Review: Kang The Conqueror #1

Kang the Conqueror is a unique, layered and thoughtful examination of a great villain. Lanzing and Kelly use time and space as a means to allow introspection and idealism to clash.

Here we have a character piece in which a future version of Kang, filled with regret over love and loss strives to amend past mistakes by retraining his younger self. Unfortunately his younger self falls into the same errors, giving in to emotion and attachments. This very much feels like a Jedi Master who cannot corral a rebellious student, trying to maximize his skills while the youth simply wants to allow emotion to take control as he seizes the day.

The art by Carlos Magno is spectacular, crossing time and space in different settings and conflicts all rendered with varying perspectives which carry the reader through the philosophical conflicts just as much as the action. Thr colors are an intrinsic, well executed piece of the story telling, from the grays of the future to the greens of the past well contrasted against the colors of Kang himself.

In the end, Kang cannot stop his own stubborn will, and in this the cycle which creates the flawed villain is renewed. This book is a unique examination of not only what forms Kang, but what prevents humanity from breaking from past mistakes and forming what could be a better version of ourselves. 

Writing: 4.8 of 5 stars
Art: 4.5 of 5 stars
Colors: 4.6 of 5 stars

Overall: 4.7 of 5 stars 

Writing: Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly
Art: Carlos Magno
Colors: Espen Grundetjern
Publisher: Marvel Comics