If you’re familiar with the X-Men films, you’ve probably heard the word “Adamantium” at one point or another. After all, the film Logan made numerous references to it, including the insinuation that adamantium poisoning might be killing Wolverine. But what exactly is Adamantium?
Simply put, Adamantium is a metal compound that exists within the Marvel Universe; one that’s almost equally expensive as it is strong. When it comes to the minutiae of Adamantium, though, there’s a lot to take in. So, sit back, relax, and prepare yourselves for a lesson on the ins and outs of Adamantium:
Its Creation Was Inspired By Hercules
Hercules, the demigod of Greek mythology (as well as a Marvel Superhero in his own right), wielded a powerful, enchanted mace, said to be made from Adamantine, thus making it indestructible. This legend eventually caught the attention of a scientist by the name of Dr. Myron MacLain, who became inspired to create an equally powerful alloy to be used by the Americans during World War II.
Using a combination of steel, Vibranium, and an unknown catalyst, Dr. MacLain was successfully able to create a material stronger than anything previously known to man. Unfortunately, MacLain was unable to recall the exact ingredients, nor their proportions, thus leaving the good doctor unable to replicate the formula.
It Has Several Forms
Much like most metals, Adamantium can appear in several different forms. The first of these forms is called Proto-Adamantium, which is the original formula created by Dr. MacLain. Not only has Proto-Adamantium never been recreated, but it’s also the most indestructible form of the alloy.
The second form of Adamantium – the one that’s most prevalent in the modern Marvel Universe – is called True Adamantium. This version of the alloy was also created by Dr. MacLain, this time in an attempt to recreate his original formula. Unlike Proto-Adamantium, True Adamantium doesn’t contain any traces of Vibranium and is slightly less durable than its predecessor. True Adamantium is perhaps most notable as the form that was bonded to Wolverine’s skeleton by Weapon X.
In an attempt to manufacture Adamantium in a more cost-effective manner, a compound called Secondary Adamantium was created. Although Secondary Adamantium is much easier to work with than True Adamantium, the cost-cutting measures come at the expense of the alloy’s strength and durability, making it much easier to warp or break by beings with superhuman strength.
Perhaps one of the most unique forms of Adamantium, though, is Adamantium Beta, which came to be after Wolverine had True Adamantium bonded to his skeleton. Wolverine’s healing factor allowed him to survive the horrific and painful bonding process, but additionally, it also induced a molecular change in the alloy, which prevented it from inhibiting the biological processes of bone.
The First Manufactured Adamantium Became Captain America’s Shield
As mentioned in the last entry, the first known form of Adamantium was known as Proto-Adamantium – a form which has never been reproduced. However, just because it hasn’t been reproduced doesn’t mean it didn’t go on to serve an incredible purpose in the Marvel Universe.
After Dr. MacLain finished his creation of Proto-Adamantium, the resulting sample of the alloy was worked into a disc and allowed to harden. This disc would go on to become the iconic shield of none other than Captain America, meaning that much like the super-soldier serum that turned Steve Rogers into a hero, Cap’s shield is also one of a kind.
Few People Know How To Complete The Adamantium Formula
The formula for True Adamantium is not only outlandishly expensive to produce; it’s also an incredibly close-guarded secret of the United States government. In fact, this was what eventually led to researchers developing Secondary Adamantium.
As for True Adamantium, the manufacturing process involves the mixing of a select group of chemical resins, which are kept at a temperature of 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in a liquid metal that can be cast or manipulated into various shapes. After eight minutes, though, the mixture sets, and once hardened, it can never be manipulated again.
It Is Nearly Indestructible
Although Adamantium is often thought to be indestructible, there are some circumstances by which the alloy can, in fact, be damaged. For example, Proto-Adamantium - which makes up Captain America’s shield – has been damaged on several occasions in comic book history. In one instance, it was destroyed by Doctor Doom after he stole power from the Beyonder. In another, Cap’s shield was destroyed by Thanos when the Mad Titan was wielding the all-powerful Infinity Gauntlet. The most recent notable example, though, was during Fear Itself, when the Serpent used the fear of people from across the world to augment his strength, allowing him to destroy the shield.
True Adamantium, on the other hand, can be damaged with a bit more ease than its predecessor. The alloy can be manipulated by beings with strong magnetic powers, such as Magneto, who once ripped the metal-bonded skeleton from Wolverine’s body. Additionally, beings with godlike powers, such as Thor, have been shown to be able to cause damage to True Adamantium in some instances.
It Can Be Poisonous
As mentioned earlier, when the Adamantium was bonded to Wolverine’s skeleton, it was the character’s mutant healing factor that allowed him to survive the brutal transfusion process. However, what can sometimes be overlooked is that Wolverine’s healing factor also keeps him from suffering from heavy metal poisoning, which results from the accumulation of heavy metals, in toxic amounts, in the soft tissues of the body.
One of the best examples of the effects of Adamantium poisoning can be seen in the movie Logan. In it, Wolverine’s age seems to have finally caught up with him, resulting in his healing factor only being a fraction of what it once was. Because of this, we see Logan unable to fight off the Adamantium poisoning, as it slowly weakens him to the point where he’s able to be easily manhandled by the evil clone X-24.
Another example of how Adamantium poisoning affects Wolverine can be seen when Magneto rips the character’s skeleton from his body. Since Wolverine’s healing factor had long kept the metal’s poison at bay, once it was removed, his powers began to rapidly increase, turning him into a more feral, animalistic version of himself. This means that his virtually indestructible skeleton was actually what was hindering him from reaching his full potential as a mutant.
Many Other Items In The Marvel Universe Are Made Of Adamantium
The two most notable examples of Adamantium in the Marvel Universe are Captain America’s shield and Wolverine’s skeleton/claws. However, they aren’t the only items made from this precious alloy.
Although the Ultron we see on the big screen in Avengers: Age of Ultron has a body made from Vibranium, his comic book counterpart (in his sixth iteration) has a shell made entirely of Adamantium.
Additionally, Bullseye had his spinal column reinforced with Adamantium by Lord Dark Wind after a battle with Daredevil left the villain paralyzed.
Keeping with the trend of villains and Adamantium, notorious Spider-Man rogue Doctor Octopus once sported a set of Adamantium arms, allowing him to take down both Iron Man and The Hulk.
One of the more recent uses of Adamantium, though, came when Bucky Barnes took over the mantle of Captain America. Not wanting to wear the same costume as his predecessor, Bucky would have an entirely new suit built – this one lined with Adamantium, to ensure that the hero remained far more bullet-proof than his fallen comrade.