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| GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #19 black and white preview art by Wes Craig |
Among the annals of great Marvel villains there stands a malicious manipulator of time who stands beyond its grasp: Kang the Conqueror.
Timeless and terrifying, Kang's attempts at conquering Earth resound as legend throughout the Marvel Universe. Now, in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #19, out October 28, the chronal despot encounters Star-Lord's time-lost team and the latest Kang epic unfolds. GUARDIANS writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning possess a few thoughts on what makes Kang one of the most grandiose super villains of all.
"He's one of the real biggies, one of the top-of-the-heap bad guys," says Abnett. "His abilities make him fiendishly difficult to combat, his scope is vast and universal and he's Kang. Kang! He's Kaaannngg for goodness sake!"
"Kang's one of the all time great villains and it's a total joy to get to use him in a story," Lanning concurs. "He made wearing purple cool before Prince was a symbol in his mother's eye. I mean what's not to love about a time-traveling super genius from the 30th century who's so screwed up his ultimate nemesis is himself?! Brilliant!"
Kang first touched down on Earth in 1964's AVENGERS #8, tossing around imperious claims to the planet like Old Navy gift cards and generally making a nuisance of himself. Earth's Mightiest Heroes put their collective
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| GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #19 black and white preview art by Wes Craig |
"He had all these cool [Jack] Kirby sci-fi gizmos and took on the Avengers single-handed in a wonderfully arrogant and contemptuous manner," notes Lanning of Kang's first appearance. "And he had a 'transparent anti-grav seat'! Wow, what a debut."
Using time as his ultimate ally, Kang's feisty forays against the Marvel super heroes brought him into conflict with Spider-Man, the Human Torch, the Inhumans and the Incredible Hulk. Then, in 1974's AVENGERS #129, his quest for the Celestial Madonna once again brought about a clash with the heroic team, who allied with Kang's future-or past?-self, Rama-Tut.
One of the most fantastic Kang sagas uncoiled like clockwork in 1998's AVENGERS FOREVER.
"For years I was never the biggest Kang fan because in many of his stories he mostly stood around talking about his future selves and making my brain bleed," admits GUARDIAN OF THE GALAXY editor Bill Rosemann. "Then he came storming into AVENGERS FOREVER with those twin cannon pistols blasting away and I suddenly realized he ruled."
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| GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #19 black and white preview art by Wes Craig |
That limited series detailed a baffling battle between Kang, a version of himself called Immortus and Avengers members plucked from various spots along their timelines. AVENGERS FOREVER stands today as one of the definitive Kang tales, though the question of how many time travelers claim to be the villain may never truly be answered.
"Kang is Kang whenever you encounter him," offers Lanning. "There is only Kang-unless of course he's Immortus or Nathaniel Richards, or Iron Lad, oh and he was the Scarlet Centurion and the Whisperer and there was the time he was Rama-Tut and Victor Timely and Victor Timely III-oh, my head hurts!"
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #19 may serve to further confuse that particular issue but rest assured it's also a rip-roaring cosmic adventure of the variety only Abnett and Lanning can craft. And they're not keen on pinning the chronal criminal down with a concrete explanation of which Kang rears his ugly masked head in their tale.
"Answering that would reveal too much of our story and Kang's plans," Abnett explains. "Besides, how do we ever know for sure with him?"
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| GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #19 black and white preview art by Wes Craig |
"So much happens so quickly that they don't really get a chance to take a breath, let alone plan and strategize," says Lanning. "Besides which, Kang's appearance may not be what it appears. He's the ultimate strategist and plays a very long game indeed. As the Guardians find out."
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Awesome! Can't wait for this!!!!
[color=seagreen:8c6a42567a]I like Kang![/color:8c6a42567a]