LOKI Is Already Teasing a Kang the Conqueror Appearance

Ever since Jonathan Majors was cast as Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, we’ve been chomping at the bit to see him on screen. Thanks to Loki and the addition of Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Judge Renslayer, that seemed to be getting ever closer. Now that we’ve watched the first episode, it seems ever more likely Kang may show up.

Why do we say that? Well, it involves that mysterious glowing red artifact that we see the TVA discover while on the hunt for the Variant Loki in the final moments of the episode.

THE YEAR 3000????

Marvel Comics

Throughout the 54-minute surreal sci-fi romp, we visit several different periods in time. The last one is Salina, Oklahoma. The TVA agents find what they call an anachronism. In case you’re unaware, an anachronism is something from a different time that doesn’t belong.

And that’s when our Kang senses started tingling. Although there are many famous Marvel time travelers, Kang is the only one we know who is showing up for sure in the MCU. So when the time-jumping TVA agents said that the anachronistic weapon they found was from the early third millennium, we couldn’t help but think of Kang the Conqueror.

In the comics, Kang hails from the 31st century, which places him at the same timeline as where the weapon hails from. While the strange cosmic shovel didn’t immediately ring any bells, it does sort of fit with Kang. Nathaniel Richards, the man who would become Kang, has had many iterations.

The first was Rama-Tut, a pharaoh persona that Richards created after traveling back to ancient Egypt from the 31st century. In that timeline, he also takes on a sort of archaeologist persona which could explain the sci-fi shovel they found. But whatever its connection to Kang, the year 3000 is specifically worth noting. While you might think a simple date is a bit of a reach, there’s another key Kang connection in Loki episode one.

Hello Judge Renslayer!

Marvel Comics

We’ve already covered the deep dive history of Ravonna Renslayer. But that was before we’d seen her on screen. Ever since she was cast, fans have been eager to know more about Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s TVA judge. And now that she’s here, there are some things that are clear. Judge Renslayer, as she’s called in the show, is clearly high ranking in the TVA.

Not only does she seem to be a direct connection to the mysterious Time-Keepers but she appears to be the closest thing to a boss that the TVA has. So why does this matter? In the comics, Ravonna Renslayer is Kang’s on-again-off-again lover, as well as a timelord in her own right. So the year 3000 alongside her presence, means Kang can’t be too far away. The big question is whether this will be a WandaVision-style tease or a potential appearance/cameo that leads into Quantumania.

Marvel Comics

Seeing as the TVA and the Time-Keepers are regular foes of Kang, it really isn’t that wild to assume he might pop up. That’s especially true after watching the first episode and seeing all the timelines, time jumps, and ease at which the TVA traverses them. Whether or not this third-millennium mention was a red herring is yet to be seen.

But with any age available to both the TVA and Loki at the press of a button, this would be a very easy and logical way to introduce Nathaniel Richards before the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania. It would also be really, really cool!

So keep your eyes peeled for any strange blue-faced helmet wearers… or handsome men named Nathaniel.

Featured Image: Marvel Comics