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Quote1 The most versatile substance on the planet, and they used it to make a frisbee. Quote2
Ultron[src]

History

Origin[]

Vibranium is a rare metallic ore with energy-manipulating properties. Theorized to have been first deposited on Earth by a meteorite 1,000,000 years ago,[4] the material has long been hypothesized - by many scientists who have had ample chance to study it - to be extraterrestrial in origin. Captain Marvel inadvertently proved this theory to be true during a scuffle between survivors of the Builders' attack and the Spartax Empire who had relocated them to Torfa where the latter had begun poisoning the planet and the refugee population by using an unsafe technique to secretly mine Vibranium for use in rebuilding their fleets. However, although Vibranium was once mined on a number of planets, all of those mines have apparently been exhausted. As a result, aside from the planets Earth and Torfa, there are no known stores of Vibranium left in the Milky Way Galaxy.[5]

There are said to be five different types of vibranium found on Earth, including three known varieties and a few unknown others.[6] Two of the best-known isotopes are Wakandan Vibranium and Antarctic Vibranium.[7]

Modern Day[]

If tempered properly through a mix of magic and science, Vibranium can amplify mystical energies. The material becomes highly unstable when used this way, because it taps into an energy flow on the quantum level that is virtually infinite. If someone was able to master the secret of using magically charged vibranium, they would become immensely powerful.[8] Dr. Doom utilized this property in his latest scheme for ultimate power, nearly crippling King T'Challa as a preemptive measure while seeding the citizens of Wakanda with nanites, turning the secret city's people into his ultimate spy network/hostage cache.[9] At the same time, he secretly aided the xenophobic dissident Desturi sect with their uprising, and attempted overthrow of the royal family, while he stole the mother load of Vibranium from right beneath the city.[10] When the meteor fell to earth over Africa thousands of years ago, it was largely thought that the majority of which had fallen squarely into Wakandan territory. In reality however it was found that unprocessed Vibranium exists in microscopic form across the entire world as the meteorite had seeded the earth in trace particles of it.[11] Through which Doctor Doom could temporarily assume total control over the planet's very biosphere via the transplant of said ambient alien metal scattered across the environment in most every piece of building material in every civilized corner of the globe in order to fashion makeshift Doombots out of Vibranium particulate matter with a thought.[11] After the war, all the processed Vibranium on Earth had been rendered inert by a Shadow Physics designed pulse bomb, using Doom's new mystically charged Vibranium armor as a focal point to broadcast it across the world. With the continuum-wide reset resulting in the aftermath of the death and rebirth of the Multiverse Vibranium has also been restored to the planet. As the mutant criminal Vanisher attempted to make off with stolen Vibranium to sell on the black market in New York City.[12]

Vibranium Sickness[]

Mining Vibranium can have a negative impact on the health of both those mining it and others living in proximity to the mines. Aside from the mutagenic effect that the radiation from unprocessed ore can have on nearby lifeforms, some mining techniques create toxic by-products that can seep into local groundwater and poison those who drink it. The resulting "Vibranium sickness" can be fatal if not correctly identified and properly treated. However, until recent events on Torfa, Vibranium sickness was considered to be an archaic miners' disease because advancements in mining techniques had wiped it out a century ago.[5]

Variations[]

Wakanda from Marvel Atlas Vol 1 2 001

Map and flag of Wakanda

Wakandan Vibranium[]

Mena Ngai from Black Panther Vol 1 7

Wakandan Vibranium also known as Vibranium A, is found almost exclusively in the tiny African nation of Wakanda.[13][7]

In the distant past, a massive meteorite comprised of the sound-absorbing mineral Vibranium crashed into the land that would later become Wakanda and was unearthed a generation before the events of the present-day. One of the local tribes, led by Olumo Bashenga, its mightiest warrior, decided to investigate the site, believing the meteorite to be a gift from the gods. When they reached the crater, they found that the material vibrated on its own and decided it would be useful to forge into weapons. However, the radiation the meteorite gave off also had a side effect, turning some of the tribesman into "Demon Spirits". Bashenga prayed to the Panther God to give him the strength to defeat these demons becoming the first "Black Panther" and united the tribes to form the nation of Wakanda. His lineage would later rule the country for centuries.[14]

Vibranium radiation has permeated much of Wakanda's flora and fauna, including the Heart-Shaped Herb eaten by members of the Black Panther Cult, and the flesh of the White Apes eaten by the members of the White Gorilla Cult.[14] Members of the Panther tribe who consume the herb are instinctively tied to the Vibranium, able to sense whenever it is taken out of their country by illicit means.[15]

Wakandan Vibranium absorbs vibratory or kinetic energy in its vicinity within itself.[7] When focused on the molecular level, it can even sap the energy that binds particles together causing matter to disintegrate.[16] The apparent observable vibratory rate of the molecules of the Vibranium itself does not noticeably increase when the Vibranium absorbs mechanical energy.[7] The outside vibratory energy is stored within the bonds between the molecules making up the Vibranium.[7] As a result, a chunk of Vibranium which had absorbed a considerable amount of vibratory energy would be exceedingly hard to demolish.[7] If enough force were applied to this chunk to smash it, the Vibranium would explode, releasing much of the absorbed energy.[7] There are limits to the capacity of Vibranium to absorb vibratory energy, although the exact extent of these limits has not been determined.[7][17]

For example, in recent years the oil conglomerate Roxxon discovered that a certain small island in the South Atlantic had a foundation composed of Wakandan Vibranium. Roxxon found it necessary to destroy the island and blew it up with bombs. Unable to absorb the force of the explosion, the Vibranium was destroyed, but it did succeed in entirely absorbing the sound made by the explosion, which prevented damage to the surrounding area.[18]

It is only in recent years that the outside world has learned of the existence of Wakandan Vibranium, although its existence has been rumored for decades. In the early 1940's a small amount of Wakandan Vibranium came into the possession of the young, brilliant scientist Dr. Myron MacLain.[19] Dr. MacLain began to develop super-strong metals for the US Government at the beginning of World War II.[19] While experimenting with various alloys for use as tank armor, he accidentally created the disk shield by combining Wakandan Vibranium, steel alloy and a unknown third catalyst.[19] Although he was never able to duplicate the alloy, after several decades of continued experiments, MacLain finally produced the formula for True Adamantium for the US Government.[20]

Sometime later the renegade scientist Ulysses Klaw, who believed the rumors of Vibranium to be true, found the great "sacred mound" of Vibranium in Wakanda. The king of Wakanda had guarded the mound for generations as a sacred trust. Klaw failed in his attempt to steal Vibranium from the mound but killed the king T'Chaka. T'Chaka's son, T'Challa, became the new king of the Wakandans and adopted the sacred guise of the Black Panther. T'Challa strove to end Wakanda's isolation from the rest of the world. He made the existence of Vibranium known to the greater world and sold small quantities of it to foreigners whom he believed would not turn it to harmful ends. This proved to be a hugely lucrative enterprise: Wakandan Vibranium is sold at $10,000 per gram, and the country's sacred mound is estimated to hold about 10,000 tons of the material. The gross net worth of a Vibranium bench alone is equivalent to $20,000,000.[13] T'Challa used the profits from these sales to enrich and modernize his nation.[13][21]

Anti-Metal[]

Antarctic Vibranium , also known as Vibranium B or S.L.V (Savage Land Vibranium), has thus far been found only in the isolated region of Antarctica known as the Savage Land.[22][7] It is also known as Anti-Metal due to its opposite effects to Wakandan Vibranium.[7] Antarctic Vibranium, through a means that is not understood, emanates vibrations which cause the atomic and molecular bonds in nearby metals of other kinds to weaken, which results in the liquefaction of nearby solid metals.[23][7] Savage Land Vibranium also produces protective counter vibrations which can throw off sonic attacks, its unique properties can also be used to create dimensional apertures to other realities with the right vibrational attunement.[24]

A particularly influential noble partook of this mystery element, fashioning it into a family crest which served as a key to their most sacred treasure, The Plunder Stone.[25] with this rock the family patriarch hoped to do some good with it, even fashioning a Medallion out of the metal and imparting it onto his two sons. His more duplicitous heir chose to abuse its power for criminal endeavors, fashioning a weapon out of it which melts all forms of munitions used against him.[26]

Over the years, the Antarctic variety has become much more prolific on the global stage. A mercenary looking to utilize Anti-Metal as a terrorist weapon in satellite espionage discovered it had mutagenic properties, giving him similar alloy melting properties in the mesh suit he wore.[27] At a trial overseen by She-Hulk, a trading company's mismanagement of which lead to the collapse of one of their storage complexes, revealing that human exposure to it can also be deadly, as Anti-Metal's vibrations can dissolve the iron content in the blood, causing any manner of health deficiencies because of it.[28] Due to its metal slagging properties Anti-Metal is next to impossible to properly fashion. But a war-criminal scientist found and perfected a means to fashion it into useful munitions yet kept the secret to himself.[29]

While a largely theoretical practice, it is possible to transform Wakandan Vibranium into Antarctic Vibranium. A fraction of the sacred mound of Wakandan Vibranium was converted to Antarctic Vibranium by particle bombardment, specifically through Gigawatt Baryon Beams produced by a massive cyclotron apparatus. Alternating the differentiating isotope that separates Wakandan Vibranium from Antarctic Vibranium.[30] Turning one of its Vibranium deposits into a massive Anti-Metal mound which threatened the mega-structure of the eastern hemisphere and the entire world at large.

During the Vibranium Vendetta story-line, an unstable form of Vibranium called Nuform was created by Roxxon that would quickly degenerate into Anti-Metal if not regularly bombarded with Microwave Radiation.[31] When Wakandan Vibranium was left inert during the Doomwar, Princess Regent Shuri ventured to the Savage Land in order to procure some Antarctic Vibranium. It was revealed that Klaw had struck an accord with A.I.M in order to procure a defense system liquidating mind control device called Scream, which he could utilize through the power of a similarly soniokinetic superbeing called M.U.S.I.C..[32]

Reverbium[]

Reverbium is an artificial variant of Vibranium that was created by Sajani Jaffrey after most of the world's Vibranium was rendered inert. This variant is imperfect, so rather than absorbing vibrational and kinetic energy, it does the opposite and pushes it away, making it a powerful weapon even in small amounts.[33] All of the existing Reverbium has been seemingly destroyed to avoid its use as a dangerous weapon, after the Hobgoblin stole some of it for the Kingpin. It was revealed later that Sajani had kept some bits of said faux material for further study at Horizon Labs until its abrupt destruction and dissolution.[34]

One of the flaws of Reverbium, is that while the metal itself is incredibly potent, its atomic structure is highly unstable, making it less resilient than pure Vibranium. The right particle bombardment can send its subatomic structure crumbling into dust.[35]

It is later revealed that some A.I.M scientists were working on recreating more of the substance for their own purposes under the influence of Klaw when he returned.[36] Ulysses learned that Reverbium could be used to amplify his powers to unfathomable degrees, further enabling his control over sound even greater range and effect.[37] He intended to use this aspect in order revive his unresponsive sister Julia to a semblance of life by recreating her as a soniokinetic entity mimicking himself via neuropsychic energy transfer.[38]

Living Vibranium[]

Discovered by the Dora Milaje and then refined by once famous Wakandan scientist, Obinna Nwabueze. His delving into the subatomic structure of vibranium yielded results in the form of semi-sentient consciousness within it, resulting in truly self-reliant smart metal that could fend for itself.[39] What many people didn't know, even a great many living within Wakanda, was that sentient Vibranium wasn't manufactured at all. It is a naturally recurring ore sitting within a cave near the great mound called the Echo Chamber, which was turned into a training site reserved and utilized for militia conditioning by the Dora Milaje. Said vibranium responded to resonation with mimicry and often responded best if the recipient using it was one of the Adored Ones, whom having spent years honing themselves within the echo chamber, absorbed some of it through their skin.[40] This Sentient Vibranium proved too volatile however, as the inner self mimicked the user down to its core while also growing a persona of its own. Left unchecked said materia could go on a rampage either of its own accord,[41] or if exposed to an errant personality.[42]

Said vibranium's abilities are vast, since it knows itself within as well as without; able to harmoniously attune to nature around itself to cause all manner of impossible phenomena to occur. I.E. tremors, irregular animal behavior, casting of illusions and syncing directly with other vibranium caches to trigger all of these effects.[41] The Dora's found a way to control it through use of Treated Vibranium in the form of drums or small pieces of which kept within their spears. Once done somebody could command it to act on the instrument carrier's behalf.[43] Both treated and living varieties of Vibranium throw out vibrations instead of absorbing them, through which a user can open a portal to an extra dimension linked to the quasi-consciousness of the Mimic-27 through the echo chamber. Only those who have trained there can access it however, and the Sentient Vibranium will create mimicries of anyone who enters as a defense mechanism.[40] Whenever new recruits practice in the cave with the control device housing the mimic, it seemingly faces the advocate with an almost psychometric projection of themselves; entailing the Living Vibranium situated within the cave has clairvoyant properties, showing those who take the test premonitions of their own future.[42]

Captain America's Shield 001

Captain America's Shield

Known Uses[]

Alternate Reality Versions

Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999)[]

Ultimate Avengers: The Movie (Earth-3488)[]

On Earth-3488, Vibranium is a metal used by the alien race called the Chitauri. A portion of it was recovered by S.H.I.E.L.D. after an attempted nuclear attack on Washington, D.C.. From what their researchers could determine, it absorbed energy like a sponge and could take multiple hits. The only way to pierce the metal barring a nuclear blast was more of the metal. S.H.I.E.L.D. had enough Vibranium to create the shield later used by Captain America. S.H.I.E.L.D. constructed a satellite that could detect Vibranium, but it was destroyed by the Chitauri soon after deployment.[76]

Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther (Earth-60808)[]

On Earth-60808, large amounts of Vibranium were found in Wakanda. Dr. Bruce Banner discovered that during a previous Chitauri attack, the Hulk had been able to smash through the Vibranium plated Chitauri ships without any effort. Because of this, he discovered that Vibranium turns brittle when exposed to gamma radiation.[77]

Notes

  • Vibranium is not as hard or dense as Adamantium, but it is still very durable.[62] It is also naturally occurring and thus easier to acquire in significant quantities, unlike adamantium which must be produced artificially.

Trivia

  • The Inhumans have their own word for Vibranium.[78]
  • In the novelization of Iron Man 2, the New Element created by Tony Stark to replace Palladium in the arc reactor is called Vibranium. This information would later be invalidated by Captain America: The First Avenger, where Vibranium is shown as a rare metal already existing in the 1940s.
  • Captain America's Vibranium shield was once imperfectly reassembled on a molecular level - a molecular imperfection that led to the development of a unique form of elemental cancer. This "Vibranium Cancer", so named by Tony Stark, thus led to the shattering of Captain America's shield. His shield's atomic composition would be "healed" and restored via a sonic blast from Ulysses Klaw. [79]
  • T'Challa speculates that Vibranium originated from one of the past multiversal renewals.[80]

See Also

Links and References

References

  1. Tales to Astonish #97
  2. Fantastic Force #15
  3. Empyre: X-Men #1
  4. Avengers (Vol. 8) #4
  5. 5.0 5.1 Captain Marvel (Vol. 8) #5
  6. Doomwar #3
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #14
  8. Doomwar #1
  9. Black Panther (Vol. 5) #912
  10. Doomwar #23
  11. 11.0 11.1 Doomwar #6
  12. Black Panther: World of Wakanda #6
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Fantastic Four #53
  14. 14.0 14.1 Black Panther #7
  15. Rise of the Black Panther #2
  16. Rise of the Black Panther #3
  17. Defenders #86
  18. Iron Man #120121
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Captain America #303
  20. Captain America #302303
  21. 21.0 21.1 Black Panther (Vol. 3) #1
  22. Klaws of the Panther #3
  23. Savage Tales #1
  24. Ka-Zar (Vol. 2) #1415
  25. Daredevil #13
  26. Daredevil #14
  27. 27.0 27.1 Marc Spector: Moon Knight #51
  28. She-Hulk #1
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 Venom (Vol. 2) #1
  30. Iron Man Annual #5
  31. Amazing Spider-Man Annual #25
  32. 32.0 32.1 Klaws of the Panther #14
  33. Amazing Spider-Man #648
  34. Superior Spider-Man #19
  35. Black Panther #171
  36. Black Panther #166167
  37. Black Panther #168
  38. Black Panther #169
  39. Black Panther: Long Live The King #5
  40. 40.0 40.1 Wakanda Forever Avengers #1
  41. 41.0 41.1 Black Panther: Long Live The King #12
  42. 42.0 42.1 Wakanda Forever: X-Men #1
  43. 43.0 43.1 Amazing Spider-Man: Wakanda Forever #1
  44. Daredevil #1314
  45. Ka-Zar (Vol. 2) #14
  46. Avengers: The Ultron Imperative #1
  47. War Machine (Vol. 2) #9
  48. Over the Edge #6
  49. Uncanny X-Men #475
  50. New X-Men (Vol. 2) #42
  51. X-Men Divided We Stand #1
  52. Namor, the Sub-Mariner #5254
  53. 53.0 53.1 Amazing Spider-Man #351
  54. Weapon X: The Draft - Agent Zero #1
  55. Moon Knight (Vol. 6) #4
  56. Daughters of the Dragon #16
  57. Captain America and the Falcon #6
  58. Captain America (Vol. 7) #1325
  59. Avengers: Rage of Ultron #1
  60. Marvel Boy (Vol. 2) #4
  61. Black Panther (Vol. 4) #1
  62. 62.0 62.1 Gambit (Vol. 3) #17
  63. Gambit (Vol. 3) #11
  64. New X-Men (Vol. 2) #27
  65. Venom (Vol. 2) #2
  66. Venom (Vol. 2) #3
  67. Darkstar and the Winter Guard #1
  68. Darkstar and the Winter Guard #2
  69. Darkstar and the Winter Guard #3
  70. Weapon X (Vol. 3) #1
  71. 71.0 71.1 Black Panther #166
  72. 72.0 72.1 72.2 72.3 Marauders #13
  73. Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S1E08
  74. Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S1E22
  75. Avengers: Age of Ultron
  76. Ultimate Avengers: The Movie
  77. Ultimate Avengers 2 (film)
  78. Earth X #3
  79. Captain America (Vol. 3) #21
  80. Last Annihilation: Wakanda #1
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