The Rock appearing as Black Adam in a movie has been "in the works" since 2006, so I am personally shocked that it seems to be actually happening. Black Adam is currently scheduled to come out on July 29, 2022. The movie will tie in with the previous Shazam! film, although it is not a sequel (Shazam! 2 will be a separate film). It can be difficult figuring out where to start reading about Black Adam in the comics, especially since the character dates all the way back to 1945. Back then he was the nemesis to Captain Marvel published by Fawcett Comics. These days Black Adam is more of a dark anti-hero, Captain Marvel has been renamed Shazam due to confusion with Marvel Comics, and both characters are owned by DC Comics. I am here to help you navigate the complicated network of Shazam comics and get started reading this awesome character.
A Brief Overview of Black Adam
Black Adam was created by Otto Binder and C. C. Beck, first appearing in Fawcett's 1945 comic Marvel Family #1. Designed as an antagonist to popular superhero Captain Marvel, he was originally an ancient Egyptian man named Teth-Adam. Chosen by the wizard Shazam, he was granted incredible powers with ties to the Egyptian gods. This power would eventually corrupt Black Adam into a tyrant with dreams of world conquest, and the wizard banished him for several millennia. Eventually he would return in the present day to plague his future counterpart Captain Marvel (NOTE: DC changed Captain Marvel's name in 2011 to Shazam, previously the name of the wizard who gave him his powers, which can be confusing to new readers).
Unlike many would-be world conquerors, Black Adam is a deeply principled individual who has shown to be an actually good leader. Eventually he would become ruler of the nation Kahndaq and even bring them prosperity for a time. He's been a member of groups ranging from the Justice Society of America to the Secret Society of Super-Villains depending on his shifting allegiances.
Recommended Reading
* The Power of Shazam! - This 1994 graphic novel by writer/artist Jerry Ordway is a new version of Captain Marvel's origin story, reimagining the character and his supporting cast for the modern era. It is pretty much the definitive Black Adam introduction for the character as he is today.
* JSA - This long-running comic (1999-2006) doesn't include Black Adam as a key figure until awhile into its run. I'm including it here though because the upcoming movie seems to also heavily invole the Justice Society of America. This is the book that began their association, so I have to assume there will be some connection. It also marks the beginning of Black Adam shifting from a brutish evil bastard to a more complicated intellectual character. The whole thing is worth reading, but if you want to skip straight to the Black Adam storylines I recommend the following: Savage Times, Black Reign, and Black Vengeance.
* 52 - The large ensemble cast of this 2006 comic isn't limited to Black Adam, but it is probably the best place to start with the character. 52 was written as a collaboration between several of DC's top writers to tell the story of the "gap year" following Infinite Crisis when most of DC's top heroes were out of action. Black Adam is dramatically reinvented as the ruler of the nation Kahndaq, where he attempts to build a family while the outside world refuses to leave him alone. This culminates in the explosive events of World War III and is directly followed by his first solo comic, Black Adam: The Dark Age.
If you've been with me so far you know I love to hear any input people have. Please tell me if you enjoy reading anything I've suggested, I do this because I love getting new people into comics. If you're a big Black Adam fan and have different ideas about the best place to start, please also tell me your opinions!
Comments