmed to be the main villain in Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania. Kang is a big name in the comics, a time traveler from the distant future who has conquered vast swathes of future time - and can never resist testing his mettle against Earth's Mightiest Heroes. He's a logical villain for the MCU going forward, given time travel has become so important to the franchise in the wake of Avengers: Endgame. It's reasonable to assume his story won't be ending in Ant-Man 3, simply because he's the kind of bad guy with the potential to dominate entire phases.

What's more, it's actually possible Kang has already begun invading the twenty-first century - and that he's been working in the shadows since at least Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Spider-Man: Far From Home Revealed Someone Bought Avengers Tower

Spider Man Far From Home Avengers Tower Phase 4

Avengers Tower has been one of the most important locations in the MCU so far. Introduced in The Avengers as Stark Tower, it was heavily damaged during the Battle of New York and subsequently transformed into a base for the newly-founded Avengers. But when the second incarnation of the Avengers chose to move out to a new headquarters, the Avengers Compound in upstate New York, Stark decided to sell the tower. Spider-Man: Homecoming carefully avoided revealing who had bought Avengers Tower, leading to intense speculation it could be tied to the Fantastic Four, Norman Osborn, or some other key player in the MCU's future. Avengers Tower got a redesign in Spider-Man: Far From Home, but again Marvel didn't show whose logo was on the side of the building. Marvel's reluctance to confirm Avengers Tower's fate really does seem to suggest this is important.

Loki May Reveal Who Purchased Avengers Tower

Qeng Tower in the Void from Loki episode 5

Loki episode 5 may have provided a clue. The episode saw the trickster god stranded in a void at the end of time, a place where the Time Variance Authority dump the last remnants of branched timelines they are unable to erase from existence; there, they are consumed by the monster Alioth. As Loki explored the void, excited viewers spotted countless Easter eggs scattered throughout this realm, including what was clearly Avengers Tower - complete with a quinjet hanger that had only been added when the tower was home to the superhero team. But, significantly, the tower was not marked with the Stark logo, or the traditional stylized Avengers symbol, but rather with the insignia of Qeng Enterprises.

This is actually lifted straight from the comics, where All-New, All-Different Avengers featured a plot in which a struggling Tony Stark had been forced to sell off the tower to Qeng Enterprises. The renovations didn't go especially well, of course, when an alien invader teleported in seeking revenge against the Avengers and instead found himself confronting the company's CEO Mr. Gryphon.

Qeng Enterprise's Connection To Kang The Conqueror

Mr. Gryphon was ultimately revealed to be one of countless incarnations of Kang the Conqueror, an alternate version created by a glitch in the timestream and stranded on twenty-first century Earth. "To be honest, I'm not sure which of us is the real conqueror of time now," Mr. Gryphon explained. "Therefore I plan to create my own dynasty in your era." His plans of world domination began by establishing himself as an industrialist, likely patenting future technology in order to secure a competitive edge, and no doubt this version of Kang quite liked the idea of being based in the headquarters of his old enemies. It's entirely possible Marvel is copying this story in the MCU, with Kang the Conqueror buying Avengers Tower in order to establish a beachhead in the 21st century.

Of course, it's important to remember the presence of Qeng Tower in the void doesn't necessarily confirm the building was acquired by the same company in the mainstream MCU; it was dumped in the void precisely because it is part of a branched timeline, and the branch could have been created by a different company buying the tower. But that is not necessarily the case, because according to Judge Renslayer the void contains all matter the TVA cannot destroy when they reset the timeline. They dump all the remnants from a destroyed reality there and, given they tend to act promptly to reset branches before they become firmly established, you'd expect most of the things appearing in the void to be common to all timelines.

What This Would Mean For Kang The Conqueror's Invasion

Mr. Gryphon was a particularly ruthless version of Kang the Conqueror, employing trickery to ensure he had potential weapons in play when he eventually wound up battling the Avengers. In addition to acquiring Avengers Tower, he also identified an opportunity to implant a computer virus within Vision, one that allowed him to take control of the synthezoid. This left Iron Man troubled, because he couldn't help considering whether Kang could do the same with other Avengers; reach into their past and redirect the course of their lives in order to create weaknesses that left them vulnerable. Amusingly, this is indeed a tactic Kang has used on occasion, and in one ill-advised Iron Man story he caused Stark to betray the team.

Kang could well be using exactly the same approach in the MCU, carefully manipulating the timeline to create a future in which he defeats the Avengers. The heroes are scattered right now, no longer working together, meaning there are any number of opportunities for him to get to them - and, meanwhile, the Disney+ TV shows are introducing another generation of Avengers, all of whom could potentially be manipulated. It's quite possible Kang's invasion of the MCU is proceeding apace, with Ant-Man 3 simply marking the point at which he is noticed by some of the world's superheroes. And if so, the first hints of this setup could have come in Spider-Man: Homecoming

More: Thanos vs Kang: Who is Marvel's Stronger Villain?