What is the origin of Black Adam?

In 2022, the live-action ‘Black Adam’ hit theaters, a character who had his origin story portrayed in a feature film for the first time, taking shape through the actor Dwayne JohnsonO The Rock. Remember the trailer!

However, before stopping on the big screen, the emblematic figure who wears a black uniform with a golden ray on his chest already existed in the pages of DC comics, where he appeared for the first time in Fawcett Comics, in 1945, through HQ ‘The Shazam Family #1’.

Existing for over 70 years, the character is part of the list of those who do not have a single origin in comics, as his story has undergone several changes over the years. With that in mind, we have gathered below the main information about the trajectory that led to the emergence of Adão Negro.

first definition

In the story that was released in the year of the end of World War II by Fawcett Comics, the screenwriter otto binder and the designer CC Beck came together and created Teth-Adam, one of the first heirs to the powers of the Wizard Shazam (at the time called Captain Marvel), still in Ancient Egypt.

To gain access to the abilities of Shu, Horus, Amon, Zehuti, Aton and Mehen, he should say the word ‘SHAZAM’ (formed by the initials of the Gods), so he would have access to resistance, speed, super strength, wisdom, power and courage. to fight evil and preserve peace, transforming himself into the mighty Adam.

However, when he had power in his hands, he left heroism aside and was corrupted, becoming a great destroyer, even killing the pharaoh of Egypt with the aim of ruling all humanity.

This new motivation caused his banishment, causing him to be exiled to a distant star for 5000 years, where he remained alive for all that time by always being transformed into the mighty Adam.

Soon after this period, he ends up returning, but by saying the magic word, he causes the reverse effect and undoes his transformation, culminating in his death, since his mortal body could not withstand the passage of time.

Definitions in the early years of DC

In the 70s, Fawcett Comics becomes part of DC, which transforms Black Adam into an invention of the perverse Dr. Silvana, who resurrects him through a machine. This version remained in the comics until Adam Black was finally defeated by the Teen Titans in the iconic “Crisis on Infinite Earths” saga in 1986.

The following year, he gained a new origin trajectory, uniting in a way the definitions of 1945, and the one seen in the 70s, since the villain ends up being banished by the Wizard Shazam to another dimension and freed by Silvana.

Origin of the 90’s

In this version, the wizard Shazam was the Pharaoh’s high priest. Ramses IIwho after years of servitude, began to look for a substitute, finding in Teth-Adam, son of Ramses II the courage, fairness, and decency it takes to earn the title of Shazam.

Thus, Teth-Adam began to contribute to the peace of the place for years until he became corrupted, causing his powers to be removed by the Wizard Shazam and placed in a scarab, later causing his death, since without the abilities, his body couldn’t handle his real age.

The amulet, which was to remain forever by the tomb of Ramses II, was found by Theo Adam, a young man who accompanied Billy Batson’s parents on an expedition in Egypt. As a result, Theo, who discovered he was a descendant of Teth, uttered the magic word, causing Shazam’s powers to transfer to him.

In addition, by acquiring the new abilities, Theo kills Billy Batson’s parents, thus causing the motivation for the rivalry between Black Adam and Shazam, already well known among comic book fans.

Still, it wasn’t just the powers that became part of Theo, but also the spirit of Teth, who shared the same body with the young man. This fact combined with the addition of characters with evil purposes caused several twists, including no longer requiring the scarab to transform.

It was also defined that Teth-Adam had good intentions, but his Theo-Adam side ended up dominating evil actions and even though Teth managed to remain in control and return to his heroic origins, including being part of the Justice Society, his extremely unique ideals of justice did not let him remain in the group for a long time, since he later joined the Atom Smasher, and formed his own team, also building his fictional nation called Kahndaq.

The most recent

In 2011, the character gets his last revision of origin. Teth-Adam appears as a slave in Kahndaq who, alongside his nephew Aman, is rescued by the Wizard Shazam. In the rescue, Aman received the powers of the gods, thus, when saying ‘Shazam’, the young man received all the abilities of the six divinities already presented.

However, he did not remain with the powers for long, as Teth stole them by being blinded by revenge, causing the death of Aman and thus becoming the Black Adam, where he became the new ruler of Kahndaq, assuming so the title of anti-hero, being fair to the same extent that it is cruel to invaders and enemies.