When the recent *Avengers: Doomsday* light show footage surfaced, fans immediately began dissecting every frame for clues. One image in particular caught the internet’s attention—Doctor Doom seemingly standing triumphant over a fallen figure. Many rushed to claim it was **Thanos**, suggesting a shocking twist where Doom destroys the Mad Titan himself.
But what if that wasn’t Thanos at all? What if the figure Doom killed was **Kang the Conqueror**?
## Why Fans Thought It Was Thanos
At first glance, the fallen body looked massive and armored, with broad shoulders that instantly reminded fans of Thanos. Since Thanos remains one of the MCU’s most iconic villains, it was easy to jump to the conclusion that Marvel was teasing a clash between Doom and the Titan.
But digging deeper, the theory doesn’t quite hold. Thanos was killed in *Avengers: Endgame* and his arc seems narratively complete. Bringing him back again just to be destroyed by Doom feels redundant.
## Why It Could Be Kang
Instead, many clues point to the fallen figure being **Kang the Conqueror**:
* **Armor Similarities** – Kang’s futuristic armor has a bulkiness that can easily be mistaken for Thanos at first glance. From a distance, the silhouettes are nearly identical.
* **Narrative Logic** – Kang has been set up as the Multiverse Saga’s major antagonist. If Marvel Studios is pivoting toward Doctor Doom as the ultimate threat, it makes sense for Doom to kill Kang, establishing him as the new apex villain.
* **Symbolic Shift** – Having Doom destroy Kang would symbolize a passing of the torch. Doom doesn’t just replace Kang as the next great threat—he *eliminates* him, proving he’s more dangerous than the multiversal conqueror ever was.
## Why This Matters for *Avengers: Doomsday*
If the theory is true, it means *Avengers: Doomsday* won’t just be another crossover film—it will mark a **villain reset** for the MCU. Instead of Kang being the final boss of the saga, Doom would rise as the real puppet master behind the chaos, paving the way for his central role in *Avengers: Secret Wars.*
This would also align with Marvel Comics history, where Doom often outmaneuvers both heroes and villains, seizing power from cosmic beings like Galactus or even the Beyonder.
## Final Thoughts
The idea that Doctor Doom killed Kang, not Thanos, fits more naturally into the MCU’s ongoing narrative. While the light show visuals remain vague, Marvel has always loved planting seeds that keep fans guessing.
Whether this theory turns out to be true or not, one thing is certain—Doctor Doom is being positioned as the next unstoppable force in the Marvel Universe, and whoever lies at his feet—Kang, Thanos, or another fallen foe—represents the dawn of his reign.
Theory: Did Doctor Doom Kill Kang, Not Thanos?
