For over a decade, Marvel films have helped explore the lore of its comics, whether it's within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Fox X-Men canon or the many outlying films that have been released. But while these projects focus on the heroes and villains from the books, the lore surrounding them is equally important.
Two great examples of this are Wolverine's Adamantium and Wakanda's supply of Vibranium. And while both metals are nearly indestructible in the comics and films, only one can be considered the strongest.
Vibranium originated from a meteorite that crash-landed to earth millions of years ago in both the comics and films. The resulting radiation mutated the plants and soil around the rock, giving birth to the Heart-Shaped Herb, which gives the Black Panther their powers. When mined with sonic technology, the metal can be used for architecture, clothing, weapons and various other day-to-day items, serving as a testament to how adaptable the metal is. Its natural properties also allow it to absorb kinetic energy, stopping any projectiles in its tracks. And because of its durability, vibranium is deemed the strongest metal on Earth.
However, while strong, the metal does have its own limitations, though they aren't easy to find. The most obvious weakness the metal has is the sonic technology used to mine it, which is shown in the final fight of Black Panther when the sonic train tunnel disrupts the structure of both T'Challa's and Killmonger's suits. But it can also be damaged by itself, as shown when Black Panther scratches Captain America's shield in Captain America: Civil War. Vibranium is even susceptible to severe damage from extraterrestrial metals, which is proven in Avengers: Endgame when Thanos breaks apart Cap's shield with his double-edged sword.
Both the comics and films establish Adamantium as a man-made metal. It has many forms in the comics, with the earliest being used as a hybrid metal with Vibranium to make Captain America's shield as strong as it is. However, in the films, there is only one version of the metal. Vibranium is at its most malleable when superheated and left in a liquid form. William Stryker developed it, and he explains in X2: X-Men United that when it's cooled, it's virtually indestructible. Once hardened, it isn't nearly as malleable but can withstand almost all forms of pressure and heavy impacts. In addition, it's bulletproof and can slice through other metals like a knife through butter.
Those elements make the metal as deadly as it is indestructible, but it isn't perfect. Adamantium is highly susceptible to Magneto's abilities, and he can even bend it to his will, a feat otherwise impossible to do. A superheated blade can also slice through it, which is displayed in The Wolverine when Logan faces off with the Silver Samurai armor. The blade the suit carries has the ability to heat the sword until it glows orange, and, with one swipe, it slices all six of Logan's claws. The film proves that while the average enemy doesn't have the means to weaken Adamantium, it isn't an impossible task, making it more vulnerable than other indestructible metals.
In the comics, the metals have clashed more than once, and more often than not, Adamantium can damage Vibranium, including Cap's shield. However, Vibranium can also take more prolonged hits thanks to its durability. For now, it's not confirmed if Cap's shield is a hybrid, but this could explain why it was so easily scratched. Nevertheless, when comparing the films, Vibranium has proven far more durable and adaptable than Adamantium. While Adamantium is denser, it can still succumb to extreme heat, while Vibranium's only true weakness is sonic waves and itself. By lacking easily accessible counters, Vibranium easily takes the crown as the stronger metal.
0 Comments