History Main / UnbreakableBones

How their bones became unbreakable can vary. Perhaps they were surgically reinforced or altered. Perhaps they were bonded with, or even replaced with, metal. Perhaps the character is a mutant, and bones with the tensile strength of titanium are simply a part of his or her natural makeup. This trope is most often seen in science-fictional settings where mutation, genetic engineering, or advanced surgical techniques can justify its existence, though it can show up anywhere.

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* A [[http://yalemedicine.yale.edu/autumn2002/news/findings/53806/ Connecticut family]] were found to possess a mutation that results in significantly higher than usual bone density. No one in the family has ever been reported to have so much as fractured a bone. Unfortunately, these people are also unable to swim, since their increased bone density leaves them unable to float.

* In Christopher Ruocchio's ''The Suneater'', after coming back from the dead, protagonist Hadrian Marlowe finds that his severed left arm has been regrown by a grateful Kharn Sagara (Hadrian protected Sagara's clones during a brain upload when Sagara's old body got murdered). As a little extra, Sagara had the bones of the regrown arm replaced with an adamant alloy, a substance so densely woven that even single [[AbsurdlySharpBlade atom-edged Highmatter blades]] can cut it.

* [[ArtificialHuman Parahumans]] in ''Literature/ThePrideOfParahumans'' have titanium alloy skeletons to prevent microgravity-induced osteoporosis, and it has the side effect of making their bones very hard to break.]

* In his backstory, ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' for Hammerhead had his skull replaced with a strong steel alloy after he was attacked and left for dead in an alley. His skull is so strong it can withstand punches from Spider-Man and burst through brick walls. Later, Mr Negative had Hammerhead's entire upper skeleton replaced with adamantium after he was shot.

* The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew Hero shrew]] whose specially reinforced spine and ribcage allows it survive being stepped on by a human.

* One criminal in the ''Literature/JudgeDee'' series used his thicker-than-average bones to his advantage in fights, but claimed to be haunted by bad luck throughout his life. Although there was a sizeable amount of NeverMyFault in his MotiveRant, the judge's lieutenants can't help but see his point when the executioner has to chop at his neck to or three times before it finally takes due to the man's strong bones.

* [[ArtificialHuman Parahumans]] in ''Literature/ThePrideOfParahumans'' have titanium alloy skeletons to prevent microgravity-induced osteoporosis, and it has the side effect of making their bones very hard to break.

* ''WebComic/GenocideMan'' has the Genocide Men whose bones are hardened via the implantation of ceramics.

* A [[http://yalemedicine.yale.edu/autumn2002/news/findings/53806/ Connecticut family]] were found to possess a mutation that results in significantly higher than usual bone density. No one in the family has ever been reported to have so much as fractured a bone.

* Hugh Jackman's portrayal of Wolverine in the ''Film/XMen'' film franchise has the same unbreakable adamantium bones as his comic book counterpart.

* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'': Shepard after being revived as a {{cyborg}}. Among other things s/he is capable of shoulder-firing the M-98 Widow, a SniperRifle whose FlavorText designates it as an anti-materiel weapon and which has enough recoil to break the arm of an unaltered human unless fired using its bipod while prone.

* One sci-fi novel (maybe predating the introduction of Wolverine) had the amnesiac male protagonist discover that among other things he had an unbreakable metal skeleton and a healing factor.

[[caption-width-right:350:Shame about the rest of him.]]

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[[AC:Tabletop Games]]

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* The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew Hero shrew]] whose specially reinforced spine and ribcage allows it survive being stepped on by a human.

[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/Wolverine}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wolverine_skeleton_spideyverse.jpg]]]]

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wolverine_skeleton_spideyverse.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Shame about the rest of him.]]

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->'''Talis:''' "It was an interesting operation. The replacement had to be done molecule by molecule, taking care to match your original skeleton exactly in shape and weight, and to ensure that your bone marrow adapted. But it all seems entirely successful. There is an interesting side effect. The alloy has quite surprising resilience and strength. Our tests have shown that it is almost completely infrangible."
->'''Keill:''' "Infrangible?"
->'''Glr:''' "It means, mudhead, that your bones cannot be broken."

* A [[http://yalemedicine.yale.edu/autumn2002/news/findings/53806/ Connecticut family]] were found to possess a mutation that results in significantly higher than usual bone density. No one in the family has ever been reported to have so much as fractured a bone.