Kang the Conqueror has been one of the biggest threats in the Marvel Universe for decades, though he's finally getting a bigger push than ever outside the comics. Soon to debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and become the next big major threat, Kang is essentially the next Thanos of the MCU. Something that fans might not realize, however, is that he's related to a major Marvel hero.
Kang's real surname is shared with that of Reed Richards, the leader of the Fantastic Four. This makes one of the greatest heroes of the Marvel Universe related to one of its biggest threats. With Marvel's First Family planned to debut soon in the movies' shared universe, here's how they're related to future film foe Kang the Conqueror.
Kang the Conqueror is a Relative of Mr. Fantastic
Back during the Silver Age, it was suggested that Rama-Tut (one of the many guises of Kang the Conqueror) was a variant of the Fantastic Four's nemesis Doctor Doom. This idea was never touched upon again for a while, with John Byrne introducing a new premise for Kang years later. In Fantastic Four #272 (by John Byrne), the titular team traveled to an alternate Earth to find Reed Richards' father Nathaniel. Nathaniel would choose to stay in his new world, even starting a new family there. One of his descendants would use his world's futuristic technology to go back in time and become known as Rama-Tut.
Kang's true name was even revealed to be Nathaniel Richards, as he was named after his ancestor, Reed's father. There was a brief attempt to retcon any shared DNA between Mr. Fantastic and Kang the Conqueror, though the connection was made firm in Fantastic Four vol. 6 #35 (by Dan Slott and John Romita Jr.). There, Kang and his many variants met, noting the DNA link to their ancestor Nathaniel Richards. Reed even uses their similar genetics to stow aboard Kang's meetinghouse, using this to his advantage against the villains. This cemented that the Fantastic Four's leader was related to one of the most dastardly time-travelers in the Marvel Universe.
The MCU May Adapt Kang's Relationship to Reed Richards
So far, the Fantastic Four proper has not been introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While John Krasinski played an alternate Mr. Fantastic in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, he most likely won't reprise the role. Thus, a new version of the Fantastic Four has to be introduced, especially since they'll be starring in their own film fairly soon. Said movie would be the perfect place to briefly introduce their ties to the MCU's most dangerous new threat.
An after-credits scene in the Marvel Studios Fantastic Four movie could have Kang the Conqueror observing the recent actions of Reed Richards and his team. Noting how they could possibly foil his upcoming plans, Kang would then make it clear that he intends to visit his "relative" soon. This would make it clear that the villain has something personal at stake, all while hyping them up for a major role in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.