If you’ve seen “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”, then you know that the heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), specifically those from Earth-616 are in heaps of trouble. We already know that a Variant of Kang known as the Conqueror has been making moves within the Quantum Realm. Fortunately, Scott Lang and the Ant-Family have managed to put off his dreams of multiversal domination…at least for now. That being said, there are far bigger threats on the horizon. The kind that not only endangers Earth-616 but the entirety of the multiverse itself! So if you’ve clicked on here hoping to get an explanation of the insane post-credit scenes in the film, then you’re in the right place.
We’re breaking down the film’s ending, everything you need to know about the other Kang Variants in the film and how “Quantumania” potentially sets up the events of “Avengers: Secret Wars”.
Mid-Credits and Post-Credits Scene Explained
As explained by Kang the Conqueror in “Quantumania”, he was exiled into the Quantum Realm for his desire to bring complete order to the multiverse and to save it from the chaos of multiple Variants of Kang wreaking havoc across time and space. This concept was also explained in the first season of “Loki” by the Variant He Who Remains. The three variants we see in the film discussing the Conqueror are Rama-Tut, an unknown purple armoured Variant (possibly Scarlet Centurion or Kid Immortus) and Immortus. They’re most likely the ruling multiversal Council of Kangs that is responsible for ensuring their dominion in all timelines and worlds.
Rama-Tut is a Variant that ruled an advanced version of ancient Egypt and fun fact, he actually met the first mutant before the X-Men, Apocalypse. Based on the scene, it seems like Immortus is the leader among the three and also the most aged of them. In the comics, Immortus is one of the most potent versions of Kang, especially while wielding the Heart of Forever. This device allows him to make permanent changes to the timeline. Immortus expresses concerns that the heroes of Earth-616 are beginning to “touch the multiverse” and that they must be stopped. The scene ends with them in a colosseum, addressing hundreds, if not thousands, of cheering Variants.
The post-credit scene sees Loki and his best friend Mobius M. Mobius from the Time Variance Authority (TVA) visiting an early 1900s American show where Victor Timely is presenting something to the audience. Loki expresses great concern about him. In the comics, Victor Timely is actually an earlier version of Kang Prime, which should be Kang the Conqueror in the MCU, that travelled back in time. It’s possible that Timely is the Conqueror escaping the Quantum Realm to an earlier point in time or possibly another Variant of him that showed up just for fun. The most important detail is that the screen ends with text stating: Kang will return.
So this is really interesting because the film ends with Scott Lang doubting whether the Conqueror really did bite the dust. In fact, the film goes to great lengths to emphasise the ambiguity of his death and with the ominous message at the end, we believe Kang the Conqueror will in fact be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)…not as a conqueror though, but as something beyond that.
The Beyonder and Secret Wars
There have been theories knocking about online that Kang the Conqueror is not dead and will instead master the power of the multiverse while being trapped in the multiversal engine core as seen in the ending of “Quantumania”. Based on the film’s implications and the Conqueror’s exile due to his desire to bring complete order to the multiverse, and therefore threatening the existence of all Kang Variants from all timelines and universes, it seems like he’s being set up to take up the role of the Beyonder.
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In the original 1984 “Secret Wars” event, the Beyonder creates Battleworld, which is a patchwork of different cities from different worlds which would see heroes and villains battling in a tournament to determine which world has the right to exist. In the 2015 version of “Secret Wars”, it is revealed that universes within the multiverse are being destroyed by incursions with other universes (as discussed in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”) and by a race of nigh-omnipotent beings called the Beyonders. These guys took out the second most powerful being in Marvel comics, the Living Tribunal and were set to annihilate everything. Fortunately, they were defeated by Doctor Doom which led to him becoming God Emperor Doom and merging the whole multiverse into a single Battleworld!
We initially thought that this was the direction that the MCU’s Phases 5 and 6 were heading towards. That Doctor Doom would be the one to defeat the Council of Kangs in “Avengers: Kang Dynasty” and create the multiversal Battleworld in “Avengers: Secret Wars”. The possibility of Doom being set up as the big bad of Phase 6 is still in the running, though he would be appearing pretty late in the game with “Fantastic Four” only being released in 2025.
Now however, it seems more likely that Marvel Studios will be merging the two popular storylines of 1984’s and 2015’s “Secret Wars” to create their own version with the Conqueror-turned-Beyonder ruling a multiversal Battleworld. That would finally give him the order and stability he so desired in “Quantumania”. Furthermore, Kang’s real name is actually Nathaniel Richards. He is a distant descendant of Reed Richards, so “Fantastic Four” could also be used to set up the Conqueror’s return.
The MCU is no stranger to merging popular comic book events to create their own story, they did it in “Avengers: Infinity War” with elements of Jim Starlin’s “The Infinity Gauntlet” and Jonathan Hickman’s “Infinity” being blended together to form the film’s plot. As stated in the text of the post-credits scene, this isn’t the last we’ve seen of the Conqueror and it seems like he’s being set up to be the new Thanos of the “Multiverse Saga”.
So what did you think of “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”? Do you have any theories on what the ending means for the MCU? Be sure to let us know on our socials and leave a reaction below!
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