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Age of MCU: 6 Reasons Iron Man Was The Perfect Start For The MCU

3. It Seamlessly Blended Realism And Science Fiction

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When you go into a superhero movie, you have to suspend disbelief. These are movies about people flying around and beating each other up. However, Iron Man shattered that tough barrier between realism and science-fiction. Think of it this way: back when Spider-Man 3 came out, we were deep into the science-fiction realm to the point that men were turning into sand and alien symbiotes were bonding with Topher Grace. It was pure science-fiction with hardly any realism left. With Iron Man, the realism and science-fiction work so well together that we don’t have to work as hard to suspend disbelief. It’s almost like we don’t have to constantly remind ourselves “oh, that would never happen…”. Instead, I’m sitting here watching Iron Man and marveling at how the movie stays so grounded in reality. This science-fiction setting is put into realistic terms. Even as we further progress into the MCU, and as science-fiction takes over, there is still that semblance of reality left behind thanks to Iron Man.

2. It Set The Right Tone

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Someone needs to tell Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder that superhero movies don’t have to be these dark, gritty, artistic pieces. While I love Nolan’s Dark Knight series and Snyder’s Man of Steel, they aren’t the proper portrayals of superhero films (at least, in my opinion). Superheroes are such a wild concept that there has to be a campiness to their films. Iron Man was a great mixture of humor, action, and seriousness. Can I also say that Robert Downey Jr. is the absolute best choice to portray Tony Stark? I think this man single-handedly set the perfect tone for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. With every film you watch in this series, from Captain America: The Winter Soldier to Guardians of the Galaxy, you will see the essence of Iron Man‘s initial tone.

1. It’s A Universally-Loved Movie

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I’m going to make a bold statement and declare that Iron Man is a very, very, well-liked film. It’s not perfect, but I constantly see and hear about how it’s one of the best superhero films of all time. In fact, the only people I know who disagree with this sentiment are the hardcore DC fans who refuse to acknowledge Marvel’s grand slam. It’s okay to admit it. I’ll admit that The Dark Knight Rises is in my top five favorite superhero films of all time. But there’s no denying that Iron Man is amazing, thus making it a great start to the MCU. Other films like Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers Assemble are outstanding, but they haven’t been as well-received as Iron Man. Marvel Studios made the right choice by kicking off their universe with this film.

Enough talking about how Iron Man is epic. I think I’ve driven the point home. Case in point: this was the best option for Marvel Studios to use to start their cinematic universe. Let’s just hope they make the same decision and choose a worthy film to close out this saga in the next few years.

Did you agree with this list? Is there any other film you would’ve wanted to kick off the MCU? Sound off in the comments or send us your thoughts on Twitter!

About the author

Alex Reale

From a young age, Alex knew he was destined to be a writer. He also harbored a deep infatuation with superheroes and comics. Luckily, he was able to combine these two passions through his role with A Place to Hang Your Cape, where he works as Junior Sidekick and Social Media Hero.

When he’s not writing for AP2HYC or working full-time as a content manager for a small business website, Alex is diligently at work on other creative projects including a fantasy novel collection and an independent comic series.

You can find Alex's first book, Dodger's Doorway, on Amazon!