If you’re familiar with the Avengers films, particularly Avengers: Age of Ultron, you’ve probably heard the word “Vibranium” at one point or another. After all, it’s what Ultron used to create his exoskeleton in the film. But what exactly is Vibranium?
Simply put, Vibranium is a metal ore exists within the Marvel Universe; one that’s almost equally expensive as it is strong. When it comes to the minutiae of Vibranium, though, there’s a lot to take in. So, sit back, relax, and prepare yourselves for a lesson on the ins and outs of Vibranium:
It’s Alien In Origin
For years, scientists who had the chance to study Vibranium hypothesized that the ore was alien in origin. This turned out to be true, as Vibranium was first deposited on Earth by a meteorite over 10,000 years ago. However, more details regarding the origin of Vibranium would come to light in the pages of 2014’s Captain Marvel #5, where a link between the ore and the “poison planet” of Torfa was established.
While Captain Marvel was attempting to save the lives of extraterrestrial refugees, she and her crew were attacked by space pirates, hired by J’Son of Spartax (Star-Lord’s father) to mine the planet of its Vibranium. Improper mining protocol resulted in the planet and its inhabitants being poisoned by the dangerous, untreated metal, but J’Son wanted to use it to build an indestructible fleet of space ships. Captain Marvel was eventually able to single-handedly defeat the entire Spartax fleet, but one of the most important takeaways from the ordeal is that Vibranium is, in fact, alien.
It Has Two Forms
In the Marvel Universe, Vibranium has two known varieties. The first of these varieties is Wakandan Vibranium – the most common form, which is often simply referred to as “Vibranium.” This form possesses the ability to absorb all vibrations in the vicinity, as well as kinetic energy directed at it, storing it within the bonds between the molecules that make up the substance. This results in the kinetic energy being dissipated within the bonds. However, there are limits to how much energy Vibranium can store, as evidenced when Roxxon attempted to destroy a small island whose foundation was comprised of the metal. Roxxon bombed the island, and the Vibranium was unable to absorb the force of the explosion, causing its destruction.
Wakandan Vibranium is also a powerful mutagen, emitting radiation that has caused mutation in many Wakandan natives. The radiation also permeated much of Wakanda’s plant and animal life, including the Heart-Shaped Herb that’s eaten by members of the Black Panther tribe.
What’s perhaps most interesting about Wakandan Vibranium, though, is that it can actually amplify mystical energy. In doing so, it taps into an energy flow on the quantum level, not only making it virtually infinite but also highly unstable. For this reason, mystically charged Vibranium is both rare and largely untested, making it difficult to quantify just how powerful it truly is.
The second known form of Vibranium is called Antarctic Vibranium, which is often referred to as “Anti-Metal” due to its opposite effects of its Wakandan counterpart. As you would imagine, Anti-Metal is only found in the isolated Antarctic region known as the Savage Land. Unlike Wakandan Vibranium, Anti-Metal emits vibrations that weaken the atomic and molecular bonds of other nearby metals, causing them to liquefy.
It Was Used To Create Adamantium
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. He was, however, able to create a similar compound, without Vibranium, that would later be referred to as True Adamantium – the primary form of Adamantium in the Marvel Universe.
It Was Largely Kept Secret To The Outside World
Although a select few were aware of the existence of Vibranium after its initial introduction in the ‘60s, it wasn’t until two decades later that the rest of the world was introduced to the powerful metal. Prior to that, though, it became the target of longtime Black Panther villain Ulysses Klaw, who sought after Wakanda’s sacred mound of Vibranium. Although Klaw failed to steal the Vibranium, he succeeded in killing Wakanda’s king – T’Chaka – which led to T’Challa/Black Panther inheriting his father’s throne.
Years later, Black Panther would attempt to end Wakanda’s isolation from the rest of the world, and part of this meant making the existence of Vibranium public knowledge. Selling small quantities of the precious metal, Black Panther used his vast profits to both improve his nation’s infrastructure and modernize it, making it the most technologically advanced nation in the Marvel Universe.
Many Items In The Marvel Universe Are Made From Vibranium
Unlike Adamantium, which is a metal alloy, Vibranium is naturally occurring. Therefore, it’s far less expensive, meaning that far more items in the Marvel Universe are comprised of it.
Of these items, the first that comes to mind is Captain America’s shield. Although the shield isn’t made of pure Vibranium, it is made from the same formula that Dr. MacLain created, but could never duplicate, for Proto-Adamantium. The next obvious example would be Black Panther’s costume, which has many Vibranium-based components.
Additionally, the mutant Warpath is known to wield a pair of Vibranium daggers that were gifted to him by X-Men mainstay Storm. Avengers Tower, in most of its iterations, is reinforced with Vibranium-laced concrete. Misty Knight's bionic arm is made of Antarctic Vibranium (Anti-Metal), allowing her to break, morph, and melt most metals including, Adamantium, and some of The Constrictor's coils are made of Vibranium, while others are made of an Adamantium alloy.
While there are still plenty more items in the Marvel Universe that are made of Vibranium, the last one that really stands out to longtime comic book readers are the storage tanks within the revamped Weapon X program, which are composed of Vibranium glass to keep some of the more aggressive subjects at bay.