Kang the Conqueror is one of the most formidable foes of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. He is a master of time travel, who has conquered many eras and realities with his advanced technology and army of loyal followers. But who is Kang really, and what is his connection to Reed Richards, the leader of the Fantastic Four?
The Origin of Kang
According to CBR, Kang’s origin can be traced back to a character named Rama-Tut, who first appeared in Fantastic Four #19 (1963). Rama-Tut was a bored 31st-century scholar named Nathaniel Richards, who used a time machine to travel back to ancient Egypt and rule as a pharaoh. He encountered the Fantastic Four, who had also traveled back in time, and tried to capture them. He failed, and fled to the future, where he adopted a new identity: Kang the Conqueror.
Kang then returned to the 20th century, where he battled the Avengers in Avengers #8 (1964). He claimed to be a descendant of Doctor Doom, who had also met Rama-Tut in Fantastic Four Annual #2 (1964). However, this claim was later retconned by John Byrne in Fantastic Four #273 (1984).
The Connection to Reed Richards
According to CBR, Byrne revealed that Kang was actually a descendant of Reed Richards’ father, Nathaniel Richards Sr., who had also traveled to another timeline using Doom’s time machine. In this timeline, known as Earth-6311, Nathaniel Richards Sr. married a woman named Cassandra, who gave birth to a son named Nathaniel Richards Jr. This son would grow up to become Kang the Conqueror.
However, this connection was not confirmed until Fantastic Four #35 (2021), by Dan Slott and John Romita Jr. In this issue, Kang revealed that he was indeed a descendant of Nathaniel Richards Sr., but not from Earth-6311. Instead, he came from another branch of the Richards family tree, where Nathaniel Richards Sr. had another son with a different woman. This son was named Nathaniel Richards III, and he was Kang’s father.
The Implications for the Future
According to Distractify, Kang’s relation to Reed Richards has major implications for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Kang is set to appear in the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), played by Jonathan Majors. He is also rumored to be the main antagonist of the next Avengers movie, and possibly the next big bad of the MCU.
Kang’s connection to Reed Richards could also pave the way for the introduction of the Fantastic Four into the MCU. Since Reed Richards is one of the smartest heroes in Marvel Comics, he could be instrumental in stopping Kang’s schemes. He could also have a personal stake in confronting his distant relative, and perhaps even redeeming him.
Kang’s relation to Reed Richards is one of the most intriguing mysteries in Marvel Comics. It shows how complex and intertwined the histories of these characters are, and how their actions have consequences across time and space. It also sets up an epic showdown between two brilliant minds, who share a common bloodline but have very different visions for the future.
