Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania!Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania makes major revelations about the Quantum Realm, including trapping Kang the Conqueror there for years, and that creates a question about why Ant-Man did not find him during Avengers: Endgame then. Ever since the first Ant-Man movie introduced the Quantum Realm to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the franchise has repeatedly revisited the area and expanded what audiences and the characters know about it. This included it playing a massive role in the resolution of Avengers: Endgame, where the Avengers were able to travel through time by entering it.

The revelation that the Quantum Realm could be used for time travel in Avengers: Endgame only came after Ant-Man was stuck in there for a long time. Ant-Man and the Wasp's post-credits scene ended with Scott Lang being trapped in the Quantum Realm. This came as a result of Thanos' snap dusting Hope van Dyne, Hank Pym, and Janet van Dyne, making it impossible for them to pull Scott back out. Ant-Man was stuck there for five years in-universe thanks to Avengers: Endgame's time jump, and yet he never found Kang the Conqueror during this time.

Related: Kang's Powers Explained: Source, All Abilities & Comics Differences

Ant-Man Wasn't Stuck In The Quantum Realm Long Enough To Find Kang

Ant-Man trapped in Quantum Realm

Although it might seem that Ant-Man could have found Kang in the Quantum Realm during Avengers: Endgame, it is important to remember that Scott Lang thought he was trapped for only five hours. Since time works differently in the Quantum Realm, Ant-Man really did not have enough time to find Kang when he was stuck. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania did confirm that Kang crashed in the Quantum Realm before 2015, so it would have been possible for Scott and Kang to interact years prior. But, the circumstances behind Ant-Man's Quantum Realm travels be taken into consideration as well.

On top of the limited window for Ant-Man to find Kang in Avengers: Endgame, he was likely protected from being detected by the Conqueror or his allies by Janet van Dyne. She has an incredible knowledge of the Quantum Realm thanks to the decades she spent down there. Since Janet was part of the team responsible for sending Ant-Man to get Quantum Particles, she could have made sure that he went to a location where Kang would not reach him. His location in the Quantum Realm and the limited time spent there can combine to explain why Ant-Man did not find Kang in Avengers: Endgame​​​​​​.

Why Janet Van Dyne Did Find Kang In The Quantum Realm

Janet Van Dyne Antman and the wasp quantumania

Janet van Dyne was able to find Kang in the Quantum Realm, though, because she was stuck there far longer. She spent roughly 30 years in the secret universe, giving her ample time to explore its depths. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania showed how many levels there are to the Quantum Realm, with Scott and others being surprised to see intelligent life forms and civilizations down there. They had never gone as deep as Janet van Dyne during her time stuck there, which made it less likely they would ever encounter Kang as she did.

Of course, it also helped Janet's cause that Kang the Conqueror crashed nearby her home after the Council of Kangs exiled him. She might not have never encountered the powerful Kang variant if he had landed at a different spot in the Quantum Realm. They still could have crossed paths later on if his conquering tendencies still saw him take over the realm, as Janet would surely help thwart Kang's evil plan before Avengers: Endgame or Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

More: Is Kang Dead At The End Of Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania?

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