Ant-Man’s third appearance is here to usher in Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a microscopic bang. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is not only the latest in the adventures of Scott Lang, but also the first film in the MCU to star Kang as the main antagonist. And since he’s already primed as the big villain of the next two Avengers movies, that’s clear quantum has big plans for the conqueror.
Of course, as with most MCU films, some of the biggest revelations about the future come from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania‘s two credits scenes. The first scene takes place in the middle of the credits, and for the last one you have to wait until the end.
[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.]
What happens in the mid-credits scene of Quantumania?
quantumThe mid-credits scene is the more important of the two, at least as far as the future of the MCU is concerned. We cut into a world that appears to be floating through space. Three versions of Kang – each radically different in style, technique and costume, although all played by Jonathan Majors – discuss the fact that “the Exile”, Kang the Conqueror, the antagonist of this film, is dead. The Kangs then explain how our world is just beginning to discover the multiverse, and so it’s time to discuss the matter with all the Kangs everywhere. Cut to a massive arena where thousands of other visually distinct Kangs from different timelines, realities, and universes begin to appear.
As for what this might mean, it certainly seems like Marvel is trying to set something like this up the Council of Kangs in the MCU. The three Kangs we see aren’t specifically identified during the brief mid-credits scene, but they appear to be references to some of Kang’s most famous comic book incarnations.
Who are the versions of Kang at the end of Quantumania?
In the comics, all of these characters are actually the same person, not parallel versions of each other. Thanks to Kang’s lengthy time travel shenanigans, many phases of his personal development have helped, harassed, or simply interacted with Marvel’s superheroes. The one with neon light streaks across his skin is likely the MCU’s take on Iron Lad, the superhero identity Kang adopted as a teenager in the far future.
The Kang in Egyptian attire is a clear reference to Pharaoh Rama-Tut, the form Kang wore when he was in his “I want to go back in time and rule all of Egypt” phase. And the guy with the tall hat and impressive beard is undoubtedly Immortus, Kang in his oldest phase of life who’s been at it so long that he’s sort of outdid the conquest thing and would rather fix timelines than mess around with them like he’s in his youth. The MCU’s version seems decidedly more sinister, but it’s still not exactly clear what these Kangs actually want or are planning, just that it has something to do with “Incursions,” an ominous multiversal natural disaster last seen Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
What happens in the Quantumania post-credits scene?
quantumThe post-credits scene of is just as Kang-centric, although it also sets out a clearer vision for the franchise’s immediate future: It’s a very short teaser trailer for Loki Season 2. The short clip shows Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Mobius (Owen Wilson) watching a Victorian science presentation given by a stuffy, gentlemanly character named Victor Timely (also played by Jonathan Majors). And guess what! Victor Timely is yet another time travel identity of Kang.
In the scene, Victor explains how time shapes everyone’s life, but it might be possible to shape it in return. From the audience, Loki – also costumed for the era – whispers to Mobius, “It’s him!” Mobius looks doubtful, “You made him sound like that horrible character!” “He is,” says Loki menacingly, before the Cut to black. Given that Loki and his alternate timeline gender-swapped self, Sylvie, went up against another version of Kang in season 1 of Loki – this one called “He Who Remains,” a character who more or less explained how his death would trigger a multiverse-wide explosion of kangs – it’s no wonder Loki recognizes this new iteration and the threat he poses. We’ll find out what role Victor has to play in the multiverse in Season 2 of Loki falls this summer.