Adamantium in the DCU?

[Paragon]

What is the hardest (least breakable/strongest) substance in the DCU?

If you can please list some objects made of this material.
(The source wall does not count)

Some candidates that I can think of at the moment:

SA Supeman’s Suit, Cape, Rocket ship fragments etc.
Deathstroke’s sword.
Wonder Woman’s lasso
Amazonian battle gear. (Or Atlantean)
(I also vaguely remember some kind of unbreakable girdle from the earlier issues of the recently cancelled series)
Whatever Amazo is made of.
Captain Atoms shell.
Cyborg Superman’s metal parts. (Or Cyborg’s, or Metallo’s)
Luthor’s Battle suit. (Or Steel’s or Rocket Red’s)
Nth Metal.
Dwarf star fragments. (Should be extraordinary dense)

Opinions anyone?

[JulianPerez]

The hardest substance in the DC Universe, arguably, is Supermanium.

It was discovered by members of the Supermen of America, who named it after their hero. Superman used Supermanium to construct the indestructible door to the Fortress of Solitude, to make the prison that caged Brainiac in space (and it should be noted, at no point did Lex Luthor AND Brainiac, mind you, find a way to actually break the material), and to make the hull of the Supermobile during Superman's fight with Amazo. It took a being as powerful as the Galactic Golem to actually bend Supermanium.

Though there are other properties apart from hardness that can make a metal useful. For instance, Amazonium, the metal that Wonder Woman's bracelets are made of, are easily able to be enchanted.

[Gingold]

Isn't the DC equivilent of Adamantium called Prometheum? Or is that something else?

[JulianPerez]

Isn't the DC equivilent of Adamantium called Prometheum? Or is that something else?

Yeah, prometheum is more like "unstable molecules" than it is adamantium. It was used a lot in the Marv Wolfman NEW TEEN TITANS, where it had, essentially, snake oil properties: it could do whatever the writer needed it to at any given time. If I recall correctly, it could be used to make a super-atom bomb, form cyborg parts, and so forth. If I look it up, it could probably do some more.

It's a floor cleaner! No, it's a dessert topping!

[Will.S]

The hardest substance in the DC Universe, arguably, is Supermanium.

It was discovered by members of the Supermen of America, who named it after their hero. Superman used Supermanium to construct the indestructible door to the Fortress of Solitude, to make the prison that caged Brainiac in space (and it should be noted, at no point did Lex Luthor AND Brainiac, mind you, find a way to actually break the material), and to make the hull of the Supermobile during Superman's fight with Amazo. It took a being as powerful as the Galactic Golem to actually bend Supermanium.

Though there are other properties apart from hardness that can make a metal useful. For instance, Amazonium, the metal that Wonder Woman's bracelets are made of, are easily able to be enchanted.
Supermanium is the stupidest name for a metal I have ever heard.

Prometheum at least sounds more decent and reasonable.

[Xero]

The hardest stuff would probably be X-Ionized depleted Promethium. The X-Ionization process was introduced by Cary Bates in the Captain Atom series of the 1980's. Basically any matter (usually metal) subjected to the process became superdense and supersharp able to cut through anything.

[Oggar]

Prometheum is a metal that actually regenerates itself, like the titan Prometheus who regrew his liver each day. Supermanium sounds pre-Crisis.

[LordEd1976]

The hardest substance in the DC Universe, arguably, is Supermanium.

It was discovered by members of the Supermen of America, who named it after their hero. Superman used Supermanium to construct the indestructible door to the Fortress of Solitude, to make the prison that caged Brainiac in space (and it should be noted, at no point did Lex Luthor AND Brainiac, mind you, find a way to actually break the material), and to make the hull of the Supermobile during Superman's fight with Amazo. It took a being as powerful as the Galactic Golem to actually bend Supermanium.

Though there are other properties apart from hardness that can make a metal useful. For instance, Amazonium, the metal that Wonder Woman's bracelets are made of, are easily able to be enchanted.


Supermanium sounds pre-Crisis.

Superamnium existed pre-Crisis and as far as I know hasn't yet made an appearance in the post-Crisis DCU.

Of metals that are currently in conuity I'd say Promethium is up there along with Amazonium (is that name still used?), and Nth Metal.

[Thnikkaman]

I think Inertron may top Promethium in durability, but it's only available in the Legion's era.

[Wannabe]

I was always under the impression that Metallo was the DC equivalent to Adamantium.

And I now know, that if I ever discover an element, it will be called Supermanium.

[Ontir]

In the Legion's time, there's Inertron, which predates Adamantium, IIRC. In the present DCU, as of Wolfman's writing of the Teen Titans, there's Prometheum, which seems to have some properties similar to Marvel's Vibranium.

[Agentum]

I really hope substances with names as Amazonium and Supermanium is gone forever. laughable names.

[JulianPerez]

Prometheum is a metal that actually regenerates itself, like the titan Prometheus who regrew his liver each day. Supermanium sounds pre-Crisis.

Prometheum was invented by Steve Dayton (Mento), whose primary purpose was as a fuel supply: it was, conceiveably an infinite source of energy. It also had other uses: it was used to construct a gigantic super-atom bomb that nearly destroyed the Titans when the Terminator lured them to its Ground Zero, and Steve Dayton used the inherent mutation-causing properties of prometheum to bond with the life essence of several subjects about to die, creating the Hybrid (each of whom had a different power and accent).

Prometheum could indeed become an indestructible metal - at least when combined with vanadium and titanium.


I think Inertron may top Promethium in durability, but it's only available in the Legion's era.

D'oh! I knew I forgot something. Inetron is easily the densest and hardest metal available. It should be noted that according to ADVENTURE COMICS #367 (1968) even a being like Superboy could not break (though Karate Kid speculated that Superboy might be able to do so - if he took up Karate). It also should be noted that the Galactic Prison at Bismari where the Science Police kept Validus, was coated by inertron, which even a being like Validus, identified as "power personified" and "mightier than Superboy" whose 'mental lightning' could destroy cities" was trapped inside.

Further, it was shown that Inertron was the one material that Ultra Boy's Penetra-Vision could not see through.


I really hope substances with names as Amazonium and Supermanium is gone forever. laughable names.

I don't know...I think they have a bit of poetry to them.

[Paragon]

I was always under the impression that Metallo was the DC equivalent to Adamantium.

And I now know, that if I ever discover an element, it will be called Supermanium.

The element Krypton, in the real world has its name inspired by the superman mythos, so in a way, this has already happened :)

[boolean]

The element Krypton, in the real world has its name inspired by the superman mythos, so in a way, this has already happened :)

It's the other way around. Krypton, the element, was named from the Greek word kryptos, meaning "hidden". The fictional planet was named after the element.

[Paragon]

I stand corrected. Seems that I propagated a myth instead of double checking.
My apologies.

[dancj]

This thread is making the word "Adamantium" sound sensible!

[Dr. Drake Ramoray]

It's the other way around. Krypton, the element, was named from the Greek word kryptos, meaning "hidden". The fictional planet was named after the element.

BOO! HISS! PARTY POOPER! :p

[thehod]

The hardest substance in the DC Universe, arguably, is Supermanium.

It was discovered by members of the Supermen of America, who named it after their hero. Superman used Supermanium to construct the indestructible door to the Fortress of Solitude, to make the prison that caged Brainiac in space (and it should be noted, at no point did Lex Luthor AND Brainiac, mind you, find a way to actually break the material), and to make the hull of the Supermobile during Superman's fight with Amazo. It took a being as powerful as the Galactic Golem to actually bend Supermanium.

Though there are other properties apart from hardness that can make a metal useful. For instance, Amazonium, the metal that Wonder Woman's bracelets are made of, are easily able to be enchanted.

And they say Pre-Crisis material makes no sense. Pffft. Wadda they know?? :p

[hitokiri_]

batmantium, speed forcium, waterhandium, etc. :D

[Ontir]

How about Fledermounium, Rapidium, and Hydronium?

[filthysize]

This thread is making the word "Adamantium" sound sensible!

You'd be surprised how few people actually realize the joke that Adamantium is an "adamant" substance.

Tsk.

[BYC]

Tickium.

It's nigh indestructible.

[AllisterH]

You'd be surprised how few people actually realize the joke that Adamantium is an "adamant" substance.

Tsk.

Personally, I'm not sure where there is a joke about adamantium. See http://www.answers.com/adamant&r=67 for its pedigree.

[JulianPerez]

Returning this thread to a slightly more serious note, it should be noted that Supermanium was created by Superman scribe Otto Binder, who was the head writer on Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family during the 1940s-1950s.

Why is this important?

Because Otto Binder created a similar "hardest metal in the universe" for Earth-S, known as Marvelium. Captain Marvel originally created it in response to Sivana creating a new metal, Shazamium, which made him desolid and gave him the ability to walk through any object (and used this to perform a crime spree). Thus, the Big Red Cheese had to invent a metal so dense that even with Shazamium, Sivana could not walk through - hence the creation of Marvelium.

Adding further proof to my theory that the Binder/C.C. Beck MARVEL FAMILY was the single most influential comic in history, there was a version of Vibranium that prevented characters from phasing through, which made life unpleasant for Shadowcat on several occasions.

Earth-S had one weird, weird periodic table: in addition to the aforementioned Shazamium and Marvelium, there was also Suspendium (the substance inside Sivana's Hibernaculum that placed the Marvel Family into catatonic slumber for decades), and there was Sivanium, a metal so powerful that even the Marvels could not break it.

[Jolly Mon]

I don't know...I think they have a bit of poetry to them.

There once was a man from Nantucket...

[WatsonGlenn]

What is the hardest (least breakable/strongest) substance in the DCU?

Inertron, it took the combined power of Superboy and Mon el and I think Ultra Boy to bend it.

[Expletive Deleted]

Hydronium?That actually exists. It's an H3O+ ion.

[Mr. Croup]

Unless it has been changed, the reason that Superman's outfit is so strong is because of the force field that his body generates. It only comes a few centimeters off of his skin. That's why he wears skin tight costumes.

[Joe Acro]

Theoretically, since Kal-L does not have that same invulnerability forcefield, which was created Post-Crisis, his costume would not be that durable. Since there is no durable shield over it, the costume itself, like any Super character's cape, should become damaged quite frequently. Or was the costume indestructable Pre-Crisis?...

[WatsonGlenn]

Theoretically, since Kal-L does not have that same invulnerability forcefield, which was created Post-Crisis, his costume would not be that durable. Since there is no durable shield over it, the costume itself, like any Super character's cape, should become damaged quite frequently. Or was the costume indestructable Pre-Crisis?...


Pre-Crisis, anything except Kryptonite, that came from Krypton, was super-hard. A knife from Krypton, for example, could cut Superman just like any knife could cut you and I.

So yes, pre-crisis Superman's costume was indestructible and very stretchy, though the threads could be pulled apart and re-sewn, which is how the original costume was made from a blanket..

[NotSuper]

Kal-L's costume is not from Krypton, but it is indestructible. He created it himself.

[Devil_LeonX]

What is Wonder Woman's Lasso made out of?and aren't her bracelets made from Zeus Aegis shield supposedly indestructible?

[ryerye17]

What is Wonder Woman's Lasso made out of?and aren't her bracelets made from Zeus Aegis shield supposedly indestructible?
why in god's name are you resurrecting a three-year old thread

[Joker2503]

Wonder Woman's invulnerable equipment is easy to explain: Magic did it. Zeus said that her lasso is unbreakable, so it is. It could be made out of tissue paper for all we know.

[bongoes]

I though Vibranium was the strongest substance in the Mavel U.

[Devil_LeonX]

Wonder Woman's invulnerable equipment is easy to explain: Magic did it. Zeus said that her lasso is unbreakable, so it is. It could be made out of tissue paper for all we know.

LOL alright and I didn't know i was resurrecting a 3 year old thread!?

[Desaad]

I though Vibranium was the strongest substance in the Mavel U.

No, it's actual durability isn't anything particularly impressive. It's highly prized for it's ability to absorb and redirect kinetic/vibrational energy.

The substance that makes up Cap's shield is probably the strongest substance in the Marvel Universe, and that is essentially some combination of vibranium and adamantium. It's exact nature isn't known, but a failed attempt to recreate it resulted in the creation of Adamantium (indicating that Adamantium is weaker than Cap's shield).

[Devil_LeonX]

No, it's actual durability isn't anything particularly impressive. It's highly prized for it's ability to absorb and redirect kinetic/vibrational energy.

The substance that makes up Cap's shield is probably the strongest substance in the Marvel Universe, and that is essentially some combination of vibranium and adamantium. It's exact nature isn't known, but a failed attempt to recreate it resulted in the creation of Adamantium (indicating that Adamantium is weaker than Cap's shield).

I have always heard this but is Adamantium really inferior? I mean has there been a time when Caps shield could bend,break Adamantium or withstand something that it couldn't?

[Desaad]

I have always heard this but is Adamantium really inferior? I mean has there been a time when Caps shield could bend,break Adamantium or withstand something that it couldn't?

To the best of my knowledge, Cap's shield has never been broken or bent by anything less than a reality or molecule altering force (King Thor, Beyonder, Molecule Man, Korvac).

That, obviously, goes outside/beyond mere physical force.

That said, Adamantium has been broken numerous times -- until it was retconned into being a 'secondary adamantium', a weaker version of 'primary adamantium' which is, according to the retcon, much harder to come by.

That was years ago, though, and I'm sure adamantium has been broken in the interim.

That said, I'm pretty confident that Cap's shield is sort of prized above all others in terms of durability. I'd wager that it's been destroyed less times than even something like Mjlonir.

[SquidSquod]

On a hindsight, congratulation for Marvel to come up with the name of a fantasy metal acknowledged by popular cultures. Marvel 1 - DC 0.

[K-DoG7p7]

On a hindsight, congratulation for Marvel to come up with the name of a fantasy metal acknowledged by popular cultures. Marvel 1 - DC 0.

yeah.. unlike DC and their lame as Kryptonite

[Retro315]

Yeah, prometheum is more like "unstable molecules" than it is adamantium. It was used a lot in the Marv Wolfman NEW TEEN TITANS, where it had, essentially, snake oil properties: it could do whatever the writer needed it to at any given time. If I recall correctly, it could be used to make a super-atom bomb, form cyborg parts, and so forth. If I look it up, it could probably do some more.

It's a floor cleaner! No, it's a dessert topping!

Billy Mays here with a new compound that'll change your life!

Fight with it. Heal with it. Clean with it. Steal with it.

Need a Deus Ex Machina? Prometheum's got you covered!

Watch as Prometheum dissolves Kryptonite and saves Superman!

Now Alfred's using it to clean the bookcases in Stately Wayne Manor ...

[Jolly Mon]

On a hindsight, congratulation for Marvel to come up with the name of a fantasy metal acknowledged by popular cultures. Marvel 1 - DC 0.

You realize of course that Marvel just modified the word a little, right? Adamant or adamantine dates back as far as Greek mythology, maybe further. So, with adamantium & prometheum, it's more like "ability to borrow from ancient mythology, Marvel = 1, DC = 1".

[mswood]

Caps shield can be destroyed by physical force,its just that force is truly beyond what humans are capable of. And of course can rearranged on the molecular level (how powerful that persons needs to be is unknown).

Intertron (certainly pre crisis) has been exposed to far,far more force in a fairly regular manner then what Cap typically fights. As Superman, Superboy, Mon'el, Validus, ect all beings capable of literally moving planets were unable to stop it.

But like Superman, I think this substance is weaker now then previously.

One of the big oversights in Legion of 3 Worlds is that there is an element lad from Prime's universe. And as such he should have incased Prime in it (as it is in his eyes the strongest substance he could create. But of course, that would how shall we say end the series earlier then they wished.

As for WW, I don't know if Magic is how I would describe the abilities of that group. Take Galactus for example, he is able to empower both people and objects, yet I would never call it magic. Just force beyond, mortal man. I don't see the gods as magical entities. For example Hecate and Circe seem to channel magic, but the rest of WW universe doesn't seem to really get or use power in a manner that is similar at all.

[Xero]

Like I wrote the first time. X-Ionized (https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/X-Ionizer#X-Ionizer) depleted Promethium (https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Promethium_%28comics%29#DC_Comics).

That's pretty much it. Bullets, swords, claws, you can make anything with it.