Warning: contains spoilers for Wolverine #4For decades now, the iconic X-Men heroWolverinehas fought tooth and nail against his many enemies using his nigh-indestructible claws, which are coated in the infamous metal “adamantium.” However, after years of shifting Wolverine lore, Marvel finally reintroduces themythological golden Adamantine metalinWolverine#4, changing Logan’s mythos forever ashis adamantium skeleton is given a major upgrade.
Marvel’s current run ofWolverinehas seen thevillains Cyber, Constrictor, and Lady Deathstrike- all enemies of Logan known for their adamantium bodies -all taken over by the gold Adamantine, which seemingly can control their minds and bodies.
Wolverine#4, from writer Saladin Ahmed with artists Martín Cóccolo and Bryan Valenza, sees Logan battling first Constrictor, and then Lady Deathstrike, who both have golden Adamantine upgrades, before theAdamantine latches onto Wolverine as well,coating his skeleton in its golden metal, and speaking to him in a mysterious voice that feels “primal and ancient.”
The real question is, “Whose voice is Logan hearing in his head, and who or what exactly is the Adamantine?”
“An Answer To Your Claws”: Wolverine Lore Officially Introduces an Unbreakable Metal Better Than Adamantium
X-Men’s new era has made some huge changes to mutant lore, but perhaps the biggest is that Wolverine’s adamantium claws now have a deadly equal.
Marvel Is Bringing Back The Mythological Golden Adamantine
This godly metal first debuted 60 years ago
The name of Marvel’s “adamantium” metal is derived from the Greek “adamantine,” and used by various Gods to create weapons or other devices throughout real-world mythology. Marvel’s mythological golden Adamantine shares a similar history, first debuting in 1965’sJourney into Mystery Annual#1, with the Olympian god Hephaestus crafting a magical Golden Mace for Hercules. Since then, gold Adamantine -commonly referred to as the Metal of the Gods- has not played a large role in the mythos of Earth-616, but has factored heavily into the history of Wolverine from Eath-12025.
Wolverine & Hercules: Marvel’s Most Badass Love Story
Wolverine and Hercules fought in the pits of hell for their love, after being banished by a hypocritical Zeus in an alternate Marvel universe.
This version of Wolverine, known simply as Howlett, was gifted golden Adamantine by his godly lover Hercules before it was grafted onto his skeleton to upgrade his power. Interestingly,Howlett did not seem to be “controlled” by any outside force while using his Adamantine claws, and in fact, he was given a low telepathic resistance because of the metal’s mythological properties. The true strength of Adamantine was shown when Hercules went up against Thor, with his Golden Mace able to deflect the powerful Mjolnir, a weapon that has dented and damaged regular adamantium in the past. When the Adamantine overtook Lady Deathstrike inWolverine#3, it became clear that whatever Adamantine is, it is disgusted by the “unworthy, false metal” adamantium, and is attempting to transform all adamantium into its “superior” Adamantine form.
Is Wolverine Destined To Fight The Gods Of Olympus?
The golden Adamantine seems to have a celestial master…
So… who or what is the Adamantine, and is it somehow connected to the Olympian Gods of Marvel? Golden Adamantine is most known for being used by Hephaestus, and it would be fascinating if this is how the beings of Olympus were reintroduced into Marvel’s mythos. The Olympians have not been seen since they were reborn as the Dark Olympians, bent on destroying the universe, only to be stopped by Star-Lord and the Guardians inGuardians of the Galaxy(2020) #12.These dark gods were banished from Earth-616, but the Gods always return, and what better way than by creating an army of Adamantine-laced warriors they are able to control?
The resilientWolverinewill need to resist the call of the mythological golden Adamantine if he hopes to keep control of his mind and body, butregardless of whether Logan’s golden claws are permanent, it seems like this new adamantium replacement may change the hero’s lore forever.
Wolverine
The human mutant Wolverine (a.k.a. Logan) was born James Howlett, blessed with a superhuman healing factor, senses, and physiology. Subjecting himself to experimentation to augment his skeleton and claws with adamantium, Logan is as deadly as he is reckless, impulsive, and short-tempered. Making him the X-Men’s wildest and deadliest member, and one of Marvel Comics' biggest stars. He’s played in Fox and Marvel’s movie franchises by Hugh Jackman.
