The following contains spoilers for Black Adam -- The Justice Society Files: Cyclone #1, on sale from DC now.

In the DC Extended Universe, Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam is certainly shaping himself up as an antihero, with some even deeming him a villain. DC League of Super-Pets had Krypto pointing out Black Adam isn't heroic at all, trailers for the film have teased that he kills criminals, and also, he seems to be at war with the Justice Society of America. Admittedly, it'd fit the character's mainstream DCU characterization if he's that unhinged.

But seeing as the DCEU is looking at more inspirational stories and moving away from the Zack Snyder aesthetic, it would make sense for Warner Bros. to push an Adam that's tethered to the light. Well, in the prequel comic, Black Adam -- The Justice Society Files: Cyclone #1 (by Bryan Q. Miller, Cavan Scott, Tony Avina, Marco Santucci, Norm Rapmund, Michael Atiyah, Arif Prianto, Maria Laura Sanapo, Rob Leigh, and Becca Carey), it's been revealed that the mystical powerhouse was once someone who fought for justice the right way; a far cry from the angry titan seen thus far.

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Black Adam's prequel showed he was once a hero

It's confirmed in "Lost & Found," the backup story (from Bryan Q. Miller, Marco Santucci, Michael Atiyah, and Rob Leigh), with a brief, yet poignant insight into Teth-Adam's past. As a child in the Kahndaq slave camp, he was spotted slipping into the guards' tents. There, he stole one of the general's knives, before using the blade to cut all the whips up. He then left the weapon at the site, framing the general for the infraction.

This drew the ire of his superiors, who were sure to punish the man. Granted, the aftermath wasn't seen as the book shifted to Adrianna in the future studying the eternium mineral that's tied to Shazam, but this scene showed how happy Teth-Adam was doing the right thing. He'd endured so much loss thanks to these slavers, so the teen wanted to strike back. It nodded to the comics where he and his nephew Aman rebelled too, which resulted in them being empowered by Shazam.

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Black Adam's prequel showed he was once a hero

Sadly, Adam would kill his kin, siphon the power for himself and become a cruel tyrant, thinking he was doing good. In this case, Adam's a bit more lighthearted, having fun with his deeds and proving to be a quirky young vigilante. However, his strategy's quite mature, because he picked the general that everyone knows is a "drunkard and lout," so no suspicion would fall upon anyone else. This makes Adam a freedom fighter, buying a respite, even if for a day, where no discipline via whipping could be doled out to his people.

It speaks to his character, but with so much yet to be revealed in this prequel series, one has to wonder if his shenanigans and subtle revenge against oppressors might lead to more of his people being killed. If so, Adam may end up blaming himself, which may explain why, once he does get power from the Rock of Eternity, he won't hold back. It might be his way of harnessing all his guilt and trauma to bring order to the world, even if he's despised for it by peace-seeking heroes like Hawkman. But ultimately, this could tease someone like Hawkman or even Doctor Fate showing Adam the path to redemption, to embrace the light once more.