From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article describes fictional events in the past tense. The present tense should be used in order to clearly differentiate between fictional events and actual history. To meet Wikipedia's quality standards, this comics-related article or section may require cleanup. See this article's talk page before making any large and/or controversial edits. This article has been tagged since November 2007.

This comics-related article or section describes an element of the series in a primarily in-universe style. Please rewrite this article to explain the fiction more clearly and provide non-fictional perspective.

Black Adam
Artwork for the cover of 52 Week 45 (Mar 14, 2007). Art by J. G. Jones.
Publisher Fawcett Comics (1945 - 1973) DC Comics (1973 - present) First appearance The Marvel Family # 1 (December, 1945) Created by Otto Binder C. C. Beck
Characteristics Alter ego Teth-Adam (original form) Theo Adam (reincarnated form) Team affiliations Kahndaq Injustice League The Freedom of Power Coalition Justice Society of America Injustice Society The Society Suicide Squad Monster Society of Evil Black Marvel Family Notable aliases Mighty Adam, Khem-Adam Abilities Magically bestowed aspects of various mythological figures which include superhuman strength, speed, stamina, physical and magical invulnerability, flight, fearlessness, and vast wisdom/enhanced mental perception. Enhanced senses and can heal himself through magic lightning.

Black Adam is a fictional comic book character whose morally ambiguous nature has his character fall between the lines of heroism and villainy; as a result, he has associated himself with both superheroes and supervillains at different times.

The character was originally created in 1945 for the premiere issue of Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family comic book by Otto Binder and C. C. Beck as an "evil" version of Fawcett's popular Captain Marvel character. Marvel Family #1 was Adam's only appearance during Captain Marvel's Fawcett Comics run. Adam was later revived by DC Comics in the 1970s Shazam! comic book, becoming Captain Marvel's most physically powerful foe. Originally called Teth-Adam (or Mighty Adam) in ancient Egypt, Black Adam was a previous appointee of the wizard Shazam, but soon used his power for his own corrupt ends, which forced the wizard to punish him. Generally, that punishment was to remove Adam from that time, only to appear in modern times to challenge Shazam's current appointee, Billy Batson, in his Captain Marvel form.

By the early 21st century, Adam had been redefined by DC writers Jerry Ordway, Geoff Johns, and David S. Goyer as a corrupted anti-hero attempting to clear his name. Adam's personal goal is to enforce justice; however, his ideals of justice, often involving hostile action or execution, are considered extreme by many of the heroes who have attempted to give the former supervillain a second chance. This current version of Black Adam is the former ruler of Kahndaq, a fictional Middle Eastern nation in the DC Universe. Featured roles in comic books series such as JSA, Villains United, Infinite Crisis, and 52 have elevated the character to a level of prominence in DC Comics nearly surpassing that of Captain Marvel.

Adam is depicted as a powerful Arab man wearing a costume similar to Captain Marvel's, except that the red portions are black, and Adam does not wear a cape, although recent depictions of the character give him a black cape similar to the ones worn by the Marvel Family. Some artists, following C. C. Beck's original design, also depict Adam with pointed ears.

Contents 1 Early publication history 1.1 Fawcett Comics 1.2 DC Comics 1.2.1 Pre-Crisis and Shazam!: The New Beginning 2 Fictional character biography 2.1 The Power of Shazam!: revised origin 2.2 JSA series: Black Adam reforms 2.3 JSA: Black Reign 2.4 Infinite Crisis 2.5 52 2.5.1 World War III 2.6 Black Adam: The Dark Age 2.7 Countdown 3 Powers and abilities 4 In other media 5 Additional reading 6 Footnotes 7 External links

The original Fawcett Comics version of Black Adam, which appeared only once during the original Fawcett run of Captain Marvel comics, was an ancient Egyptian prince named "Teth-Adam", who was chosen by the wizard Shazam to be his successor.

When Adam said the magic word "Shazam", he was transformed into a super-powered being, Teth Adam (literally translating into "Mighty Human"). Possessing the same powers that Captain Marvel would later be granted, Adam was soon corrupted by the vastness of his powers. The wizard Shazam originally gave him ancient powers derived from Greco-Roman deities, a fact which would seem unpalatable to later writers who changed (twice) the deities whose names made up the acronym Shazam for Black Adam.

Deciding that he should rule the world, Adam overthrew the pharaoh and assumed the throne. An angry Shazam gives his errant champion a new name -- "Black Adam" -- and banishes him to the most distant star in the universe.

Adam spends the next 5000 years flying back to Earth. By the time he makes it back, in 1945, Shazam has appointed three new champions to take his place: Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel, and Captain Marvel Jr. Adam does battle with the trio, known as the Marvel Family, but since all are equally invulnerable, the fight goes on and on without resolution. At the suggestion of the wizard Shazam, Uncle Marvel tricks Black Adam into saying the wizard's name, transforming him back into his mortal form. Adam's natural aging process takes hold, and he withers away into a skeleton within moments.

While he was defeated in the same story in which he debuted, Adam was resurrected nearly thirty years later (by Doctor Sivana) in DC Comics' Shazam! revival of the Marvel Family characters. According to Shazam! #28, Black Adam gets his powers from Shu (stamina), Hershef (strength), Amon (power), Zehuti (Thoth) (wisdom), Anpu (speed), and Menthu (courage). After several more defeats at Captain Marvel's hand, Adam joined Mister Mind's final pre-Crisis version of the Monster Society Of Evil. Adam's origin was revised for the 1987 miniseries Shazam! The New Beginning, in which the need for Captain Marvel to oppose him is made an integral reason of why Billy Batson is recruited. Soon after that call, the corrupted champion is drawn from the netherworld by an interdimensional transport device created by Dr. Sivana, whom Adam attempts to make his slave.

Black Adam was reintroduced to the DC Universe in The Power of Shazam! graphic novel by Jerry Ordway in 1994. In that story and the subsequent Power of Shazam! ongoing series, Adam was a deadly and evil adversary for Captain Marvel. Jerry Ordway, the writer of The Power of Shazam!, redefined Black Adam's origin for the Modern Age of comic books.

In this revised origin, Teth-Adam was the son of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II, and impressed one of the high priests, the wizard Shazam, with his good deeds. The wizard gave Teth-Adam the power to become the superhero Mighty-Adam by speaking the name "Shazam", an acronym for Mighty Adam's powers: the stamina of Shu, the swiftness of Heru (Horus), the strength of Amon, the wisdom of Zehuti, the power of Aton, and the courage of Mehen.

Mighty Adam served as Egypt's champion for many centuries, but became corrupted by the charms of a mysterious woman, revealed to be Shazam's evil daughter Blaze in disguise. The bewitched Adam was convinced that he and his mistress should rule Egypt, and he resultantly killed the Pharaoh and appointed himself ruler. Shazam learned of this treachery and stripped Adam of his powers, encasing them in a mystical scarab necklace. Adam's depowered body rapidly experienced the aging process that the magic staved off, and the former hero withered away into a dried cadaver in seconds.

Shazam buried both the body and the scarab in the tomb of Ramesses II, where he planned for it to remain for all eternity. In death, the former hero was referred to as "Khem-Adam" ("Black Adam"). Disillusioned by what he perceived as Adam's betrayal, Shazam went several millennia before appointing a second champion to fight evil in his name.

Thousands of years later, during the late 20th century, an unscrupulous archaeological aide named Theo Adam finds himself assigned to the Malcom Expedition, financed by the Sivana Foundation to excavate the tomb of Ramesses II. Adam uncovers Khem-Adam's tomb in a secret passageway, and leads his superiors, C. C. Batson and his wife Marilyn, to the discovery. Upon first sight of Khem-Adam's scarab, Theo Adam becomes obsessed with the artifact, and kills both Batsons in order to steal it. Escaping Egypt, Theo Adam soon made his way back to America.

The Batsons' son, Billy, had been left behind in the United States, and was drafted by Shazam to become the wizard's second champion, Captain Marvel. When Theo Adam first encountered Captain Marvel, he noted both Marvel's identical appearance to C. C. Batson and the lightning-bolt insignia on Marvel's chest that had also decorated Khem-Adam's tomb. Adam therefore had a revelation, and realized that he was a reincarnation of Khem-Adam. Grasping his stolen scarab, Adam spoke Shazam's name and was transformed into the super-powered Black Adam. Black Adam revealed himself to Captain Marvel as the Batsons' killer, and the two battled. Captain Marvel emerged victorious by snatching Adam's scarab, and therefore his power, away from him. Marvel brought Theo Adam to Shazam, who wiped Adam's memory and took away his voice, so that he could not access his powers. This solution proved temporary, as Blaze re-entered her former lover's life and helped restore his voice, his memory, and access to his powers.

Although Adam appeared during the Power of Shazam! ongoing series' first year of publication as a villain, towards the end of the series' run, Adam returned and announced that Black Adam and Theo Adam were separate personalities. Black Adam went on trial again for the murders of the Batsons, and was acquitted when it was revealed that his fingerprints did not match those of Theo Adam's.

The reformed Black Adam was still vulnerable to his murderous host's influence, and he attacked the Justice Society of America under Theo Adam's control in JSA #6 (1999). In subsequent issues, Adam joins supervillain Johnny Sorrow's Injustice Society after Sorrow removed a malignant brain tumor from Adam's brain. Adam soon betrayed Sorrow, and he and the JSA defeated the Injustice Society. Claiming to be free of Theo's evil influence again, a redemptive Black Adam requested membership in the Justice Society, and was granted a probationary membership in JSA #21 (2002).

During his tenure in JSA, writers Geoff Johns and David S. Goyer redefined Adam's personality and background, focusing on the character's old-fashioned and militant ideals of justice, and his officious and strongly opinionated attitude. Despite this, he has stated on many occasions that he respects the Justice Society, particularly members such as Jay Garrick. Several other JSA members were shown to be skeptical of Adam's reformation; primary among them was Atom Smasher, who later became Adam's close friend. The writers also created added tension in the book by having Captain Marvel, who was wholly unconvinced that Adam had reformed, join the team. One JSA story arc (issues 39 through 44) features Marvel, Hawkgirl, and Mr. Terrific venturing back in time to ancient Egypt, where they meet Mighty Adam before his corruption. During this visit, Mighty Adam was grateful to meet Captain Marvel, as Marvel's presence demonstrated that his legacy would survive him even with his children gone, and, when Marvel transformed back into Billy Batson, Adam expressed admiration for the young man's ability to handle the power of Shazam at such a young age, something he doubted he could have achieved himself.

Johns and Goyer used this story arc to slightly alter Adam's origin. The hero now hailed from the fictional Arabian nation of Kahndaq, not Egypt, although he served mightily for the Egyptian prince Khufu (who would later be reincarnated as JSA member Hawkman). The character of Blaze was completely removed from the origin story, and Adam's rage was described as having resulted from the conquering of Kahndaq (and the murder of his wife and children) at the hands of a magically powered supervillain named Ahk-ton (Whose powers resembled future hero Metamorpho), who was working with the present-day version of the notorious DC immortal Vandal Savage. Mighty Adam killed Ahk-ton during the struggle, and returned to Kahndaq to re-claim it by any means necessary, including murder. The wizard Shazam did not agree with Adam's actions, and robbed Adam of his powers and killed him.

In JSA #45 (2003), Black Adam and his teammate Atom Smasher both defected from the Justice Society. During the next few issues, Adam formed his own organization, which would administer justice the way Adam wanted it: "an eye for an eye". His roster included a mix of DC heroes and villains, including Atom Smasher, Brainwave (who was possessed by Mister Mind), Northwind and the rest of the society of Feithera, Nemesis, and former JSA museum curator Alex Montez, the human host of the demon Eclipso. Adam's collective executed Kobra, a villain who had been acquitted by the legal justice system. Adam then turned his attentions to his old homeland of Kahndaq, now ruled by a militant dictator whose actions had long been ignored by the United Nations.

Late 2003 began the publication of a JSA/Hawkman crossover story arc titled "Black Reign", written by Geoff Johns alone, which featured Adam and his militia's hostile takeover of Kahndaq. A war soon broke out, with Adam, his comrades, and the Kahndaqi people on one side, and the Justice Society on the other. By the end of the arc, the JSA left Adam in control of Kahndaq, provided that he did not leave its borders, convincing him that he couldn't enforce his rule on the world or he was no better than the dictator he'd defeated. Brainwave was saved by the JSA, Mister Mind was apprehended thanks to the actions of the Atom, and Nemesis and Alex both died during the battle when Alex lost control of Eclipso. Only Northwind and Atom Smasher remained at Adam's side. As Kahndaq's ruler, Adam was depicted as fiercely working to protect his people and his nation.

Black Adam was featured heavily in DC's 2005 Infinite Crisis crossover, primarily in the Villains United miniseries as a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains (which he only joined to protect Kahndaq from the Society). Concurrently, in JSA, Atom Smasher left Adam's side to return to the JSA.

The Society was run by Alexander Luthor, Jr., a character from the alternate world Earth-3, who disguised himself as the Lex Luthor of the post-Crisis Earth. The Infinite Crisis limited series centered around Alexander Luthor's plan to restore the Multiverse. Needing a member of the Marvel Family to power the apparatus he'd designed to recreate the alternate earths of the Multiverse, Luthor has the Society betray and capture Black Adam. With the help of the mind-controlling powers of the Psycho-Pirate, Luthor was able to control Adam and have him call down the magic Shazam lightning bolt to fuel the apparatus; the Spectre's rampage during the Day of Vengeance storyline had reverted all magic in the DC Universe to a raw, chaotic structure, and the death of the wizard Shazam had transformed him into a tether that could be used to harness the magic and use it to power his equipment. By the end of the miniseries, Black Adam is freed by Superboy and Nightwing. Adam, following a failed attempt to defeat Superboy-Prime (which reveals that magic does not affect Superboy-Prime, as Adam's blows allegedly only 'tickled'), joins the heroes- although he is generally regarded as being on his own side by the other combatants- in the Battle of Metropolis, destroying Amazo shortly after his arrival.

See also: 52 (comic book)

Black Adam appeared as a featured character in DC's weekly 52 comic book. Depicted as the violent protector of the nation of Khandaq, Adam kills several super-villains in public and on television to demonstrate his views. As a result, he is distrusted by several of the superheroes he claims a place beside. He creates an international metahuman coalition against the perceived metahuman supremacy of the United States. In 52, DC introduced Adrianna Tomaz, a slave offered to Adam by Intergang as a token to curry his favor. Although Adam deals harshly with the slavers, Adrianna becomes Adam's love interest, and her counsel proves wise to him. In week 12 of the series, Adam uses a magical amulet, hidden on the scarab in which Shazam imprisoned him, to transform Adrianna into the superheroine Isis. Weeks later he proposes, and the two are married under the auspice of Captain Marvel and the rest of the Marvel Family.

In 52 Week 23, Black Adam and Isis, with the assistance of the Question and Renee Montoya, find Isis' brother Amon. Due to a failed escape attempt, Amon suffers near-fatal wounds. In order to save his life Black Adam bestows a portion of his own power on the boy, as Captain Marvel did for Captain Marvel Jr. Isis' brother then becomes a new addition to the Marvel Family under the name Osiris.

Osiris is accepted into the Teen Titans. Upon returning from a mission, he and the rest of the Black Marvel family are attacked by the Suicide Squad. The Black Marvels successfully defeat the Squad, but not before footage of them in battle (including Osiris' accidental killing of a Squad member) is captured by Amanda Waller, who uses it to further ruin the Black Marvel Family's reputation. Meanwhile, Khandaq is struck with a number of natural disasters, which seem to have a supernatural origin.

Wracked with guilt over the death of the Persuader, Osiris ventures to the Rock of Eternity and pleads with Captain Marvel to have his powers removed, as he fears Black Adam's influence (and those of his gods) has tainted him with evil. Black Adam arrives and the two battle until subdued by Isis and the Marvels. Osiris relents and accompanies the Black Marvel Family back home, only to be betrayed and brutally devoured by his friend, the talking crocodile Sobek, while in his mortal form.

Isis and Adam confront Sobek, who reveals that he is Famine, the Fourth Horseman of Apokolips, one of four creatures created by Intergang to attack Black Adam. Adam swiftly disposes of Sobek, and does battle with the other three Horsemen. One of them, Pestilence, infests Isis with a deadly disease before Adam kills him and his partner War. A gravely ill Isis saves Adam from Death using her powers, and tells Adam with her dying breaths that she was wrong to try to change his views on justice, and that he should avenge both her and Osiris.

Seething with fury, Adam flies to the neighboring nation of Bialya, where Death has taken refuge. Adam apparently slaughters everyone within Bialya - the government, the army, and the citizens - while hunting for Death, whom he defeats in battle, then tortures the creature into revealing the whereabouts of its masters. Intent on revenge, Black Adam flies to Oolong Island, hideout of a coalition of evil DC Universe scientists who created the Horsemen. However, the scientists subdue him and he suffers weeks of torture at the hands of Dr. Sivana. The "Science Squad" then announce to the world that they plan to sell Black Adam as a living weapon to the highest bidder. The Justice Society assaults the island, freeing Adam. Here, it is revealed that Chang Tzu had built the Horsemen under orders of China, who wanted Adam and his family to be assassinated after Adam left the Freedom of Power Treaty. Adam refuses to be taken into custody and once more flies off, seeking revenge for the death of his family

Enraged to the point of madness, and with his Gods' blessings, Black Adam flies to China, causing massive civilian casualties and billions of dollars in property damage when various superhumans get in his way. He tears through the ranks of the world's superhumans, killing Young Frankenstein and Terra of the Teen Titans, and seriously injuring several others. He brings battle to China, continuing the destruction until the decimated Great Ten allows the Justice Society and a coalition of other metahumans onto Chinese soil. Captain Marvel, though unable to take away Black Adam's powers, works with a group of mystics, including Zatanna and the Phantom Stranger, to transform Black Adam into the mortal Teth-Adam. Using his abilities as the new guardian of the Rock of Eternity, Marvel changes Adam's magic word from "Shazam" to an unknown one to prevent him from ever changing back. Despite his defeat, Teth-Adam escapes thanks to the intervention of his one-time ally Atom Smasher. He is left a mortal wandering the Middle East, unsuccessfully guessing at the word that will restore his power.

This article or section contains information about a scheduled or expected comic book release, or a series already in progress. It is likely to contain tentative information and the content may change dramatically as the product release approaches and more information becomes available.

In this six-issue mini-series, which begins sometime after his defeat in World War III, the still-powerless Teth-Adam orders his remaining loyal minions to savagely beat his face in order to alter his physical appearance. Effectively disguised, he leads the group to Kahndaq to retrieve the bones of Isis, while the JSA is in Bialya searching for him. Adam and his men are attacked by unidentified soldiers (who are also searching for Teth-Adam) while leaving the tomb of Isis and Osiris. Adam's followers sacrifice their lives so that he can escape with his wife's remains. Adam then travels to the frozen Himalays, where he cannibalizes the corpse of his last henchman after running out of food. The text indicates that his henchman voluntarily sacrificed his body to keep Black Adam alive. This served to indicate both Black Adam's undying dedication to resurrecting Isis as well as the equally powerful loyalty that his remaining followers had for him.

Finally reaching a secluded cave, Teth Adam resurrects Isis using a Lazarus Pit. The process is imperfect however, and Isis' new skin decays and her body literally falls apart. Adam returns her to death to end her suffering. Teth-Adam then journeys to Doctor Fate's tower, hoping to retrieve Isis' amulet. He encounters Felix Faust, who offers his assistance in return for being freed from the tower, which he was trapped in by Ralph Dibny during 52. It is also revealed here that Teth Adam's previous attempt at bringing Isis back at the Lazarus Pit failed because one of Isis's fingers was missing; an individual's remains must be fully intact for a Lazarus Pit to work properly.

With Faust's help, Black Adam's power source is changed from his six patron gods to the residual mystic energy contained in Isis' corpse. "Isis" would work as his new magic word of transformation. Once again in his superhuman form, he sets off to retrieve the scattered pieces of Isis' amulet. Faust warns Adam that this is only a temporary solution, as every time he draws power from Isis' bones, they become more fragile and less able to sustain her resurrection.

In retrieving the first part of the amulet, Teth Adam encounters Hawkman. The two have a savage battle in the sky, inevitably leading to Hawkman's serious injury. After the fight, the Justice League is notified and the team begins trying to find Black Adam. Meanwhile, while resting at a riverbank and contemplating his mission to bring back his wife, Teth Adam is shot down and badly wounded by members of the same organization that attacked him in issue one. He was, however, strong enough to speak the magic word "Isis" and thus transform into Black Adam. After promptly dispatching the assassins with extreme prejudice, he visits a veterinary hospital to have his wounds repaired.

After leaving the hospital, the doctors who saved Teth Adam's life are attacked by the assassins. Teth Adam sees this happening, saves the two doctors, and kidnaps the two assassins. He kills them both, one by striking him with lightening and one by flying him up into the thermosphere, after getting information from them. The Justice League talk to the two doctors as part of their hunt for Teth Adam, and learn about his heroic act of saving them from the assassins. This further develops Teth Adam's anti-hero character, as it is one of his first acts of heroism since the events of World War III.

In Countdown #49 Adam appears with his powers restored, having secretly taken up residence in the abandoned Khandaq embassy in Gotham City. A depowered Mary Marvel stumbles upon him at the embassy and finds that he has killed several others that have had the misfortune to find their way into the building. It appears that Adam is about to harm Mary as well, but instead he utters the word "Shazam", transferring all of his powers to her (including those he inherited from Isis). He departs in his mortal form, telling her to tell her brother "Sorry".

Previously, when Theo Adam said the magic word "Shazam" he was transformed into Black Adam and granted the following powers derived from ancient Egyptian gods. After his magic word is changed, Felix Faust allows him to leech power from Isis' remains for the same abilities. He has also gained the power of Isis, to unknown effect.

S	for the stamina of Shu	Using Shu's endurance, Black Adam can withstand and survive most types of extreme physical assaults. Additionally, he does not need to eat, sleep, or breathe and can survive unaided in space.
H	for the swiftness of Heru	By channeling Heru's speed, Black Adam can move at sub light speeds in orbit and at faster than light speeds in space. He has shown a running speed topping at Mach 500 before his strength flags, but this was while his speed was being drained by Jay Garrick.
A	for the strength of Amon	Black Adam has a phenomonal level of super strength, able to easily bend steel, punch through walls and lift massive objects. Adam's strength is at the same level as beings like Superman and Captain Marvel. He has been able to successfully hold his own against an assemblage of the Justice League, Justice Society, and the Teen Titans.[1]
Z	for the wisdom of Zehuti	Black Adam has instant access to a vast level of scholarly knowledge. The wisdom of Zehuti also provides him with counsel and advice in times of need.
A	for the power of Aton	Aton's power allows Black Adam to fly, fuels the magic thunderbolt that transforms Adam, enhances Adam's other physical abilities, and provides physical invulnerability and magic resistance against most magic spells and attacks, as well as allowing for interdimensional travel. Adam can use the lightning bolt as a weapon by dodging it and allowing it to strike an opponent or target.
M	for the courage of Mehen	This aspect is primarily psychological, and gives Black Adam superhuman amounts of inner strength from which to draw. His strength of mind renders him highly resistant to telepathy and mind control. In some depictions, the courage of Mehen also provides a degree of his invulnerability to harm.

Additionally, Adam's senses are acutely sharpened (though not to the extent of Superman's).

Black Adam has repeatedly been described as a warrior who had proven himself to be highly skilled even before he was given the power of SHAZAM.

Saying the magic word again initially changes Black Adam back into Theo Adam, although when the Spectre strips him of his powers during the Black Vengeance affair, he reverts to Teth Adam, the ancient Khandaqi farmer who was Mighty Adam. Subsequent depictions in the 52 series also show Teth Adam as Black Adam's default mortal identity. However, Black Adam very rarely voluntarily changes back to his non-powered form. It is worth noting that Captain Marvel used to share his powers with the rest of the Marvel Family. At these times, Adam was often depicted as somewhat stronger.

Black Adam has been treated as slightly superior to Superman, as indicated by the Four Horsemen of Apokolips.^[2].

Adam appeared in the "Black Adam's Return" episode of episode of the 1981 Shazam! Saturday morning cartoon, which aired as one-half of the Kid Superpower Hour with Shazam!. As in his original comic book appearance, he was tricked into saying "Shazam!", and turned to dust, presumably killing him. However, he returns in a later episode; this time, he is tricked into saying "Shazam" and is sent back to the days of ancient Egypt. He was voiced by Lou Scheimer.

Although he has not appeared in any other television programs or films, the character was briefly mentioned by his alter-ego's name, Teth-Adam, during a flashback in the "Ancient History" episode of Justice League Unlimited. DC Direct has released two action figures of Black Adam, the most recent based on the work of artist Alex Ross.

New Line Cinema is currently developing a Shazam! live-action feature film, with Peter Segal (The Longest Yard, 50 First Dates) as director and Michael Uslan as producer. Actor and former wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has agreed to appear in the film as Black Adam ^[3]

• Shazam! and the Shazam Family! Annual #1 (2002). Reprints Black Adam's origin from Marvel Family #1 (1945), among other Marvel Family stories. Stories by Otto Binder; art by C. C. Beck, Pete Costanza, Mac Rayboy, Marc Swayze, Bud Thompson, and Jack Binder.
• The Power of Shazam! (1994), written and painted by Jerry Ordway. A trade paperback collection depicting Captain Marvel's and Black Adam's current DC Universe origin stories. (ISBN 1-56389-153-0, paperback)
• JSA: Savage Times (2004). Trade paperback reprinting stories from JSA #38–45 (2002–2003), which feature Captain Marvel meeting Black Adam during Adam's tenure as Mighty Adam in ancient Egypt. Stories by Geoff Johns & David S. Goyer; art by Leonard Kirk, Patrick Gleason, Keith Champagne, and Christian Alamay. (ISBN 1-4012-0253-5)
• JSA: Black Reign (2005). Trade paperback reprinting stories from JSA #56–58, and Hawkman #23-25 (2003–2004), which feature Black Adam's invasion of Kahndaq and his war with the Justice Society. Stories by Geoff Johns; art by Rags Morales, Don Kramer, Keith Champagne, and Michael Bair. (ISBN 1-4012-0480-5)

v • d • e Shazam!
Creators:	C. C. Beck • Bill Parker
Marvel Family:	Captain Marvel • Mary Marvel • Captain Marvel, Jr. • The Wizard Shazam • Lieutenant Marvels • Hoppy the Marvel Bunny • Thunder
Black Marvel Family:	Black Adam • Isis • Osiris • Sobek
Villains:	Doctor Sivana • Black Adam • Mister Mind and the Monster Society of Evil • Captain Nazi • Ibac • Mister Atom • Sabbac • Blaze and Satanus
Publications and Publishers:	Fawcett Comics • Fawcett Publications • Whiz Comics • Master Comics • Wow Comics • The Power of Shazam!
Miscellanea:	Fawcett City • Adventures of Captain Marvel • Shazam! (TV series) • Kid Superpower Hour with Shazam!  • Legends of the Superheroes  • The Secrets of Isis • National Comics Publications v. Fawcett Publications

• DCDP: Black Adam - DC Database Project
• Marvel Family Web entry on Black Adam
• Cosmic Teams entry on Black Adam
• Geoff Johns on reestablishing Black Adam's character
• Black Adam's secret origin on dccomics.com