Marvel’s Savage Avengers spent months battling the villainous Kulan Gath across the globe and through time. With the help of the likes of Doctor Doom and Kang the Conqueror, the heroes eventually ended Gath’s reign of terror on Earth.
Most surprisingly of all, Conan of Cimmeria and Kang took it upon themselves to ensure that the threat of Kulan Gath, an ancient and evil sorcerer, would never rise again. However, doing so gave Kang the insight he needed to determine that Conan is far too dangerous to be left alive.
Conan Is Kang the Conqueror’s Biggest Threat Across Time
After destroying Kulan Gath in the present (with the help of Shuma Gorath), the Savage Avengers found themselves at an impasse. Conan, Kang and Doom were in agreement that the ancient wizard, who had recovered from death time and time again, wasn’t a threat they could continuously oppose. Conan and Kang then made their way to the Hyborian Age for a confrontation with the boy who would become their greatest nemesis. Thankfully, the Cimmerian assumed the task of training the young Kulan Gath in the ways of the blade rather than those of the mystic arts, averting the darkest of fates in the process. It’s certainly one of the most astounding victories seen by any of the Savage Avengers.
Unfortunately, this victory also granted Kang all the reason he needed to end Conan’s life on the spot. As Kang the Conqueror explained in Savage Avengers #28 (by Gerry Duggan and Patch Zircher), Conan was actually his biggest competition at the end of the world. As such, the Cimmerian became a threat to Kang’s rule, whether he realizes it or not. Kang even told Conan about the futures he had foreseen for the Hyborian Age hero, from that of a cosmic Nova Corpsman to that of an immortal warrior. The time-traveling despot claimed he has merely “noticed” Conan and did not fear the warrior, but the lie was so thinly veiled that Kang retreated at the first available opportunity.
Kang’s Rivalry With Conan is Potentially Neverending
Conan’s accomplishments during his recent stay in the Marvel Universe of the present have been nothing short of incredible. Of course, so are the heights to which he arose in the Hyborian Age, as seen in Marvel’s King Conan series (by Jason Aaron and Mahmud Asrar). Amazingly, the effects of Conan’s reign are felt by Kang thousands of years later, perhaps justifying the innate fears of the conqueror.
Deep in his stronghold, Kang kept the swords, crown, and accouterments of King Conan as trophies. However, possession of those items doesn’t mean their rivalry has been settled. Much like how Conan contacted Kang through the centuries when he was first called upon to help battle Kulan Gath, the Cimmerian has etched a warning for the time traveler through his present-day actions.