Marvel is giving Kang another glimpse of the future in Timeless, but it might not change too much based on how his past predictions played out.
With the year almost at its end, Marvel is giving readers yet another Timeless experience. Much like last year’s Timeless, the latest is poised to give fans a glimpse of things to come in the new year, including world-shaking events yet to be named. At least, that is the hope, although if Kang the Conqueror’s last visions of the future are any indication, things might not be much different than they are now by the time the dust has settled.
2021’s Timeless (by Jed MacKay, Kev Walker, Jay Leisten, and Andrew Hennessy) saw Kang going to every length he could in order to cement his place in history beyond what it already was. Along the way, he was given incredible insight into what the then-future held for the Marvel Universe. In total, there were twelve major scenes, each of which could have had grave consequences. Looking back, however, that hasn’t been the case for the majority of them, and as such it is hard to imagine that much of what Kang witnesses this time around will be either.
Marvel’s Original Timeless Failed to Change the World
Of the dozen visions Kang was given, eight have actually come to pass so far. The return of the Young Avengers as the Thunderbolts hasn’t happened, nor have fans been given any reason to think it will any time soon. Similarly, there is no sign of anyone taking on Spider-Man or T’Challa’s mantle, which was something of prime contention back when 2021’s Timeless was published. When it comes to the rest of the unfulfilled prophecies from last year, they are at least moving toward coming to fruition.
Doyle Dormammu might not have his hands on the Twilight Sword just yet, but he is definitely on track to face off against his father in the Dark Dimension. Similarly, visions of Thanos wielding Mjolnir and seven Infinity Stones have become more and more important in recent days. Between Corvus Glaive stealing Thor’s baby sister and the return of Odin’s father, Bor, concerns have only become more grave. In fact, they might end up changing things the other prophecies could not.
So far, half of what has come true from Kang’s previous glimpses into the future has only affected things on a surface level. Lin Lie, formerly known as Sword Master, did indeed take up the mantle of Iron Fist, yet that has failed to make any real waves on its own. This is sadly the same case when it comes to Frank Castle having taken up the reins of The Hand. The Punisher might be on his way toward an epic confrontation with Daredevil and The Fist and that battle may be what determines the fate of the world, but the stakes are still relatively low when stacked up against everything else the Marvel Universe has been through.
While Not Epic Timeless Still Had its Moments
Maybe the most disappointing of all is the lack of Miracleman anywhere in the Marvel Universe as we know it. Despite being built up as a major introduction in 2021’s Timeless, he has barely been in the primary Marvel Universe. Neil Gaiman’s Miracleman: The Silver Age has been a heartbreaking ride so far, but it is also a self-contained story that merely continues the legendary scribe’s previous work with the character. This is far from the groundbreaking introduction to the primary Marvel Universe that readers had been hoping to see. Of course, not all of Kang’s past visions have been lackluster upon coming true.
Ben Reilly’s time as Beyond Corporation’s officially sponsored Spider-Man, directly led to the events of the currently unfolding Dark Web. Bucky Barnes shooting Captain America has been a turning point in their shared war against the Outer Circle. Not to mention the Reckoning War, which ultimately expanded the Marvel Universe beyond anything fans have ever seen. All things considered, the events foretold in 2021’s Timeless haven’t been a letdown so much as they have been anticlimactic. Then again, these were only ever possibilities rather than anything that was set in stone. As such, it makes sense that they haven’t all come true, just as it makes sense that not all of those from Kang’s latest Timeless experience will by 2023’s end.
