As Marvel Studios prepares to transition away from Jonathan Majors’ portrayal of Kang the Conqueror following the character’s demise in *Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania*, there is an urgent need for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to introduce a new variant of this complex villain. The groundwork for Kang’s pivotal role as the primary antagonist of the Multiverse Saga was laid through *Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania* as well as both seasons of *Loki*. Here, Prime Kang and the Council of Kangs posed a significant threat to the integrity of the Sacred Timeline. However, following Kang’s apparent death in the latest film, the trajectory of the MCU’s forthcoming narratives appears to be shifting dramatically due to Majors’ legal issues and his exit from the franchise.
With Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom poised to rise as the central villain in *Avengers: Doomsday*, it’s likely that the significance of Kang and the Council of Kangs will be rapidly downplayed. It’s possible Captain Carter’s interaction with Kang’s Time Chair in *What If…?* season three implies that the Exiles dealt with Kang and his myriad variants off-screen. Regardless of how the MCU rationalizes the abrupt absence of these characters, there remains one crucial storyline involving Kang that deserves exploration.
The MCU Has Yet to Introduce Iron Lad
Iron Lad Is the Heart of the Young Avengers
Marvel Studios has been gradually laying the foundation for the Young Avengers, yet some key characters from the comics, such as Teddy Altman (Hulkling), Jonah (Young Vision), and Nathaniel Richards (Iron Lad), have yet to be introduced. Nathaniel Richards is a character who travels back in time from the future seeking the Avengers. In a world where the Avengers have disbanded, he repurposes Iron Man technology and revives Vision, assuming the role of Iron Lad and assembling a team of young heroes to prepare for the approach of his malevolent variant, Kang the Conqueror. Despite the MCU’s decision to distance itself from Kang and the Council of Kangs, Iron Lad remains a crucial figure in the Young Avengers narrative.
Iron Lad’s Introduction Might Still Face Challenges
Iron Lad’s Main Objective Is to Prevent Kang the Conqueror’s Emergence
Marvel Studios retains the option to introduce Iron Lad, whether by establishing Nathaniel Richards as an Earth-616 variant of Kang or by integrating him from an alternate timeline. However, it is essential to note that Iron Lad’s core mission has always involved thwarting Kang the Conqueror’s manipulation of time, which includes efforts to prevent himself from becoming Kang. If Kang has been definitively defeated within the MCU, then the motivations driving Iron Lad’s journey to the past could be rendered moot, ultimately stripping away one of the character’s most engaging qualities.
An intriguing possibility emerges: if Iron Lad is introduced, his backstory could be reimagined to align him more closely with a younger, heroic counterpart to Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom rather than Kang. Under this framework, the “Iron Lad” identity may resonate even more profoundly within the context of the Young Avengers arc. Yet, this approach may pose its own challenges in distinguishing Doctor Doom’s youthful variant from an alternate depiction of Tony Stark, creating potential confusion for audiences.
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