Justice League writer Brian Michael Bendis confirmed that Black Adam's "new name" was merely an in-book joke and was never going to be his official moniker.
CBR spoke to Bendis and artist David Marquez about their upcoming run on Justice League and Black Adam's role on the team. In addressing recent rumors that the character would be renamed "Shazadam," Bendis was definitive: "All right, just so we're very, very clear. At no time ever, in the history of the planning of this book, in any format, in any stage along the way, has there been a production about Black Adam changing his name."
"His name is Black Adam, and someone called him something else in the book," Bendis continued. "It's like someone putting out a headline saying that Marvel changed Spider-Man's name to 'Web-Headed Menace' because somebody called him that, and that's why I didn't respond to it. It's just so, so ridiculous. Even responding now is like helping a click machine."
Last week's Infinite Frontier #0 featured a Justice League story by Bendis, Marquez and Tamra Bonvillain setting up Black Adam joining the heroic team. In the story, someone refers to Black Adam as "Shazadam" when explaining how the former villain saved the day to Superman. The entire exchange is clearly presented as a joke, but one site misinterpreted the moment and kicked off rumors that DC was officially changing the character's name. As the book hadn't officially launched yet, no one was able to see the story for themselves and counter the narrative. Once it released, however, Bendis playfully addressed the situation online when asked about it by fans.
Rumors aside, Bendis went on to discuss his excitement about writing the book, adding the typically villainous Black Adam into the mix and how Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's casting as the character in an upcoming DC film has helped shine a spotlight on things -- for better or worse.
"We're very excited about the Black Adam storyline here because it is unique to the character's story and celebrates it in a very surprising way," Bendis said. "I must say, we will be forever grateful to The Rock for stepping out into the role of Black Adam. We actually didn't expect that. But it surely makes people look at what we're doing with a curious eyebrow, and wonder what's going on here."
Justice League #59, by Bendis, Marquez, Ram V and Zermanico, goes on sale March 16, 2021, from DC.