The fourth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has closed its doors with Black Panther Wakanda Forever, released on 16th December 2022. And, since Kevin Feige has already announced Marvel’s new slate in its D23 Expo event, Ant Man and the Wasp Quantumania will be the first film to serve as the starting point of the MCU Phase Five films. On the one hand, where this third solo superhero film is likely to bring back familiar faces, it also features an onscreen debut of the classic MODOK MCU villain in the majestic realm.
One of the most anticipated Marvel films of 2023, Ant Man and the Wasp Quantumania, introduces us to the most powerful villains of all time, Kang the Conqueror and MODOK. While we all know about Kang, who first appeared in the Disney+ series Loki and later plunged into Ant-Man, there is no secret that the overarching villain has a long way to go in the MCU Phase Five. After Kang gives a tough fight to Scott Lang and his gang in Ant-Man 3, his character will significantly develop as sets to appear in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers Secret Wars. Hmm! so now that you know about Kang’s role in Marvels, are you intrigued about MODOK’s identity? Do you have questions? Who is MODOK? What is his real name and so on? If so, we can certainly gossip about that today.
Who is MODOK MCU in Comics?
MODOK stands for Mental Organism Designed Only For Killing, is a strange creation of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The overarching villain MODOK Ant Man 3 first appeared in 1967’s Tale of Suspense #94, whereas his present ally Kang the Conqueror arrived in 1963’s Fantastic Four#19. MODOK is the most genius and egomaniacal supervillain who acted as a foe of Captain America for 55 continuous years before reaching loggerheads with our MCU superheroes.
In Marvel comics, he began his life as George Tarleton, a technician for Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM), an arms-dealing organization founded by his father. For the organization, George was simply a human guinea who was medically experimented on time and again to improve his intelligence. While AIM partially succeeded in their experiments and transformed George into a Mental Organism Designed Only For Killing, it also levied certain side effects on him. George developed a giant-disturbing head and stunted body, requiring a hoverchair for his mobility. Not just that, but MODOK also gained some mind-based powers using which he can easily control any technology with his brain. As we mentioned, George or MODOK acted as a foe of Captain America for 55 continuous years before battling with MCU heroes; he had Captain America killed at the beginning of Marvel’s Avengers video game, seeing hi eventual form and powers.
This is also a nice touch, how effortlessly Tarleton or MODOK seized his control over Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM). As he became too powerful after the medical experiment, it was nearly impossible for the organization to order him. Even if he was ousted by the AIM once, he didn’t stop and continuously attempted to seize his control over the organization. Following this, he even created a biological agent Virus X and a female counterpart Ms. MODOK, but it didn’t work. In a series of events, MODOK eventually became the leader of AIM and led various experiments that could add to his powers and the seat he shared alongside Monica. Although, if we speak about MODOK MCU’s appearance, he has a different origin story, which might be revealed in Ant Man and the Wasp Quantumania.
More About MODOK MCU and Marvel’s Avengers Video Game Appearance
Before Ant Man and the Wasp Quantumania, with which MODOK made his MCU debut, he had a recurring role in Hulu’s MODOK animated series. However, the animated television show didn’t return after closing on 10 episodes in season 1 premiered on 21st May 2021. Moving on, MODOK appeared in Marvel’s Avengers video game as the main antagonist, Dr. George Tarleton, the Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM) leader.
As Marvel’s Avengers progresses to new stages, Dr. George Tarleton relives his evil identity of MODOK mentioned in the comic book story. But there are a few changes; the MODOK in Marvel’s Avengers is slightly different. Despite his desire to attain high powers and recognition, his introduction to video games somewhat deviates from the Tale of Suspense #94. The video game featuring MODOK as Dr. George Tarleton introduces his character as a scientist working on Terrigen crystals with SHIELD. Things go awry when his partner Monica and MODOK want to individually experiment with Terrigen. But because the crystals were unstable, they severely impacted the helicarrier engine dubbed Chimera; MODOK and Monica were about to add powers in.
And, while a chain of reaction took place, the duo also tasked the Taskmaster to keep the Avengers busy by posing an attack on the warriors. The consequences of the Taskmaster attacks were more severe. San Francisco was thoroughly destructed, Captain America and the Helicarrier engine were also damaged. What else? The Terrigen crystals took a gaseous form allowing the residents to gain extraordinary powers and turn Inhumans.
MODOK, who could die on the A-Day, was supposedly cured by Monica’s timely treatment. The failure of the duo’s experiment led them to create Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM) and develop a robotic force that could also treat the Inhumans or civilians everyone considered to be dead on the A-Day. Avengers? They disbanded.
Who is MODOK Ant Man 3 Villain?
After playing a prominent role in HULU’s MODOK and Marvel’s Avengers video game, MODOK is all set to make his MCU debut with Ant Man and the Wasp Quantumania. And it’s the House of Cards actor Corey Stoll who plays MODOK MCU in the third Ant-Man film. Yes, he is a familiar face, as he appeared as Darren/YellowJacket in 2015 Ant Man and was assumed dead before the film’s post-credit scenes.
In the latest Ant Man and the Wasp Quantumania trailer featuring MODOK as the new MCU villain, speculations are that he and Darren are the same person. However, neither the 1967’s Tale of Suspense #94 nor any other Marvel comics had Ant Man’s Darren’s transformation into MODOK, this new origin of the Mental Organism Designed Only For Killing can be a completely different base to later build exciting stories in the Multiverse saga. So, this is certain Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror is not the only antagonist in Ant Man and the Wasp Quantumania; we also have MODOK MCU new villain in the superhero story officially beginning MCU Phase Five.
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