Since 2008, the subgenre of movies based on comic books has experienced meteoric growth, eventually becoming one of the most lucrative subgenres in the film industry. This is owed, in no little part, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is the best example of an integrated work based around films and television episodes and is the reason why the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become so popular. However, a substantial portion of its success can be attributed to a straightforward hypothesis that was presented for the first time in the film Batman Begins in 2005.

Iron Man paved the way for superhero movies in general across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Batman Begins did the same thing for the Dark Knight. It breathed new life into the character and presented an aspect that made it immediately apparent that it was going to be a highlight as the story was narrated. In contrast to the MCU, Christopher Nolan’s Batman films remained a standalone story arc throughout their entirety. Having said that, the concept presented in the first movie was absolutely suitable for being captured by the trilogy that was delivered to viewers. In spite of the fact that it did not perfectly realize all of the characteristics that were teased, the MCU more than made up for it by producing such a large number of projects.

What Was Batman Begins’ Escalation Theory?

After Batman’s victory over Ra’s al Ghul and Scarecrow, James Gordon installed a bat signal at the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD) to call Batman. However, Gordon didn’t call Batman just for assistance on a case; rather, he wanted to get Batman’s perspective on an impending problem involving escalation. Gordon feared that now that Batman had arrived, it was only a matter of time until other, more deadly dangers emerged. He believed that it was just a matter of time. It turned out that his worries would be put to rest when the Joker came in Gotham and put the city’s resolve to the test, but this was just the beginning.

Gordon’s lingering worries about more significant dangers were finally realized in the shape of Bane, who not only seized control of Gotham but also came dangerously close to destroying the city with a nuclear bomb. The events of Batman Begins made it very evident that escalation was always going to be an issue; however, the Marvel Cinematic Universe took things one step further and demonstrated what occurs when a tale does not have a certain conclusion.

Each Phase of the MCU Has Raised the Stakes More

At the very beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), there was nothing more going on than Tony Stark engaging in a grudge war against Obadiah Stane and the Hulk battling the Abomination. However, approximately ten years later, the stakes were raised to the point that Thanos wiped out fifty percent of all life in the cosmos. This rise appeared natural since escalation made it possible for threats to steadily increase over the course of numerous films. At first, it appeared as though the threat was coming from aliens; then, it was a sentient robot; and lastly, it was Thanos. It required an equal level of sacrifice to defeat him, thereby completing a cycle that required some type of resolution to justify what had occurred. The stakes became higher as the fight went on. Now, an even greater danger has emerged in the form of Kang the Conqueror, who is getting ready to launch a full-scale war across the Multiverse.

In contrast to the Batman movies, there is no clear conclusion in sight for the MCU. Because of this, it has become absolutely essential to make certain that the franchise does not become lost in the thick of these stories. The passing of Tony Stark, on the other hand, has demonstrated that certain sacrifices help serve as stopping points for particular chapters in this universe. [Citation needed] Therefore, in terms of the narrative, Bane is represented in some capacity by both Thanos and Kang. In the end, each phase and saga has validated Nolan’s escalation thesis time and time again. The reason why it is successful is that the writers of the show are aware that the stakes need to increase as the show grows more series. Since Iron Man came out, fans have come a long way, and just like Batman, things can only get higher from here.