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Black Adam #4
- Writer:
- Christopher Priest
- Artist:
- Rafa Sandoval
- Letterer:
- Willie Schubert
- Cover Artist:
- Irvin Rodriguez
- Publisher:
- DC
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-09-20
- Colorist:
- Matt Herms
DC's Black Adam was dead, but thanks to his descendant and would-be successor, the medical student Malik White, Black Adam lives again, cured of his seemingly incurable illness, roused from his coma, and given a second chance at life. But even he wonders whether or not he deserves this second chance. Now that he lives, the newly appointed White Adam's purpose is suddenly unclear,
Black Adam #4, written by Christopher Priest, drawn by Rafa Sandoval, with colors by Matt Herms and letters by Willie Schubert, continues Black Adam's struggle with life, death, fate, and the gods -- especially the Egyptian gods who granted him his powers and have continued to test him. Meanwhile, Malik gets his first great test of his own as the would-be White Adam.
Death is cheap in the DC Universe, and Teth-Adam's recent experience exemplifies this. This series began with a strong and shocking start -- striking down Teth-Adam with a mysterious and incurable illness. However, on the heels of the last issue, Black Adam #4 has the titular fallen villain making a full recovery. Not a lot happens for him, as he spends most of the issue mulling over his past encounters with the pantheon of gods while Shep lends a half-heartedly sympathetic ear. The overarching plot regarding Akkad and Black Adam's past is touched on, but it feels like an afterthought, especially after the thrillingly turbulent events of the previous issue. Unfortunately, all the dramatic tension regarding Black Adam and his illness arc has been abruptly dropped, leaving this issue wanting.
Black Adam #4 suffers from an inconsistent tone and pacing. This issue is unfocused, but it isn't without its highlights. Malik gets a lot to do in this issue. He gets a cute moment entertaining his baby niece with his powers, he argues with his sister, and he mulls over a nickname -- still not one-hundred percent sold on the name White Adam, preferring the less intimidating moniker "Danger Boy." The focus on Malik also results in a change of scenery. The last few issues were spent either in the ambiguously magical world of Teth's consciousness or the hospital, where Malik worked to heal his dying body, so this shift to a more realistic setting is a nice change.
Malik White's diverse urban home in Southeast Washington, DC, is rendered quite nicely, having just the right balance of warmth and grittiness. Colorist Matt Herms opts for a warmer, more saturated, and organic palette for the majority of the issue, leaning towards sunset shades of red, gold, orange, and the occasional flash of blue, complimented by the brick houses and mystical flares of purple. Most of the pages stick to a limited palette, granting more depth and detail than a simple wash. Combined with artist Rafa Sandoval's moody black placements and bold lines, Black Adam #4 has a nice visual balance between light and darkness.
Unfocused and confusing as the transition from life to death and back again, Black Adam #4 is a disjointed read, though it has enough momentum to keep the story moving forward. While Black Adam has yet to untangle the mystery of the gods, the journey of the up-and-coming White Adam is picking up speed.