Adamantium is a fictional chemical substance and metal alloy in the Marvel Comics

universe. Adamantium is one of the most durable substances ever to be created by

Earth science. The chemical and metallurgical processes needed to create it are
incredibly difficult to achieve, exceedingly expensive, and its creation process is
known to only a very few organizations, individuals, and governments in the Marvel
Universe. Adamantium is, most famously, the metal bonded to Wolverine's entire
skeleton, including his claws. It first appeared in Avengers #66 (July 1969).

Contents [hide]
1 Marvel Comics Adamantium
1.1 History and properties of adamantium in the Marvel Universe
1.2 Types of adamantium
1.2.1 Secondary adamantium
1.2.2 Adamantium beta
1.2.3 Carbonadium
1.3 Allotropes
1.4 Adamantium as key component
1.5 Durability of adamantium
1.6 Properties of adamantium in the Ultimate Marvel Universe
2 In other media
2.1 Games
2.2 Films
2.3 TV Shows
2.4 Music
2.5 Nemanja Vidic
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Marvel Comics Adamantium

[edit] History and properties of adamantium in the Marvel Universe

Adamantium is first created by metallurgist Dr. Myron McClain during the late 1960s
in an attempt to recreate the unique Vibranium-steel alloy of Captain America's
shield, though adamantium contains no vibranium. While McClain is unable to
duplicate the process or discover the unknown element that created the alloy, he
does create a material that is very similar on a molecular level and is almost as
durable. Adamantium is created by mixing several chemical resins together; the
exact formula is a secret. After the resins are mixed together, the adamantium can
be molded into different shapes for approximately eight minutes as long as the
mixture is kept at a temperature of 1,500 �F (816�C). Adamantium's extremely stable
molecular structure prevents it from being further molded after this eight-minute
time period even if the temperature is high enough to keep it in its liquified
form.

Adamantium is astronomically expensive to create and the process is unreliable,

often resulting in an inferior grade since the chemical resins mixed to create
adamantium are a carefully guarded secret. As a result, supervillains almost never
try to create it but seek instead to harvest it from existing sources and rearrange
it on a molecular level: Apocalypse has harvested adamantium from Sabretooth, and
Genesis has harvested adamantium from Cyber.

Walter Simonson planned for Apocalypse to be the mastermind behind the Weapon X
project that gave Wolverine his adamantium skeleton. In Wolverine: Jungle Adventure
(1990), Wolverine discovers an adamantium laced skull in Apocalypse's laboratory,
and comments how it seem to have been there for eons. Since Simonson' plans
apparently never came to conclusion, the scene possibly suggests that Apocalypse
developed the technology to bond adamantium to bones centuries before anyone else.
[edit] Types of adamantium

[edit] Secondary adamantium

As true adamantium is extremely difficult and expensive to create or manipulate,
some parties found a way to duplicate it on a larger and more cost-effective scale
at the expense of quality and durability. For most practical purposes, this
secondary adamantium is also largely indestructible. Conventional weapons, such as
ballistic missiles, have no effect on it; it is far stronger than even the most
durable of titanium or steel compounds. However, extraordinary blunt force, such as
a punch from a being with superhuman strength, can warp or break it. Unconventional
forms of energy discharges have also been known to warp or damage secondary
adamantium, such as Thor's lightning attacks using Mjolnir. Writers created
secondary adamantium to deal with supposedly indestructible adamantium having been
damaged or destroyed in the past; all such instances were retconned as appearances
of secondary adamantium.

[edit] Adamantium beta

Adamantium beta is a new metal created as a side-effect of the process of bonding
true adamantium to Wolverine's bones. His Healing Factor not only allowed him to
survive the process, but also induced a molecular change in the metal. Adamantium
beta functions identically to true adamantium, but it does not inhibit the
biological processes of bone. Adamantium beta was first explained in Wolverine
(vol.2) #80 (1994).

[edit] Carbonadium
Carbonadium is a resilient, unstable metal that is vastly stronger than steel but
more flexible than adamantium. It is stated in X-Men vol.2 #7 that carbonadium is,
in fact, both a more malleable and cheaper version of adamantium. Due to its
malleability, carbonadium is less durable than true adamantium, but still nearly
indestructible. Omega Red (an adversary of The X-Men) has carbonadium coils through
which he can transmit his ability to drain life energies. Carbonadium is highly
radioactive and a very small amount, if ingested, has proven capable of
dramatically slowing down Wolverine's healing factor. The only device that can
produce carbonadium, known as the Carbonadium Synthesizer, was initially believed
thrown into a river in Brussels by Wolverine; it has since been revealed that the
Carbonadium Synthesizer had been hidden on the deceased body of a double-agent who
died escaping Omega Red along with Wolverine, Sabretooth and Maverick. The
synthesizer was retrieved and handed back to Maverick, whose mission was to
retrieve the item for parties unknown. Carbonadium is also the only known substance
that can slow down a mutant healing factor, such as Wolverine's, Sabertooth's, X-
23's, and others' of the sort.

[edit] Allotropes
In X-Men #191, when confronting Wolverine, one of the Children of the Vault named
Serafina claims that adamantium has thirteen allotropes, all of which are
"unstable, and short-lived, but virulently poisonous". She throws a small device
that clamps onto his claws and makes them glow green, claiming that it is
adamantium nine. This causes Wolverine to become stricken, incoherent and collapse.

[edit] Adamantium as key component

Adamantium is used as the key component in several instances in the Marvel
Universe, including:
Agent Zero's combat knife
The outer skin of some of Alkhema's robotic bodies
Battlestar's shield
Bullseye's spinal column and some strips coating several of his bones.
Constrictor's original wrist-mounted, prehensile metal coils
Cyber's claws and skin
A unique set of Doctor Octopus' arms
Hammerhead's skull plate
The outer layer of Citizen V's rapier
Lady Deathstrike's skeleton and talons
One of Mister Fantastic's labs for extremely dangerous experiments
Moon Knight's crescent blades
A unique suit of armor once used by the villain Stilt-Man
The outer skin of TESS-One
The outer skin of some of Ultron's robotic bodies
Wolverine's skeleton and claws
X-23's claws
One of several layers of containment at the superhuman incarceration facility known
as the Vault
An outer coating on the Swordsman's blades.
A special brand of bullet in the Iron Man suit's ballistic weapons.
Gambit's staff
Sabretooth's skeleton and claws
Underworld uses adamantium bullets

[edit] Durability of adamantium

While often referred to as indestructible or unbreakable, it is possible for it to
be destroyed through very specific circumstances. True adamantium can be destroyed
through very precise molecular rearrangement, such as being altered by Thanos while
wearing the Infinity Gauntlet.[1] True adamantium's molecular structure can also be
altered by Antarctic vibranium, also known as anti-metal, as it has the capability
to liquify all known metallic substances, including adamantium.

There are at least two known examples of true adamantium within the Earth-616
reality sustaining damage without molecular manipulation. The first involves Thor
focusing all of his strength into striking a small cylinder of adamantium with
Mjolnir, which is only slightly dented.[2] The second incident involves a battle
between Ultron and the Incredible Hulk. During the fight, the Hulk punches the
robot with enough force to slightly dent it.[3]

Within the Earth-1610 reality, otherwise known as the Ultimate Marvel Universe,[4]
adamantium also exists but there is evidence that brings into question the status
of adamantium as "unbreakable" or "indestructible" in comparison with the Earth-616
version. There is an example of the Ultimate Marvel version of Wolverine being
ripped in half by the Ultimate Marvel version of the Hulk.[5] Within the same
issue, a question was raised by another character as to whether Wolverine's joints
were bonded with adamantium. As to whether the connective tissues between
Wolverine's joints are torn, the adamantium was damaged, or both is not fully known
as the Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk mini-series has met with numerous delays. There
is also an instance of the Hulk breaking a needle made of adamantium.[6] During the
initial appearances of the Ultimate Marvel Universe's version of Sabretooth, it is
revealed that he has four retractable adamantium claws implanted within each of his
forearms. Through circumstances that have yet to be explained, one of the claws
implanted within Sabretooth's left forearm is broken.[7] There is also at least one
known incident of adamantium within the Earth-1610 reality being damaged by
conventional weaponry. In a memory flashback, the Ultimate Marvel version of Nick
Fury recalls an adamantium cage containing Wolverine is shelled and destroyed
during Operation: Desert Storm.[8] The Ultimate Marvel version Lady Deathstrike
also has an adamantium-laced skeleton, and claimed to be indestructible on one
occasion. Nonetheless, when she is grabbed in a stranglehold by Longshot, he
manages to snap her neck. More recently is an incident involving Apocalypse and
Wolverine. As the two battle, Apocalypse rips Wolverine's right arm completely off,
though it is later reconnected as Phoenix alters reality. These facts have sparked
heated debate and controversy among comic book fans and Marvel Comics has not
provided an explanation for the noticeable difference in the durability of the two
versions.

[edit] Properties of adamantium in the Ultimate Marvel Universe

Little is known about the UMU version of adamantium. Among the most notable
information yet to be revealed includes when adamantium is first created, the
person or persons responsible for first creating it, and any of the properties and
processes used in creating it.

Only one form of adamantium has been seen in the Ultimate Universe thus far. It is
currently unknown whether or not any other versions of adamantium exist, as they do
in the Earth-616 reality.

Adamantium in the UMU is highly durable and is able to effectively protect a

person's mind from telepathic probing or attacks, a property that the Earth-616
version lacks completely. It has been shown as a component of the claws and
skeleton of the Ultimate Wolverine and Ultimate Lady Deathstrike. The UMU's version
of Sabretooth's natural claws are bonded with adamantium and he possesses four
retractable claws similar to those of Wolverine implanted in his forearms. The
shield of Ultimate Captain America is entirely comprised of adamantium.

[edit] In other media

[edit] Games
In the Warhammer 40,000 universe, adamantium is a super-hard alloy used by the
Imperium of Man in the construction of weapons and armour. Notably, the Black
Dragons Space Marines Chapter sheathes mutated bone growths in adamantium to use
them as close combat weapons. Also, Tactical Dreadnought Armor is said to be made
from plates of Adamantium in addition to other forms of protection, to make it all
but impenetrable.
It is also found in Blizzard's World of Warcraft as the Ornate Adamantium
Breastplate. There was a mineable variation of Adamantium known as Adamantite added
in the Burning Crusade expansion pack.
Adamantium armor and weapons can be found in Bethesda Softworks' The Elder Scrolls
Series, first in the Tribunal expansion to The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, then
in a mod for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
Adamantium armor is a form of armor in the PlayStation 2 game Ratchet & Clank: Up
Your Arsenal.
In Two Worlds there are two available Earth Magic spells with adamantium
references. These spells are Summon Adamantium Golem (the strongest summon in the
game), and Adamantium Shield.
In the MMORPG Runescape it is possible to mine Adamantite Ore and smith it into
Adamant weaponry and armor. The Adamantite armor and weapons are fairly strong,
only behind Third Age, Barrows, Dragon, and Rune.
In Dungeons & Dragons v3.5, adamantine is described as "an ultra hard metal found
only in meteorites and the rares veins in magical areas", weighs the same as steel,
and can cut through any lesser material with ease.
Adamantium Armor is the second strongest type of armor in the Master of Orion
series.
In the MMORPG MapleStory, Adamantium is a mineral ore that can be processed to
Adamantium plates in use to forge some equipment.
In the RPG game Rage of Mages, the second strongest and most powerful set of
weapons and armor is made of adamantium. It has a pink/violet color scheme.
In Age Of Mythology, the gates of Tartarus, fashioned by Zeus to seal Kronos, are
made of adamantium.
In Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Adamantium is the Ultra Rare element for tier 5
blacksmith recipes.
In the MMORPG Star Sonata, many high end items are built using Adamantium Sheets,
these are refined from Adamantium Ore. A fairly common use for these sheets is
'Adamantiumized' Base Gear.
In nearly all the Final Fantasy games, adamantium appears as unrefined metal or a
piece of shell from a giant turtle called an Adamantoise.
In Ricochet Infinity three of the top 4 ranks are described as having Adamantium
artifacts (sword, crown and throne).
In Fallout 3, the character may take a perk titled 'Adamantium Skeleton', which
reduces the damage taken to limbs. This is likely a reference to the fictional
character Wolverine.
In Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, during the end credits E-123 Omega asks
Sonic "ARE ADAMANTIUM DOUBLE-LUBRICATED ACTUATOR JOINTS CAPABLE OF BOOSTING MY
GROUND SPEED BY APPROXIMATELY 15%?"
In NCSoft's Lineage 2, 'Adamantite Nuggets' are raw materials used to craft various
weapons and armors.
In the fantasy game Dwarf Fortress, Adamantium spelled Adamantine is so rare, that
striking it will trigger the coming of The Dwarf King. Its liquidating point is so
high that it is immune to destruction by lava, and is much stronger than any other
material for constructing armor or weapons. It is also much lighter and is rather
brittle because it has no elasticity.
In World of Warcraft, Adamantium, just like in Dwarf Fortress, is spelled
Adamantine. Adamantite has a couple of uses. One use is for blacksmithing. The
adamantite ore is smelted into adamantite bars, which are then used with
blacksmiths to create an adamantite armor set. Adamantite weapons consist of the
following classes: maces, swords, daggers, axes, arrows, guns, and, bullets.

[edit] Films
As with his comics counterpart, the X-Men film series version of Wolverine also
possesses adamantium in his skeleton and claws. In X2: X-Men United, liquid
adamantium was seen boiling in a tub. (William Stryker mentioned that the "tricky
thing with adamantium is, you gotta keep it hot.") The X2 version of Deathstrike is
also shown to have adamantium claws that are extruded from the tips of her fingers
(Wolverine's are sheathed in his forearms and released between his knuckles).
In the Marvel Comics animated feature Ultimate Avengers, Captain America's shield
is composed of an adamantium/vibranium alloy.
In the 1998 film Lost in Space, the spider-like organisms are described as having
an "Adamantium shell". The organisms were destroyed by exposure to a nuclear fusion
explosion.
In the Iron Man movie (2008) Adamantium was used to fashion an exclusive bullet
used in the Iron Man Suit's ballistics.
In the Forbidden Planet movie (1956) Morbius claimed that he had constructed his
and Altaira's dwelling of 'Adamantite' or 'Adamantine' steel. Unfortunately the
substance was no match for Morbius' own Monster from the Id.

[edit] TV Shows
In the Samurai Jack episode Jack and the Ultra-robots, the assassin robots are said
to be made of Adamantium.
In the British TV comedy Green Wing season 1, Martin Dear argues with Dr. "Mac"
Macartney, that his next vespa helmet will be from Adamantium.
In Valentine (TV series), Ari (Ares) speaks of an Adamantium Blade, the only weapon
capable of killing a God.

[edit] Music
The UK Grime record label owned by Kiss FM DJ Logan Sama is called Adamantium
Music.

[edit] Nemanja Vidic

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is jokingly said to be created wholly or
at least partially out of True Adamantium. This is due to his reputation as the
most 'durable' player in the English Premier League; proving himself far stronger
than such robots as Chelsea player John Terry. However, recent events have proved
to have shown Vidic's - and therefore Adamantium's - only weaknesses; Liverpool
captain Steven Gerrard and team-mate Fernando Torres.

[edit] See also

Promethium
Vibranium
Unobtainium
Mithril