Captain America: Brave New World’s Adamantium Tease Sets Up More Than Wolverine

When Captain America: Brave New World‘s trailer dropped the word “adamantium,” fans went wild about the MCU finally teasing Wolverine’s arrival. After all, the indestructible metal is famously bonded to the mutant hero’s skeleton in Marvel Comics, making its introduction seem like an obvious setup for the X-Men’s most popular character, and the mutants as a whole. However, as Brave New World reveals, adamantium’s emergence carries far deeper consequences for a different corner of the MCU. The discovery of this legendary metal within the remains of the Celestial Tiamut triggers a geopolitical crisis that threatens to reshape the balance of power between nations – particularly challenging Wakanda’s longstanding technological supremacy.

WARNING: Spoilers below for Captain America: Brave New World!

Following the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Wakanda shoulders blame for Talokan’s attacks on global facilities, choosing to protect Namor’s (Tenoch Huerta Mejía) underwater kingdom at the cost of their diplomatic standing. This sacrifice transformed Wakanda’s image from the technological paradise T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) revealed to the world into a perceived military threat. Wakanda Forever has also shown how, under CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) unethical policies, Western nations have intensified their efforts to acquire Vibranium through any means necessary. This aggressive stance culminated in various attempts to steal Vibranium, as well as dangerous deep-sea mining operations that ultimately led to contact with Talokan.

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President Ross (Harrison Ford) seizes upon these tensions in Brave New World, strategically positioning adamantium as a counterweight to Wakanda’s influence. During a crucial presentation to world leaders, Ross emphasizes how adamantium surpasses Vibranium in strength while pointedly noting that it won’t be controlled by “an isolationist nation.” His rhetoric transforms Adamantium from merely a new resource into a symbol of technological independence from Wakanda’s influence. Moreover, Ross’ emphasis on international cooperation for Adamantium distribution directly challenges Wakanda’s historically restrictive Vibranium policies, suggesting a future where multiple nations possess metal-based technology rivaling Wakandan achievements.

How Adamantium Reshapes the Power Dynamics of Black Panther 3

The introduction of Adamantium in Captain America: Brave New World fundamentally alters the dynamic established in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Wakanda’s monopoly on advanced metallurgical technology forced other nations to either accept their terms or resort to criminal means of acquisition. With Adamantium’s emergence, countries previously dependent on negotiating with Wakanda now have an alternative path to technological advancement. With Shuri (Letitia Wright) focusing on her role as Black Panther rather than ruling Wakanda, it falls to M’Baku’s (Winston Duke) leadership to steer the nation through this geopolitical shift while also dealing with Wakanda’s internal changes.

The economic implications stretch far beyond simple resource competition. The U.S. military stands to gain unprecedented technological capabilities, potentially gaining the ability to stand against enhanced superheroes. That means Valentina’s CIA could finally achieve its goal of matching Wakandan military technology without requiring covert operations. More significantly, Ross’s emphasis on international cooperation for Adamantium distribution suggests a future where multiple nations possess metal-based technology (and weapons) rivaling Wakanda’s.

Namor’s warning about the inevitable conflict between Talokan and the surface world also takes on new significance with Adamantium’s emergence. The discovery within Tiamut’s remains introduces a new variable into the complex relationship between Wakanda, Talokan, and other nations, who now have the power to face or even invade the African Kingdom. The situation becomes even more intricate considering Wakanda’s secret alliance with Talokan, as they might need to unite against a world armed with this new metal, just as Namor predicted they would.

These elements combine to set up Black Panther 3 as a potential exploration of how Wakanda navigates this technological upheaval. The nation that once revealed itself to share Vibranium’s benefits must now adapt to a world where its signature resource may no longer guarantee its security or influence. With Adamantium’s emergence challenging Vibranium’s supremacy, both M’Baku and Shuri (and T’Challa?) face decisions that will define Wakanda’s future role in an increasingly complex global landscape.

How do you think Adamantium will change the MCU after its Captain America: Brave New World introduction? Do you think we are bound to witness a Vibranium vs Adamantium war at some point? Share your thoughts in the comments!