WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Kang the Conqueror #1, available now from Marvel.
Ever since Loki made him a going concern for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Kang the Conqueror has gone from a semi-obscure book fan-favorite to the most talked-about character in the MCU. While the road that led him to become a tyrannical chrononaut hasn't played out on screen just yet, Kang's long history in the primary Marvel Universe is well documented. But like so many other aspects of his many lives, Kang's origin is one that has gradually shifted over time. Now, a new beginning has dawned on the young Nathaniel Richards, and this time around, he has the best help he could ever ask for when it comes to discovering just who he is meant to be.
Kang the Conqueror #1 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Carlos Magno, Espen Grundetjern and VC's Joe Caramagna sees a young Nathaniel Richards seeking out something more than what the 31st-century utopia he was raised in had to offer. While hunger, disease and even grievous injury had been conquered in his time, Nathaniel wanted to find adventure anywhere he could. Turning to time travel was the obvious choice for him, as it was the only real way to escape the post-scarcity world he knew, and so he hunted down the ancient library of Doctor Doom.
Nathaniel's search very nearly ended as soon as it had begun at the hands of a centuries-old Doombot still silently guarding the remains of Castle Von Doom. Thankfully, Nathaniel wasn't ever truly alone with his assailant, and he was ultimately saved by an older Kang the Conqueror. The boy is grateful for the assistance from this mysterious stranger, even more so once he realizes exactly who he is.
It doesn't take much convincing for Nathaniel to take Kang's hand and let his own future self lead the way to glory. Even in the veritable paradise in which he had grown up, Nathaniel was always something of an outcast among his peers. His worst bullies had even gone so far as to slit his throat before leaving him for dead, something that the 31st-century medicine had no problem patching up. Still, this left him with deep-seated traumas which helped drive his ambitious nature.
This is something that has been mentioned before, back in 2005's Young Avengers #2 by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung. At that time, Kang had once more intervened in the life of his former self, saving him from bullies rather than Doombots before explaining his life's trajectory to the other young Nathaniel Richards. Unlike anything Kang had expected, that particular version of him chose to travel back in time in an effort to prevent himself from ever becoming Kang in the first place. And now, it seems that history is being rewritten again, and this iteration of the story sees Nathaniel Richards choose to follow his elder self into the unknown to be trained to become the best version of Kang the Conqueror of any timeline.
This isn't necessarily a departure from the established canon, but it is a subtle new take on Kang's origin like so many others have been. With all the various Kang's that have taken the spotlight throughout the years, it can be difficult to keep up with the minutia of their individual beginnings, yet this version of his rise to greatness might just become the most iconic one yet, or this could be the version of Nathaniel Richards that grows up to be Immortus instead of Kang.
This time around, Nathaniel Richards has a chance to become intimately familiar with his own destiny, not to mention getting to learn his own future history in the process. Not only does this promise him the opportunity to avoid so many of the tragedies he would have otherwise relived, but it also gives him a chance to critically evaluate if where he ends up is actually where he wants to go.