From ancient Egypt to the vast reaches of the Multiverse, few materials in the DC Universe possess the sheer mythical weight and cosmic power of Nth Metal. Known by several names—Ninth Metal, Dark Metal, Metal Bleed, and even Gold of Legacy—this enigmatic substance is the heart of many of DC’s most profound stories. Found originally on Thanagar, the homeworld of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, Nth Metal has evolved into more than just a fictional element—it’s a legendary force that shapes fate, power, and even life itself. Let’s dive deep into The Power and Mystery of Nth Metal in the DC Universe.
The Origins of Nth Metal: From Thanagar to Earth
Nth Metal first appeared in Flash Comics #1 (1940) and has since become a cornerstone of the Hawkman and Hawkgirl mythos. Created by Paran Katar, a Thanagarian scientist, the metal is native to Thanagar, a planet renowned for its advanced technology and warrior culture.
Its first known contact with Earth happened in ancient Egypt, when a Thanagarian spaceship carrying Nth Metal crash-landed. This ship was discovered by Prince Khufu and Chay-Ara, who became linked to the metal’s power. Exposure to Nth Metal didn’t just grant them abilities—it bound their souls into a cycle of reincarnation, one of the most compelling supernatural concepts in the DC universe.
In the modern era, Khufu and Chay-Ara are reborn as Carter Hall (Hawkman) and Shiera Saunders (Hawkgirl). Paran Katar himself assisted them in crafting their signature Nth Metal belts, making it the source of their strength, flight, and immortality.
Nth Metal’s Physical Properties and Core Abilities
While it appears metallic, Nth Metal is anything but ordinary. It defies the known laws of physics, capable of influencing gravity, healing, and even time. Let’s break down its most prominent features:
1. Gravity Negation and Flight
One of the most well-known traits of Nth Metal is its anti-gravity property, which allows users to fly unaided. A belt, armor, or even wings made of Nth Metal can lift a person and maneuver through the skies effortlessly. It also allows users to carry objects up to 70 times heavier than normal.
2. Enhanced Strength and Durability
Nth Metal enhances the physical strength and resilience of its wearer. Characters like Hawkman and Hawkgirl display superhuman feats not just because of training, but due to the metal augmenting their abilities. It can withstand intense heat, frigid cold, and even the vacuum of space.
3. Self-Sustenance
Nth Metal can generate a heat aura to keep the wearer alive in extreme environments, including deep space and the Arctic. This means the user doesn’t require food, water, or even breathable air for survival—at least for extended periods.
The Symbiosis of Metal and Soul
Perhaps what makes Nth Metal so uniquely compelling is how it bonds with its user. It’s not just armor or a tool—it becomes an extension of the wearer:
1. Symbiosis and Adaptation
Nth Metal integrates with the user’s body, augmenting their reflexes, agility, and even restoring lost physical attributes. Over time, it seems to “learn” and adapt to the user’s needs, developing new features or enhancing existing ones.
2. Metamorphosis and Weaponization
Weapons and armor made from Nth Metal can reshape and evolve. Hawkman’s mace, for instance, can fly into his hands, change shape, or create adaptive defenses. The material can also morph into energy-based constructs, such as Hawkgirl’s hawk-shaped energy projections.
3. Regeneration and Reincarnation
Nth Metal’s restorative abilities are near miraculous. It can heal wounds rapidly, regrow limbs, and in some cases, resurrect the dead. For Hawkman and Hawkgirl, the metal is the catalyst for endless reincarnation—a cycle spanning galaxies and timelines. Every time they die, they are reborn, complete with the memories of their past lives.
Cosmic and Mystical Abilities Beyond Imagination
Over the years, as the DC Universe has expanded into Multiversal storytelling, so too have the capabilities of Nth Metal.
1. Energy Absorption and Redistribution
Nth Metal can absorb vast amounts of energy, including magical and cosmic forces, and release them when needed. This ability has made it critical in warfare, defense systems, and planetary engineering, as seen with Thanagarian Warbird ships.
2. Magic Negation and Exorcism
One of the more mysterious aspects of Nth Metal is its ability to interact with metaphysical forces. It can disrupt spells, banish ghostly entities, and break enchantments. That’s why it’s often considered one of the few physical substances capable of challenging magic-based characters or beings.
3. Emotional and Psionic Influence
Nth Metal has limited psychic properties. Those who come into close contact with it may experience altered emotional states or compulsions, particularly when exposed to large quantities. It can also reveal a person’s deepest desires and truest self—a quality especially potent in its Dark Metal variant.
Chronological and Dimensional Powers
Nth Metal doesn’t just operate in space—it bends time and reality itself.
1. Time Travel and Chronokinesis
During his self-discovery, Hawkman learned to use Nth Metal for time travel. He could not only visit his past incarnations, but even summon them across the timeline to fight beside him. This power gave rise to armies of himself, gathered from eras and planets like Krypton, Earth-3, and even the Microverse.
2. Dimensional Travel and Portal Creation
Dark Nth Metal can breach interdimensional barriers, enabling users to travel across the Multiverse. It can create portals to the World Forge, a mystical location tied to the very creation of universes. This function became essential during crises like the Rann-Thanagar War and the Dark Nights: Metal storyline.
3. Reality Manipulation
One of the most dramatic features of Nth Metal is its quantum-level manipulation of reality. When in the presence of the prime Multiverse’s light, it can change the very fabric of existence according to the user’s will—making it a substance capable of redefining reality itself.
Famous Users and Applications
Nth Metal isn’t reserved solely for the Hawks. Several other characters and groups have used it to great effect:
- Silver Scarab (Hector Hall): Carter and Shiera’s son wore a suit of Nth Metal that gave him solar energy projection, flight, and enhanced strength.
- Valorium Alloy: An alloy containing Nth Metal, worn by the Legion of Super-Heroes as part of their iconic flight rings.
- Onimar Synn: A Thanagarian villain who mastered Nth Metal to such a degree that he became god-like during the Rann-Thanagar War.
- Thanagarian Warbirds: Ships fortified with Nth Metal for both defense and propulsion, showcasing the metal’s technological use.
- Absorbascon Device: After the partial destruction of the Source Wall, Thanagarians used this artifact to channel Nth Metal’s properties and rebuild their homeworld.
Dark Nth Metal and Its Role in Crisis Events
The Dark Multiverse introduced a corrupted version of Nth Metal—Dark Nth Metal. This sinister form played a critical role in the Dark Nights: Metal event, where the villain Barbatos and his twisted army sought to use it to reshape the Multiverse in their image. The Justice League ultimately used it against him, but the event triggered massive energy surges throughout reality, making every form of Nth Metal more active and volatile.
Also Read: The Complete History of Deathstroke: DC’s Deadliest Mercenary Explained
