Black Adam was born Teth-Adam in ancient Kahndaq and given the powers of six Egyptian gods by the wizard Shazam. Though initially a hero, he was deemed corrupted and exiled. Returning in modern times, Black Adam seeks to protect Kahndaq and its people using brutal methods, putting him in conflict with heroes like Captain Marvel. He is a sympathetic villain with selfless goals for his country but uses violence to achieve them.

1. Black Adam
King Teth-Adam

2. Powers
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Flight
Incredible superhuman strength
Incredible durability
Resistance to magic
Faster than light speed
Can shoot magical lightning bolts
Can turn into a normal powerless human at
will

3. Origin
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Born Teth-Adam in the North African country of Kahndaq, a neighbor to Egypt,
thousands of years ago
At the time Kahndaq was ruled by a cruel despot called Ibac who had Adam’s
family killed
To depose him Black Adam left for Egypt and met the wizard Shazam, who gave
him powers from 6 Egyptian gods that he could summon with the magic word
Shazam
After deposing Ibac by force he was deemed corrupted by Shazam and (depending
on the version of the story) banished/ destroyed but returned/ resurrected in the
modern day
Found Shazam had chosen a new champion and enraged set out to fight him
After reconciling with Marvel though he came back to Kahndaq, which had been
enslaved by Ibac’s descendant, took back the country and attempted to lead it the
best he could, even becoming a hero for a while
Remarried but after his new wife’s death became a villain again, laying siege to
several countries and nearly beginning a global war

4. Personality
• A sympathetic villain, with completely selfless goals but
brutal methods to achieve them
• Fiercely protective of his home country Kahndaq and his
family
• Hates dictators and oppressors
• Fights fiercely for the freedom of his people, breaking up
human trafficking rings, insisting his people treat him as
only a protector not a ruler so he can never become a
dictator himself, and attacking any group or individual
who wishes to take away the freedoms of the people of
Kahndaq and the world
• Wishes to redeem himself for his past crimes
• Suspicious of foreign powers, and quick to rise against
them when provoked
• Swift to anger, especially when insulted

5. Enemies/associates
• Captain Marvel/ Shazam: Superhero who gained the Shazam power
after him, his enemy but later respected ally, even friend briefly
• Isis: Wife in the present day, convinced him to take a no-kill vow
until she was killed by Intergang and he swore revenge on her killers
• Osiris: Isis’s little brother
• Ibac: Old foe of Black Adam who caused his family’s deaths
• Dr Sivana: Foe of both Captain Marvel and Adam, hating anyone
who bears the Shazam power
• Atom-Smasher: Former co-member of the JSA and former friend
• The Questions: Close friends of Black Adam’s family ever since they
prevented a suicide bombing at his wedding

6. Quotes:
• “It's time for heroes who don't just patrol the
world... they change it.”
• “Send soldiers. Send armies. Send them all”
• “This world belongs to no one
• ‘I am not your master. You bow to no one”

7. Recommended Reading:
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52
Infinite Crisis
Villains United
Forever Evil
Many Captain Marvel stories
Villains Month: Black Adam
JSA: Black Reign
The animated movie Superman/ Shazam