No Precious Metal: 10 Characters With Wolverine’s Adamantium
Image source: Amazon
Believe it or not, Wolverine is not the only mutant, superhero, or supervillain with adamantium or attachment bonding on their body. Wolverine is the most popular Marvel character with adamantium, but far from the only one. In fact, there are over 10 characters in Marvel Comics who have the precious metal in or on their body.
In the comic books, Professor Kenji Oyama, also known as Lord Dark Wind, is responsible for inventing the adamantium-to-human bone bonding process. Lord Dark Wind made his first appearance in Daredevil #169 in 1981. The bonding process would be used on Wolverine and numerous other characters, and to make weapons in Marvel Comics lore.
Adamantium as an alloy made its first appearance in Avengers #66 in 1969. Adamantium made its introduction as the indestructible outer shell of Ultron. This stronger upgrade of Ultron made it a greater challenge for the Avengers to fight. (Ultron made a cameo appearance in Avengers #54 before its full character introduction in Avengers #55 in 1968.)
The point is that many characters in Marvel Comics, besides Wolverine, have benefited, directly or indirectly, from adamantium itself or the bonding process. Here are 10 characters besides Wolverine who have adamantium in or on their body.
1. Bullseye
Current MCU fans know actor Wilson Bethel portrays Bullseye on the Disney+ show Daredevil Born Again. (Colin Farrell was the first to play Bullseye in 2003’s Daredevil.) However, the character is almost 50 years old. Bullseye made his first appearance in Daredevil #131 in 1976. Bullseye is a master marksman and assassin born with the innate ability to hit anything he aims at. He can use any object he can throw as a lethal weapon.
After stabbing Elektra, Daredevil beats Bullseye badly and paralyzes him in an early 1980s storyline. Lord Dark Wind takes an interest in Bullseye and takes him to Japan. Bullseye undergoes an operation that bonds trace amounts of adamantium to his spine, skull, and strategic areas on his arm and leg bones.
While Bullseye does not have a healing factor, he has a high tolerance for pain. This allows him to survive the operation and take advantage of its adamantium-enabling benefits.
2. Ultron
Ultron is a sentient and malevolent A.I. with a prejudiced God Complex over human beings. He is an Avengers villain known for being almost indestructible. Ultron made his debut via cameo in The Avengers #54 in 1968. His ultimate goal is the complete eradication of the human race.
Ultron’s body is made of adamantium. Every time the Avengers defeat Ultron, Ultron improves its programming, upgrades its body, and becomes an even greater threat to defeat.
Age of Ultron Companion is a 200-page paperback that collects all of the tie-in series of the Age of Ultron comic book event. Buy it now on Amazon for $15.95.
3. Cyber
Silas Burr is a mysterious mutant. He was a former agent for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in 1912. He made his debut in Marvel Comics Presents #85 in 1991. Cyber is an X-Men villain known for mainly fighting Wolverine.
Burr underwent a process where adamantium was bonded directly to his skin, except for his face. His skin is now indestructible. Instead of claws, he has adamantium talons hidden in each finger. In a recent Wolverine storyline, Wolverine and Cyber got access to Gold Adamantium, a new mythical upgrade of Adamantium.
4. Lady Deathstrike
Yuriko Oyama is the daughter of Kenji Oyama, also known as Lord Dark Wind. Yuriko made her debut in Daredevil #197 in 1983. She became a samurai warrior to try to uphold the honor of her father, whose adamantium bonding notes were stolen for international benefit.
Yuriko had the precious metal bonding process attach adamantium to her skeleton. She can now extend long and sharp adamantium claws from her fingers.
5. Sabretooth
Victor Creed is a psychopathic mutant with the powers of rapid reflexes and healing factor. He is a mercenary like Wolverine, and has a past as mysterious and complex as Wolverine’s, too. Wolverine and Sabretooth are not brothers, despite online fan confusion and theories.
In the comic books, Sabretooth has undergone the process of bonding adamantium to his skeleton. However, it has only been a temporary process each time. Sabretooth made his first comic book appearance in Iron Fist #14 in 1977.
6. Donald Pierce
Donald Pierce is a racist who hates mutants the most in the comics. The character has had numerous cybernetic enhancement installations in his body. He has bionic enhancements in his body that include the precious metal adamantium.
Pierce is the paramilitary leader of the Reavers, a pro-human idealist group that believes that mutants should not exist. Actor Boyd Halbrook portrays the character in 2017’s Logan. Pierce made his first comic book appearance in The Uncanny X-Men #132 in 1980.
7. The Russian
Ivan Vassilovitch Dragovsky, also known as The Russian, is a fan favorite mercenary, assassin, and tough guy in Marvel Comics. Former wrestler and actor Kevin Nash portrayed the character in 2004’s The Punisher, starring Thomas Jane. Billy Clements would portray the character in 2024’s Deadpool and Wolverine.
The Russian was originally a strong mercenary with an incredible sense of smell. A scientist would fuse adamantium to the Russian’s skeleton and replace his organs with the organs of animals. The Russian made his debut in The Punisher #8 in 2000 during Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s legendary run.
8. X-23
Laura Kinney, also known as X-23, is the successful 23rd attempt to clone the damaged cell samples of Wolverine. However, unlike Wolverine, X-23 has never undergone the full adamantium bonding process. X-23 has two claws with adamantium plating in her forearms and one claw with adamantium plating in each foot. However, her skeleton has no adamantium bonding.
9. Constrictor
Frank Payne was a former minor supervillain in Marvel Comics. Payne wore a costume with a snake theme. He had indestructible adamantium coils on his wrists that could extend for over 30 feet. Constrictor’s adamantium coils were capable of temporarily restraining and lifting the Hulk.
10. Romulus
Romulus is an ancient mutant and supervillain in X-Men comics. He is thousands of years old. Romulus. He is an ancient human who evolved from canines instead of primates. Romulus has a rapid healing factor, a skeleton with adamantium, telepathy, and super strength. He is also a conniver who can spend years or centuries working on schemes.
Romulus is a constant Wolverine villain. He may have been scheming and manipulating people in Wolverine’s bloodline for centuries. After the death of Wolverine’s wife, Itsu, in 1940, Romulus would remove Daken, Wolverine’s unborn son, to raise as an assassin.
Valuable Comics With the Precious Metal Adamantium
If you’re in the market for investing in key comic books that feature characters and references to adamantium, then you have a lot of affordable options to choose from.
Ultron’s first full character appearance in Avengers #55 is a vital key comic. A copy of this comic with a 9.8 CGC grade is worth $3,650 on the collectibles market
Avengers #66 features the first appearance of adamantium as a substance. A 9.8 CGC copy of this issue is worth $1,700. If you can afford it, get this comic. The MCU will launch the Mutant Saga in the coming decade.
With no disrespect to the great Hugh Jackman, a new Wolverine will be cast in the coming decade. I would want to have Avengers #66 in my portfolio when that happens.
This post includes affiliate links. If you purchase anything through these affiliated links, the author/website may earn a commission.
You May Also Like…
- When Storm Fought Cyclops for Control of The X-Men
- The 8 Most Underrated Female First‑Appearance Key Comics — Invest Before the Market Catches On
- 9 Reasons You Don’t Want Wolverine’s Powers
- 10 Reasons Mr. Terrific is the Smartest Man Alive
- Why Namor Deserves Recognition as the First Flying Superhero in Comic Books
Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College and has decades of experience in comic investing and personal finance. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen now focuses on comic book reviews, collectible investments, and helping others collect and enjoy comics.