Black Adam | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher |
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First appearance | The Marvel Family #1 (December 1945) |
Created by | Otto Binder and C. C. Beck |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Teth-Adam |
Team affiliations | Injustice League Legion of Doom Secret Society of Super Villains Black Marvel Family Monster Society of Evil Injustice Society Justice League Justice Society of America |
Partnerships | Isis (Adrianna Tomaz) Osiris (Amon Tomaz) Doctor Sivana Atom Smasher Seven Deadly Sins Bolt (Malik White) |
Supporting character of | Captain Marvel/Shazam |
Notable aliases | Khem-Adam, Theo Adam, Hassan Bari, Champion of Kahndaq |
Abilities |
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Black Adam, real name Teth-Adam , is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He was created by Otto Binder and C. C. Beck, and first appeared in the debut issue of Fawcett Comics' The Marvel Family comic book in December 1945. Since DC Comics licensed and acquired Fawcett's characters in the 1970s, Black Adam has endured as one of the most popular archenemies of the superhero Captain Marvel / Shazam and the Marvel Family alongside Doctor Sivana and Mister Mind.[1][2]
Black Adam was originally depicted as a supervillain and the ancient magical champion predecessor of Captain Marvel, who fought his way to modern times to challenge the hero and his Marvel Family associates.[3] Since the turn of the 21st century, however, Black Adam has been redefined by DC Comics writers Jerry Ordway, Geoff Johns, and David S. Goyer as an ancient Kahndaqi and corrupted antihero attempting to clear his name and reputation. He came from a fictional Middle Eastern country named Kahndaq, located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula.[4] Portrayed and seen as a hero who liberated his homeland of Kahndaq from slavery. Featured roles in such comic book series as Justice Society of America, Villains United, Infinite Crisis, and 52 have elevated the character's prominence in the DC Universe, culminating with DC's 2021 line-wide Infinite Frontier relaunch, wherein he joins the Justice League. In 2009, Black Adam was ranked as IGN's 16th-greatest comic book villain of all time.[5]
Dwayne Johnson voiced Black Adam in DC League of Super-Pets (2022), before starring as him in his live-action debut in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film Black Adam (2022), following a silent digital cameo in Shazam! (2019).