The upcoming DC Extended Universe films slated for release include Black Adam, meant to introduce a fan-favorite rogue from DC Comics. With his self-titled movie officially hitting theaters on October 21st, 2022, Black Adam will further expand the corner of the DCEU first established in Shazam!
Known as Teth-Adam, Shazam! briefly hinted at Black Adam's presence in the DCEU and teased the thunderous history shared between both characters. Serving as a caution against the dangers of power and rage, Black Adam presents a stark contrast to Billy Batson's innocence. Over the years of Billy attempting to harness the great power bestowed on him, Black Adam has consistently interrupted his journey, resulting in epic clashes fans hope to see unfold on the big screen.
Updated on October 19th, 2022 by Casey Lawrence: This article has been updated to include references to the comic source material and other relevant details surrounding Shazam! and Black Adam's notable battles.
10 Black Adam And Shazam Clashed Across Various Origin Stories
Shazam! The New Beginning (Vol. 1), By Writers Dann Thomas & Roy Thomas And Primary Artist Tom Mandrake
Black Adam had his origin retold several times, notably in Shazam! The New Beginning and in Marvel Family #1 (Otto Binder and C. C. Beck). The outline for Black Adam's creation largely remained the same. In Ancient Egypt, a man named Teth-Adam was chosen as the Champion of Shazam — a wizard with the power of the gods.
Black Adam turned out to be power hungry and rageful, employing his powers in the service of these pursuits. As a result, Black Adam was imprisoned until modern times when he's set free and seeks the wizard's modern champion, Billy Batson. The two characters' origins, intertwined as they were, implored the champions to confront one another and set the tone for their future interactions.
9 Black Adam Is Reborn And Seeks Out Shazam (New Earth)
The Power of Shazam! (Vol. 1), By Writer/Artist Jerry Ordway And Artist Peter Krause
According to Jerry Ordway and Peter Krause's The Power of Shazam! #1-9, Shazam imprisoned Black Adam in an amulet and buried in the tomb of Rameses II. He wouldn't return until millennia later when his descendant, Theo, found the excavated amulet with Billy Batson's parents. Theo then murdered the couple, rendering Billy an orphan.
Theo later recognized Billy was the Champion and said the magic word: "Shazam!" Black Adam was reborn in Theo's body, granting him all the abilities and fury that had characterized his ancestor so long ago. Billy bested Adam by destroying the enchanted amulet, preventing the villain from being able to speak. Adam went on to serve four years in prison.
8 Black Adam Went On A Killing Spree, Pitting Him Against Shazam
52 (Vol. 1) #50, By Writers Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, & Mark Waid; Pencilers Keith Giffen & Justiniano; Inker Walden Wong; Colorist Alex Sinclair; And Letterer Ken Lopez
Black Adam brought about World War III, and Shazam attempted to end it in 52 (Vol. 1) #50. At Isis' urging from her deathbed, the villain rampaged across the planet, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake and shaking the earth to its core. Billy Batson faced Black Adam early in the war, and then returned to finish the job.
Flying downward toward his opponent, Shazam demonstrated a hero's courage in the face of great strength, allowing him to channel his lightning into Black Adam. After Black Adam transformed back to Teth-Adam, Billy worked with Zatanna to change the magic word from the famed "Shazam!" to "Chocolate Egg Cream," a phrase the villain would never think to utter.
7 Black Adam Tried To Seize The Rock Of Eternity
Justice Society of America (Vol 3) #23, By Writer Geoff Johns, Writer/Penciler Jerry Ordway, Inker Bob Wiacek, Colorist Hi-Fi Design, And Letterer Rob Leigh
When Black Adam sought the Rock of Eternity, he found it guarded by his old rival Billy Batson. Accompanied by a resurrected Isis, Adam utilized the very amulet that had kept him prisoner to strip Billy of his abilities. First depicted in Justice Society of America (Vol 3) #23, the battle included Mary Marvel, the titular Justice Society, the wizard Shazam, and the people of Kahndaq.
The massive conflict ended with the wizard reclaiming his powers from his chosen champions, disappointed with their squandering. Black Adam gives up voluntarily to save Isis from the corruption that was plaguing the people of Kahndaq and was rewarded for this honorable act by being turned into a statue.
6 Black Adam Hunted The New Champion (Prime Earth)
Justice League (Vol. 2) #15-16, By Writer Geoff Johns, Penciler/Inker Gary Frank, Colorist Brad Anderson, And Letterer Nick J. Napolitano
Geoff Johns and Gary Frank put together the framework for 2019's Shazam! and set up the titular hero's showdowns with Black Adam, as shown in Justice League #15-16. The events of the film largely drew from those of this comic, although the film opted for Doctor Thaddeus Sivana instead of Black Adam.
Seeking out the new modern champion, Black Adam confronted him amongst a crowd of onlookers and easily bested him. Billy transformed and blended in with the fleeing crowd, barely escaping with his life. With the dawn of Prime Earth, this clash became Black Adam and Shazam's first interaction in the continuity established by the Flashpoint event.
5 Black Adam Took On The Shazam! Family
Justice League (Vol. 2) #19-21, By Writer Geoff Johns, Penciler/Inker Gary Frank, Colorist Brad Anderson, And Letterer Nick J. Napolitano
Following his near-destruction at the hands of Black Adam, Billy Batson tried to give up his powers and convince the wizard to give them to someone else. Eager to resume their battled, Black Adam took a family hostage to draw the Champion out. As the events throughout Justice League (Vol. 2) #19-21 depict, his plan succeeds but has unintended consequences.
Billy Batson shared his power with his foster family, consequently creating the modern Shazam! Family. As epic as this development was, the conflict ended on a strange note. Billy resolved that he couldn't defeat Black Adam, so he reverted to his human form and somehow convinced his foe to do the same. As a result of his old age, Black Adam crumbled to dust.
4 The Return Of Black Adam (Earth-S)
Shazam (Vol. 1) #28, By Writer E. Nelson Bridwell And Penciler/Inker Kurt Schaffenberger
Billy Batson faced a dangerous duo when Doctor Sivana convinced Black Adam to seek revenge on the wizard Shazam. In Shazam (Vol. 1) #28, Black Adam caught up with Billy Batson. The battle proved so intense that Billy literally threw Black Adam through time, ending up in the colonial era in 1773.
The subsequent events became extremely convoluted, but the highlights included Black Adam tossing Billy Batson into Boston Harbor, and Paul Revere rescuing the surprised hero. The dueling titans even traveled forward to 1976. In the end, Shazam concluded the battle with a punch so powerful that Black Adam couldn't remember his dual identity.
3 Black Adam Tries Pitting Superman And Shazam Against Each Other
All-New Collectors' Edition (Vol. 1) #C-58, By Writer Gerry Conway, Penciler Rich Buckler, Inker Dick Giordano, Colorist Adrienne Roy, And Letterer Gaspar Saladino
Once Black Adam recovered his memories and resumed his more destructive tendencies, he decided to aid the sorcerer Karmang in inducing a battle between Shazam and Superman. Gerry Conway and Rich Buckler detailed the story in All-New Collectors' Edition #C-58, which set the stage for several more defeats for Black Adam.
Whether assisted by many villains or even the forces of the supernatural, Black Adam continuously struggled to defeat Shazam. This particular conflict would add fuel to the fire of rivalry burning between the three "Supermen" — Black Adam, Shazam, and Superman.
2 Black Adam Targets Shazam Alongside The Monster Society
World's Finest (Vol. 1) #264, By Writer E. Nelson Bridwell, Penciler Don Newton, Inker Dave Hunt, Colorist Adrienne Roy, And Letterer Todd Klein
The understated mastermind behind the evil antics Shazam faces was appropriately strange for this corner of the DC Universe: a supremely intelligent caterpillar called Mister Mind. Recruiting Black Adam, Doctor Sivana, and Oggar the Accursed, among others, Mister Mind reformed the Monster Society of Evil.
The Monster Society's first target was Billy Batson, who took on Black Adam and Oggar the Accursed in Egypt. During the conflict, Black Ada's magic causes Shazam to lose his ability to speak. However, the pseudo-victory didn't last long. Shazam defeated the Monster Society and drove them out of Egypt.
1 Black Adam Schemes To Destroy All Heroes (Elseworlds)
Justice (Vol. 1), By Writer/Penciler/Inker Alex Ross, Writer Jim Krueger, And Penciler Doug Braithwaite
DC's villains launched a coordinated assault on the heroes in Justice — an Elseworlds story by Jim Krueger, Alex Ross, and Doug Braithwaite. Black Adam was among these archenemies, and luring Billy Batson away from his strike team, he used a brainwashed Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr. to subdue Shazam.
Billy Batson fell under the same mind-control that gripped his Marvel compatriots, and the Justice League resolved to defeat the villains in response. Ross' gorgeous artwork brought a divine quality to each character, imbuing them with an otherworldly essence that made Black Adam and Shazam's clash feel even more epic.