BLACK ADAM

Real Name: Teth-Adam / Theo Adam

Class: Human magic-user

Occupation: Superhero, supervillain

Group Affiliation: The Society, formerly Junior Injustice Society, Injustice Society

Known Relatives: (Teth-Adam) Shiruta (wife, deceased), Gon (son, deceased), Hurut (son, deceased) (Theo Adam) Sarah Primm (sister)

Aliases: Mighty Adam

Base of Operations: New York City, NY, formerly Egypt, 19th Dynasty, Fawcett City

First Appearance: Marvel Family #1 (Fawcett) (December 1945)

Powers: Black Adam drew his strength from Egyptian gods, he had the stamina of Shu, the speed of Heru, the strength of Amon, the wisdom of Zehit, the power of Aton and the courage of Mehen.

History: (Power of Shazam II #10 (fb)) - <Egypt, 19th Dynasty> The aged Shazam, champion of the gods,  traveled to Egypt during the reign of Rameses II to find a successor. He chose the pharaoh's son Teth-Adam, impressed by his strength and decency. Shazam gave him his powers, but unbeknownst to him, his daughter Blaze conspired with the Egyptian deity Set, and Adam’s powers were stolen from the Egyptian pantheon. Despite Blaze’s interference, Mighty Adam turned out to be a worthy champion and successor. Mighty Adam saved the Egyptians from a massive flood, and made a peace accord with the Hittites. Shazam left Egypt, secure in his choice. 

(JSA #20-22) <ancient Egypt, 19th Dynasty> Mighty Adam and Prince Khufu discovered the remains of a crashed Thanagarian spaceship, and secured it in a temple to unravel it’s mysteries. Khufu’s seer Nabu predicted a war thousands of years in the future in which Adam and a reincarnated Khufu would play a important role. Adam and Nabu constructed the Claw of Horus from the Nth metal that once powered the Thanagarian ship, and gave it to the time traveling Flash I to bring into the future and bestow upon Khufu's reincarnated self.

(JSA #43, 44) <Egypt, 15th Dynasty> - Adam’s native Kahndaq was conquered and razed by Vandal Savage, and Savage’s servant Ahk-Ton killed Adam’s wife and children. Adam bitterly regretted not being there for his home and family when they needed him, but he had been preoccupied fulfilling his duties to his pharaoh Khufu. When Savage attacked Khufu’s temple of Karnak, Adam was aided by time traveling heroes Mr. Terrific II, Hawkgirl II and Captain Marvel of the JSA in securing the temple against the siege. Savage, Ank-Ton and an army of sand-homunculi waged war on Karnak, and the battle went badly for the heroes. Nabu sent Adam and Captain Marvel to the Western Lands, the land of the dead, to petition Ra for help. Ra helped the heroes vanquish Savage and his army, and Black Adam killed Ank-Ton. Nabu put the JSAers into a mystical sleep and Adam promised to reawaken them thousands of years in the future, when the JSA members would be back in their proper time period. Adam promised himself that no one would suffer the loss of their family in the way he did, and he reconquered Kahndaq in hopes of protecting it.

(Power of Shazam II #10 (fb)) - Blaze seduced Adam, convincing him to take over as pharaoh. Adam began abusing his powers, using them only for his own gain, and became known as Khem-Adam (Black Adam). Shazam realized that his protégé had become corrupted, and confronted him. Shazam stripped Adam of his powers and stored them inside a scarab amulet, and the depowered Adam died due to accelerated natural aging. Shazam buried Adam and the scarab at Abu Simbel, the tomb of Pharaoh Ramses II.

Archaeologists Mary and C.C. Batson discovered the scarab, but were killed by their partner Theo Adams. Theo tapped into the amulet's power, and Black Adam was reborn inside Theo Adam's body. Black Adam fought repeatedly with Captain Marvel, the modern champion of Shazam.

(Power of Shazam II #9 (fb, BTS)) - Shazam restored Black Adam’s powers and memory during the War of the Gods. One the battle was over Shazam once again empowered him and made him a mute.

(Power of Shazam II #5) - Theo Adam’s jail cell was broken down by a vengeful Mary Marvel, the former Mary Batson, who now had the powers of Shazam. She’d recently learned that Theo handed her over to his sister Sarah Primm to raise after murdering her parents, and under the influence of a mind-controlling super villain, she sought blood. Adam, missing his memory, could only gape in horror, before Mary came to her senses and flew off. Adam's memory of his time as Black Adam began to return.

(Power of Shazam II #7) - The gang that was responsible for the death of Adam’s sister wound up in the same jail as him. Adam’s friends pointed out the triggerman, Bert, and Adam stabbed him before the guards intervened.

(Power of Shazam II #8) - When the super villain Captain Nazi was admitted to the prison hospital, Adam had himself inflicted with a flesh wound to meet him. Adam helped Adam escape in exchange for being able to tag along. Captain Nazi flew Adam to safety, but said that was all he was willing to do to help the stranger, and dropped him to his seeming demise. Captain Marvel, Jr. was in pursuit of Nazi, and, not knowing anything about Captain Marvel’s worst foe, rescued him. Adam was approached by the demoness Blaze, who told him she could restore his freedom and his voice, but at a price.

(Power of Shazam II #9) - Blaze restored Adam’s powers, and they attacked Shazam at the Rock of Eternity, sending him to Hades. Black Adam was hellbent on revenge on Captain Marvel, and found the Marvel Family transporting Captain Nazi back to prison. Adam hadn’t forgotten that Nazi tried to kill him, and sent him flying with a powerful punch, forcing Marvy Marvel and Captain Marvel, Jr. to pursue their captive. Captain Marvel now shared his powers with the Marvel Family, and he turned out to be no match for Black Adam, who snapped his arm, and tried to bury him alive on a construction site. Adam railed against Shazam, telling Cap he was doing him a favor by killing him, preventing Shazam from betraying him. Adam flew off satisfied, but once Cap’s powers returned thanks to Mary and Jr. relinquishing theirs, he dug himself free, and vowed to find Shazam in Hades.

(Power of Shazam II #10) - Black Adam visited his sister’s grave, and knew he could never turn against Blaze because she held Primm’s very soul in her grasp. Adam was spotted, and the police arrived. He was angry that they interrupted a family moment, and dealt out a beating before flying away.

(Power of Shazam II #11, 12) - Black Adam followed Mary, Dudley and Tawny into Shazam’s subway hq, and Ibis’ tomb. He ripped the Tawny doll to shreds, Blaze was under the impression that Tawny was helping them, but his good nature only let him aid the Marvel Family. Mary cast Shazam’s resurrection spell, bringing Ibis the Invincible, a powerful magician under Shazam’s protection, back to life. He banished Black Adam to Hades, and Black Adam was unfamiliar with the territory, and initially took pleasure in tormenting the already tormented souls. He found his sister, melded to rock, and forced to witness the punishment of others. He protested, saying she was always the good one, and she replied that she had been damned because of his sins. Adam screamed, realizing Blaze had been playing him. Ibis, already tiring of being awake, made a plan to end Blaze’s villainy. He sent Captain Marvel and Mary to Hades to free Shazam, and sent Cap Jr. and Bulletman outside the Rock of Eternity to delay her from freeing the Three Faces. Blaze and Black Adam defeated Cap Jr. and Bulletman. Dudley and Tawny joined the fight, but were soon overwhelmed. Mary found Sarah Primm in Hades, and freed her with the help of Satanus, sending her to Heaven. Black Adam no longer had a reason to be loyal to Blaze, and told Mary he owed her one. The freed Shazam and Ibis cleaved the Rock, freeing the Three Faces of Evil, and at Shazam’s command Black Adam battled it. The Marvel Family forced the Rock back together, trapping Blaze alongside the Three Faces and Adam. Ibis took pity on Adam, and sent him to a distant star.

(JSA #6) - Adam developed a brain tumor that left him truly demented, and also allowed Theo Adams personality to once again take control of Black Adam. He ran amok in midtown Manhattan, causing massive damage until the JSA arrived. After an intense battle Dr. Fate and Hourman III used their powers of time-travel to steal a portion of the thunder that created Black Adam from the past and used it to transform him back into his human alter ego Theo Adams in the present. The JSA then handed Adams over to Chase and the D.E.O.

(Young Justice: Sins of Youth #2) - Under orders from the Agenda Li’l Black Adam and the Junior Injustice Society led coordinated attacks on Gotham, Metropolis and Happy Harbor. They were opposed by Young Justice, the JLA and JSA, but were teleported to the Agenda’s Alaska hq when the heroes turned their attentions there. The heroes defeated the Junior Injustice Society and dismantled the Agenda’s Alaskan operation. In order to be reunited with his familiar Teekel, whom Young Justice had captive, Klarion returned Black Adam and all the other de-aged superheroes and supervillains to their proper age.

(JSA #16, 17, 19, 20) - Black Adam joined Johnny Sorrow’s Injustice Society after Sorrow promised to remove Adam’s brain tumor. Adam was part of the Society’s coordinated attack o the JSA, but when he and Wildcat of the JSA were separated from the other combatants Adam took Wildcat and flew into the stratosphere. Black Adam wanted redemption and a shot at joining the JSA so he betrayed the Injustice Society, telling Wildcat that Johnny Sorrow unleashed the King of Tears on Earth. Black Adam and Wildcat traveled to the Rock of Eternity and petitioned Spectre (Hal Jordan) to combat the King of Tears. Spectre couldn’t stop the King, but Black Adam ad the JSA banished the King by having Flash I strike Johnny Sorrow at lightspeed, opening a hole in space-time that sucked in both Sorrow and the King of Tears.

(JSA #21) - Black Adam asked Sand to let him join the JSA, but Sand turned him down, saying the public wouldn’t trust the JSA if they had a former villain on their team.

(JSA #22) - When the JSA went to comfort Hawkgirl, who had just learned she was the reincarnated Sheira Hall, Adam tagged along, refusing to be turned away.

(JSA #23-25) - The JSA learned that Hawkgirl had been taken to the planet Thanagar, and resolved to follow her there. A number of JSAers were involved in other cases or otherwise unavailable, so Black Adam offered to accompany them. Flash suggested they allow him to, since their mission to Thanagar reminded him of the prophecy he learned about from Adam and Khufu in ancient Egypt. Dr. Fate used Fate’s Tower to transport them to Thanagar where they witnessed the resurrection of Hawkman I. Black Adam, the JSA and Hawkman battled Sin-Eater and his Dark Wingmen who had conquered Thanagar but were defeated. They regrouped and once again battled Sin, with Hawkman ultimately being the one to defeat him and free Thanagar from his rule.

(JSA: Our Worlds at War #1) - During the Imperiex War Black Adam was allowed to accompany the JSA on a mission given by President Luthor to disrupt Imperiex’s link to his ship’s power supply. Atom-Smasher was quite vocal about his disapproval of having Black Adam along for the mission, and the two almost came to blows. The JSA found that Imperiex’s ship was leeching it’s power from the planet Daxam, which Imperiex had pulled out of its’ orbit. Dr. Occult channeled the mystic energy of Black Adam and several others to send Daxam back into proper orbit, and Imperiex’s ship, no longer having a power supply, imploded.

(JSA #26, 27) - Black Adam was made a probationary member of the JSA, but he still butted heads with Atom-Smasher, who didn’t want him on the team. Atom and Adam started started trading blows, and after Adam defeated Adam-Smasher he started lashing out at his other JSA teammates. Captain Marvel arrived at JSA hq and physically restrained Black Adam and calmed him down. He told the JSA he vouched for the fact that Black Adam deserved a second chance, but also stated that the Marvel Family would be keeping an eye on Adam. Black Adam and most of the JSA were teleported by Roulette to her House.

(JSA #28, 30) - Roulette forced Adam and the JSA to battle each other for the amusement of a crowd of supervillains. Adam was pitted against Atom-Smasher in a gladiatorial arena, with both of them pumped full of aggressor drugs to push them to fight to the death. They eventually shook of the drugs and escaped the arena. Atom-Smasher confessed to Adam that he had murdered Extant and would never kill again. Adam told him that in the service of Egypt and in the protection of his family he had killed many times, and in his opinion sometimes killing went along with duty. The JSA wrecked Roulette’s House, so she teleported them back to JSA hq with a promise that they would play in her games again.

(JSA #31) - Adam was at JSA hq when the team welcomed Power Girl as their newest member.

(JSA #32, JSA #75 (fb)) - Black Adam and Atom-Smasher had a private discussion that was interrupted by the Star-Spangled Kid. Atom-Smasher quickly chased her off so he could continue his talk with Adam. Adam wanted to form a superteam that would deal with criminals in harsher ways than the JSA allowed. Adam and the JSA welcomed Johnny Thunder to JSA hq, he claimed to have had a miraculous recovery from Alzheimer’s. In truth it was the Ultra-Humanite in possession of Thunder’s body.

(JSA #35-37) - The Ultra-Humanite used Johnny Thunder’s Thunderbolt to conquer the world, and imprisoned Adam and virtually every superhuman on Earth in stasis tubes, only reviving them when he needed mind-controlled slaves to serve in his personal guard the Thunderfront. Adam served as a member of the Thunderfront when they attacked the JSA, the only heroes not under the Humanite’s control. The JSA used a device that disrupted the braincaps Humanite used to control the Thunderfront, leaving them unconscious but freed from Humanite’s mental domination. When Adam and the other heroes awoke they aided the JSA in defeating the Humanite. Adam and the JSA attended the funeral of Johnny Thunder, whose body gave out after he was freed from the Humanite’s control.

(Hawkman IV #25 (fb, BTS), JSA #56 (fb, BTS)) - Black Adam offered up Brainwave for Mr. Mind to reside in in exchange for Mr. Mind joining Black Adam’s superteam. Mr. Mind burrowed into Brainwave’s head and began eating away at the growth in Brainwave’s brain that was responsible for his recent fits of madness. Adam got Northwind to join his team by offering sanctuary to Northwind's Feitherian compatriots.

(JSA #40) - Black Adam watched news coverage of Captain Marvel and the JSA’s rescue of elementary school students from the clutches of the Shadower. Adam and his newly formed team of Atom-Smasher, Brainwave, Jr., and Northwind were disgusted by the light-handed approach Captain Marvel used to make Shadower give up to the authorities.

(JSA #41) - Hourman told Adam and the JSA he had a premonition of Black Barax attacking Tylerco to prevent them from performing an experiment that would prove the existence of tachyons. The JSA went to Tylerco, and while they were waiting for Barax Black Captain Marvel told Adam that one of the reasons he joined the JSA was to watch Adam, and he was almost convinced that Adam was still a villain. Barax arrived at Tylerco, and the JSA fought him, but he succeeded in wrecking Tylerco’s experiment. Captain Marvel’s lightning caused Barax’ time-cube to malfunction and it took some of the JSAers back in time to the 1940s’.

(JSA #44) - Black Adam traveled to Egypt and woke Mr. Terrific II, Hawkgirl II and Captain Marvel from their millennia-long mystical sleep, fullfilling the promise he made to them when they first met in Egypt’s 15th Dynasty.

(JLA / JSA: Virtue and Vice) - Adam attended the first annual JLA and JSA Thanksgiving celebration when the teams were called to Arusha, Tanzania to stop Doctor Bedlam from disrupting the Pan-African Conference on World Hunger. The JLA and JSA defeated Bedlam, but the attack was a ruse on the part of Johnny Sorrow to give him the opportunity to have Despero possess President Luthor, who was at the conference, and to have the Seven Deadly Sins possess members of the JLA and JSA. The possessed heroes destroyed JSA headquarters and incapacitated the unpossessed JLA and JSA members. Adam was amng the heroes badly injured during the battle, but was cared for by Dr. Mid-Nite. By the time he recovered the JLA and JSA had returned the Sins to captivity in the Rock of Eternity, defeated Johnny Sorrow and freed Luthor from Despero.

(JSA #45) - Black Adam and the JSA provided security for the trial of Kobra for terrorist acts, which was necessary because hundreds of Kobra cultists were swarming the district court building where Kobra was being tried. Under Kobra’s orders the cultists threatened to activate bombs implanted in their bodies, killing themselves. Rather than allow the bloodshed the judge and Director Bones of the D.E.O. agreed to let Kobra go free for the time being. Black Adam and Atom-Smasher were outraged, and both agreed Kobra should have been killed for his crimes then and there. Adam and Atom and argued that protecting innocent lives was so important that heroes shouldn’t handicap themselves by refusing to kill enemies when there was no other alternative. The rest of the JSA disapproved of their point of view, so the duo quit the team.

(JSA #51) - In the wake of a series of terrorist attacks carried out by Kobra cultists, Black Adam, Atom-Smasher, Northwind and Brainwave, Jr. stormed Kobra’s temple in the Himalayas and slaughtered the Kobra cultists. They confronted Kobra and told him they were sick of villains like him never facing justice, always being briefly imprisoned then escaping to do more harm. Black Adam then ripped out Kobra’s heart, killing him.

(JSA #52) - Black Adam met with Eclipso (Alex Montez) and warned him the JSA would force him to leave once they discovered he stole black diamonds to power himself. He offered Eclipso a chance to fight for justice at his side, and Eclipso accepted.

(JSA #53) - Adam and his allies destroyed every base and clone factory of the Council, culminating with Black Adam destroying the Council’s Ithaca hq and killing Dr. Anatol Mykros. He met Mykros’ daughter Nemesis, who’d devoted her life to destroying the Council, and told her to find a new purpose in life, inviting her to join his superteam.

(JSA #56, Hawkman IV #23)- Black Adam and his team arrived in Adam’s homeland of Kahndaq with the intention of reclaiming it for Adam. They freed the workers of a slave labor camp and slaughtered the soldiers guarding the camp. Adam and his team went to Kahndaq’s capital of Shiruta and confronted dictator Asim Muhunnad. Adam explained to Muhunnad that the three interlocking pyramids on Kahndaq’s flag, which Adamdesigned, represented the souls of his deceased wife and children. He berated Muhunnad for disgracing their memory and killing thousands of Khandaq’s people during his reign. Adam then ordered Atom-Smasher to make history and kill Muhunnad, and he complied. Adam proclaimed himself ruler of Kahndaq.

(JSA #57, Hawkman IV #24, JSA #58, Hawkman IV #25) - Adam and his team made Muhunnad’s palace their hq, and addressed their supporters, which turned out to be a vast segment of Kahndaq’s population. Later Adam made an offering of the scarab he was imprisoned in, and buried it in front of a statue of his dead wife and sons. The JSA arrived in Kahndaq to take home Adam’s teammates, who were all former allies of the JSA. Adam took down the JSA’s Steel Eagle plane, scattering the team across Kahndaq. Atom-Smasher captured Mr. Terrific and Dr. Mid-Nite and brought them to Adam. Adam was unapologetic about his actions, and declared that once he made Kahndaq a paradise he would bring his brand of justice to neighboring countries like Egypt and Israel. He then had Atom-Smasher toss Mid-Nite and Terrific to an angry crowd of Kahndaqis, who considered the JSA invaders. Adam planned on turning Captain Marvel to his side, so after defeating Marvel with some help from Brainwave, he had Brainwave read his mind and pick his vulnerabilities. Adam and Brainwave decided to use his affection for Stargirl to bring him over to their cause. Black Adam was having no luck in converting Marvel, and had to leave when he learned of the death of his teammates Eclipso and Nemesis. He blamed the JSA, not caring that the true Eclipso was responsible for taking control of Alex Montez and killing both Alex and Nemesis. Black Adam fought the JSA by himself, and was nearly defeated. Atom-Smasher and Captain Marvel brokered a peace pact between Black Adam and the JSA. The JSA promised not to interfere further in Kahndaq as long as Black Adam and his team remained within the country’s orders and didn’t try conquering any surrounding nations.

(JSA #66) - Black Adam sent Atom-Smasher and Northwind to kill a group of Khandaqi insurgents. Afterwards Atom-Smasher told Adam he felt isolated, so Adam suggested they recruit his old friends Jade and Obsidian to their cause. Atom-Smasher knew they’d refused, and once again wondered if he was doing the right thing.

(JSA #70) - The Society offered Black Adam membership in their inner circle. Adam considered himself Khandaq’s hero, but the rest of the world rejected him, so he liked the Society’s plan to build a new society.

(JSA #73-75) - Black Adam received a viewscreen call from “Lex Luthor,” who’d gotten complaints about Adam using force to recruit villains for the Society. Adam said the villains of the Society weren’t worth his time, he’s only joined the group to keep the Society out of Khandaq and to see the JLA, who he thought lacked honor, off their pedestal. Luthor reminded Adam that his forces were at ebb after Atom-Smasher left him to help the JSA on a mission. The Spectre-Force and Jean Loring/Eclipso attacked Khandaq, Eclipso wanted vengeance because Black Adam used her power for heroism when Alex Montez had Eclipso imprisoned in his body. Black Aam couln’t fight them alone, so he flew to America and convinced Atom-Smasher to come back with him to defend the people of Khandaq. Atom-Smasher minimalized casualties, but Adam couldn’t defeat the villains, nor could the JSA, who’ come to Khandaq to help. Adam resented the JSA butting into his affairs and started attacking them. Spectre only stopped his attacks when Atom-Smasher told him he’d accept the Spectre’s judgment, and allowed the Spectre to stop his heart. Black Adam restarted his heart with his magic lightning, and the JSA took Atom back to America after warning Black Adam to stay far away from him in the future. Eclipso was satisfied she’d punished Adam, who was now completely alone without his brother-in-arms.

(JSA #76) - Black Adam and the Society inner circle watched the trial of Atom-Smasher, who was being tried for breaking international law in the invasion of Khandaq. Adam commented that he was a man of conviction, but his fellow Society members called Atom a fool. Calculator sent a video conference call to inform them of a rumor that would make the JLA’s brainwashing of Dr. Light pale in comparison to what he’d learned.

(Firestorm II #17) - Luthor used the hero Firestorm and Gehenna to power a top-secret Brazilian site. Firestorm broke loose, and rescued Gehenna from her captivity. The heroes were beset by Black Adam, Parasite, Syonide, and the new Royal Flush Gang. The battle was joined by Queen Bee and the H.I.V.E., but they couldn’t stop Firestorm from blowing up the installation and escaping.

(52 / WWIII Part One: A Call to Arms #1) - <Week 45, Day 5> Black Adam declared war on humanity after the death of his family, starting WWIII. He slaughtered millions in Bialya, and Martian Manhunter demanded justice. Black Adam declared that his vengeance was righteous, and he had no regrets. He battled Adam, and tried to take over his mind, but Adam shook him off, and put his memories of the millions he'd killed into Manhunter's mind. Manhunter was overwhelmed with grief, and flew off into space.

(52 / WWIII Part One: A Call to Arms #1) - <Week 50, Day 1> Black Adam wrecked havoc across the globe, leaving death and destruction in his wake. S.H.A.D.E. deployed father Time and Silent Majority to do a preemptive strike on Adam before he attacked America. They confronted Adam over the Atlantic, and Adam killed Silent Majority, and ripped off Father Time's face, angry that they'd attacked him before he set a foot on American soil. He then tossed a S.H.A.D.E. aircraft carrier at NYC. The world's superheroes prepared for a confrontation with Adam.

(52 / WWIII Part Two: The Valiant #1) - <Week 50, Day 4> Black Adam's war led him to Pisa, Italy. He fought and defeated the Marvel Family and the Doom Patol, and continued his killing.

(52 / WWIII Part Three: Hell Is For Heroes #1) - <Week 5, Day 5, 6> Black Adam attacked Greece, and fought the Teen Titans, killing Young Frankenstein. He warned them not to pursue him, he didn't take sport in killing children, but he wouldn't abstain from it. They followed him to the Himalayas, and he severely injured most of them and killed Terra. He let them know that he partially blamed them for Kid Osiris' death, since they'd once turned their backs on him.

(52 / WWIII Part Four: United We Stand #1) <Week 50, Day 7> Black Adam arrived in China, and prepared to destroy the entire country. He defeated China's superhero team the Great Ten before China allowed the American superhero community to square off against him. Black Adam was a god with nothing left to lose, and each punch he threw was intended to kill. His savagery was winning the day until Martian Manhunter reappeared and flooded his brain with his own loss, the death of the entire Martian species. Black Adam was distracted long enough for Captain Marvel to hurl a Shazam bolt at him. Theo Adam was powerless, and left with amnesia. He staggered away unnoticed from the end of WWIII.

(Titans: Villains For Hire Special #1) - Osiris was resurrected during Brightest Day, and tried yet another spell to reanimate the statues of Black Adam and Isis, but failed. Deathstroke was assembling a team of assassins that he named the Titans. He chose metas with recent personal tragedies, and approached Osiris, promising him that he had connections with people that could bring back his family.

(Titans II #24, 25) - Osiris brought the statues of Adam and Isis to the Titans hq the Labyrinth. After Osiris’ first mission with the Titans he returned home and found that Isis’ statue had a crack on her face. He took it as a sign and prayed to her to tell him what to do.

(Titans II #26, 27) - Osiris had a vision sent to him by the White Lantern. Isis appeared to him, and he realized that every person he killed caused cracks to form in her statue, bringing her closer to returning to life. He refused to accept responsibility for the deaths he caused, especially Atom Ryan Choi’s. He gazed on the statues of Adam and Isis and decided that if there was no other way to bring them back to life he’d have to keep killing.

(Titans Annual II #1) - Osiris brought Isis back to life, took Black Adam’s statue to his palace in Kahndaq, and resumed rule of his country alongside Isis. Deathstroke again approached Osiris about restoring Adam, and Osiris agreed to fight alongside him against the Justice League, who’d come to Kahndaq looking for the Titans. The battle ravaged Kahndaq, and Isis banished the Justice League, and told Osiris she was assuming sole rule of their country

Comments: Created by Otto Binder & C.C. Beck.

In pre-Crisis continuity Black Adam lived on Earth-S and had a completely different history.

Black Adam was originally published by Fawcett Comics, which DC obtained the rights to in 1972.

Black Adam received a profile in JSA Secret Files #2. Black Adam (as Li’l Black Adam) received a profile in Sins of Youth Secret Files #1 under the Junior Injustice Society entry

Black Adam was pictured on the covers of JSA #38 and JSA #50.

JSA #81 had a flashback of Black Adam’s appearance in Infinite Crisis #1.

All characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © DC Comics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please visit The Official DC Comics Site at: http://www.batman.com

BLACK ADAM (pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths)

Real Name: Teth-Adam

Class: Parallel Earth (Earth-S) Human magic-user

Occupation: Supervillain, formerly champion

Group Affiliation: Mr. Mind's Monster Society  of Evil

Known Relatives: 

Aliases: Mighty Adam

Base of Operations: Fawcett City, formerly Egypt, 19th Dynasty, Earth-S

First Appearance: Marvel Family #1 (Fawcett) (December 1945)

Powers: Black Adam drew his strength from Egyptian gods, he had the stamina of Shu, the speed of Heru, the strength of Amon, the wisdom of Zehit, the power of Aton and the courage of Mehen.

History:  (Marvel Family (Fawcett) #1 (fb)) - <5000 years ago> The wizard Shazam protected Egypt, and chose Teth-Adam to become his champion. By saying the word Shazam Teth-Adam was transformed into Mighty Adam, whose powers were derived from the Egyptian gods. Mighty Adam kept the land safe, but his powers corrupted him, and he decided to rule Egypt for himself. He killed the pharaoh, declared himself the new ruler of Egypt, and planned to have his army conquer the known world. Shazam realized he’d made a terrible mistake, and renamed Mighty Adam Black Adam and banished him to the furthest star in the universe.

(Marvel Family (Fawcett) #1) - Black Adam dedicated himself to having revenge on Shazam, and started flying back to Earth at the speed of light. It took him 5,000 years, but he made his way home, and When he arrived and proclaimed that he would conquer the planet. Shazam had chosen new champions in Captain Marvel and Captain Marvel, Jr. They confronted him, but their powers were too evenly matched and they fought to a standstill before Adam decided to retreat for the moment. The Marvels changed back into Billy Batson and Freddy Freeman to see Shazam and ask him if he knew anything about Black Adam, whose powers were so similar to theirs. Unbeknownst to them Black Adam was following them. Shazam told the boys the story of Black Adam, and he still regretted picking such an unworthy champion. Shazam vanished and Black Adam tied up Freddy and Billy, gagging them so they couldn’t say the magic words that gave them power. Mary Marvel and Uncle Marvel realized the boys were missing, and made their way to Shazam’s throne room only to discover their friends trussed up. Mary fought Black Adam, while Uncle Marvel freed the boys and summoned Shazam, asking him how to defeat Black Adam. Shazam told Uncle Marvel he had to get Black Adam to say his name. Uncle Marvel told the Marvel Family that Black Adam was too powerful for them to defeat and said he should join their family. He annoyed Black Adam by mispronouncing Shazam’s name until Adam spoke the magic word, turning him back into Teth-Adam. His mortal form was 5,000 years old, and he rapidly turned into an elderly man before decaying into a skeleton. Shazam thanked the Marvel Family for destroying his worst mistake, and said he was glad he entrusted his power to good people.

Comments: Created by Otto Binder & C.C. Beck.

Black Adam received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #15 under the Mister Mind’s Monster Society of Evil entry.

Black Adam's appearance in Marvel Family (Fawcett) #1 was reprinted in Shazam! I #8.