Fan-favorite Shazam! character Black Adam puts his mystical might to use in a new sketch from DC Publisher Jim Lee for charity, with the proceeds for the sketch going to help comic shops.
Lee shared the artwork on Twitter, which shows Black Adam, who bears a resemblance to his upcoming solo movie actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Black Adam is lifting a tank over his head while electricity emanates from his chest emblem. Behind him are two other tanks, both heavily damaged.
"BLACK ADAM DC Comics Original Art Sketch!" Lee stated above the sketch. "Pen and ink with white out on 9x12" illustration board! This is sketch 54 of a series of 60 original pieces. Proceeds to benefit comic shops in need during this unprecedented year via [Book Industry Charitable Foundation]." Lee also included a link to the sketch on eBay for auction in the tweet.
Created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck, Black Adam (aka Teth-Adam or Theo Adam) debuted in 1945's The Marvel Family #1, with his original backstory explaining that he was the previous champion of the wizard Shazam in ancient Egypt. For abusing his powers, the wizard banished Black Adam to the farthest star in the universe, causing him to spend the next several millennia traveling back to Earth.
Though he was killed off in his first appearance, the character would return in 1977's Shazam #28 to plague Captain Marvel (currently known as Shazam) time and again. However, in modern times, Black Adam has become a more morally ambiguous character, even becoming an antihero and temporarily joining the Justice Society of America. Black Adam is also set to join a new Justice League roster from writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist David Marquez in the March of 2021.
Source: Twitter