DC's Version of Vibranium, Nth Metal, Finally Makes Sense
Nth metal has always been a wildly unique yet confusing part of DC lore, and now the Phantom Stranger has set the record straight as to what it is!
Warning: Spoilers for Are You Afraid of Darkseid? #1!
In the world of comics, DC’s version of Marvel’s vibranium, Nth metal, is a mysterious substance that has finally been made sense of by the equally as mysterious character called Phantom Stranger. Best known as being utilized by the superhero pair of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, DC has let slip that there’s far more to this rare alloy than fans could ever have thought, something that’s been a long time coming for seasoned comic readers and casual fans alike.
Revealed as part of the spooky one-shot titled Are You Afraid of Darkseid? #1, “The Endless Staircase,” written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, and illustrated by Jesus Hervas, touches on the idea of Nth metal during a scary story session hosted by the Teen Titans. Each spinning a spine-chilling yarn set against the backdrop of the DC Universe as they hang out around a campfire, Robin, Crush, Red Arrow, Kid Flash, Roundhouse, and Aqualad spend the night one-upping each other to terrifying ends.
Told with a creepy sense of foreboding charm that only Kid Flash is capable of, Flash recounts a story about DC’s paranormal — and highly mysterious — character of Phantom Stranger, and how he has been subtly involved in the comings and goings of the universe for centuries. Utilizing a cosmic staircase that calls people to “come home,” Phantom Stranger’s story kicks things off by directly addressing the idea of Nth metal and where it came from.
Long associated with a race of people hailing from the far-off world of Thanagar, this tale sees Stranger comment on the very nature of Nth metal as a “metal from heaven.” Visiting a blacksmith in a time long since past as he crafts an Nth metal blade of untold power, Stranger arrives on the scene as “God had called his metal back,” filling in a few blanks in Nth metal’s history in the process. Saying that the blacksmith “called it enth, which in their father tongue meant infinite,” the narration gives reason for the admittedly odd “Nth” name, as the substance was originally thought to link to the idea of being a “ninth” metal. Further adding that “in it he found all things,” the narration refers to the idea that Nth metal’s very nature might allow it to tap into the multiversal energies of reality itself, readily giving fans a reason for its unfathomable power and abilities.
Mentioned above that Nth metal holds ties to the Thanagarian race of people, this alloy is most often used as a means to negate gravity and help its wielders fly. Much like vibranium, Nth metal is extremely strong, durable, and somewhat rare in its supply, but has also been known to hold abilities that far exceed anything vibranium is capable of. Able to effectively protect its user from deadly environmental conditions, act as a formidable weapon, absorb energy, literally morph its shape according to the situation at hand, negate magic, and even warp reality if used properly, Nth metal has always been a mysterious material that has now added god-level power to its ever-growing repertoire.
So while there’s still a lot to learn about Nth metal and what it’s truly capable of, a scary story highlighting some new wrinkles in its lore is a great place to start. The Phantom Stranger might still be a mystery on his own, but Nth metal’s place in the grand tapestry of the DC Universe just got a little bit clearer.