Black Adam movie gets a release date of July 29, 2022. (Dwayne Johnson, The Rock )
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I liked it. Kept in moving. Nice kills. Unexpected cameos. Thought it was dope. DC finally got a winner
It was a solid movie, Dr. Fate was great!
Fixed
EVERYONE KEEPS DOING THAT!!!
Comic book fans and critics are like that annoying girlfriend who KEEPS comparing you to her ex, Chad and is constantly telling you about how Chad did things and why don't you do it like Chad??
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Sounds like I may like this movie!
How was Hawkman?
Black Adam
Writers and film critics I have a question. What do you think when movies Overuse the narrator?
Two of the three problems I had with this movie are:
Overuse of the narrator. I feel like the first 5 minutes of the movie was narration. This tends to happen when you're trying to keep the movie short enough not to lose the people's attention with backstory.
Doing so can prevent massive plot holes or things that are just confusing and don't make any sense. I get it.
Some movies do without it in large part allowing for only a minuscule amount of narration.
Take Black Panther for example:
The sole purpose of bringing Ross back to Wakanda wasn't to save his life, but to explain things to him which in turn explained things to the audience.
They used him to push the plot forward and explaining the details that could only be done with adding 15 boring extra minutes to the movie OR not do that and just have giant plotholes like a Michael Bay movie.
Without him, they would have had to go around the way to explain everything about vibranium or they wouldn't have explained it at all.
I'm actually using that same Concept in a novel I'm writing, using someone who is new, and while explaining things to them I'm explaining things to the reader.
Secondly, overuse of slow motion. There was slow motion in almost every fight scene if not every fight scene. I give it about a seven overall because it was entertaining and it was nice to see a superhero movie where motherfuckers took L's. If you're fighting someone who's no match for you you should beat the shit out of their ass.
I mean, it's nice to see a mother fucker who can kick ass actually kicking ass. Taking a motherfucker who tried to shoot you with a punk ass gun with ineffective bullets and throwing his ass about 2 miles.
So much slow-mo.
Third thing: There was also a passionless inspiration scene. I don't know if it's because the young Arab boy is a bad actor, which is possible I'm not going to put it on him. But that's something that should have been corrected by the director.
He's trying to pump people up to do something (spoiler free) and he looks like he's standing in front of the class reciting his book report - I mean he had that much energy and then he threw up The Roc and everyone was like, "YEAH"
That shit felt flat as fuck.
Last small point. Someone needs to tell Hollywood that dark-skinned black women are beautiful too. The black chick in the film was pretty and light skin and had wavy hair and all that shit, but you always see these light skin girls in roles like this.
Black people come in an amazing number of hues, but far too often Hollywood pics a light skin chick. You who have daughters, nieces, etc. know what I mean especially. Im older and I see it now.
Representation matter, but not just for the light-skinned mixed-looking girls, okay?
Overall: 7.
Nice to see fight scenes where 2 badasses are going at it. One is just a little stronger but the other one won't let up, and not in the Captain America, "I can do this all day," kinda way.
Writers and film critics I have a question. What do you think when movies Overuse the narrator?
Two of the three problems I had with this movie are:
Overuse of the narrator. I feel like the first 5 minutes of the movie was narration. This tends to happen when you're trying to keep the movie short enough not to lose the people's attention with backstory.
Doing so can prevent massive plot holes or things that are just confusing and don't make any sense. I get it.
Some movies do without it in large part allowing for only a minuscule amount of narration.
Take Black Panther for example:
The sole purpose of bringing Ross back to Wakanda wasn't to save his life, but to explain things to him which in turn explained things to the audience.
They used him to push the plot forward and explaining the details that could only be done with adding 15 boring extra minutes to the movie OR not do that and just have giant plotholes like a Michael Bay movie.
Without him, they would have had to go around the way to explain everything about vibranium or they wouldn't have explained it at all.
I'm actually using that same Concept in a novel I'm writing, using someone who is new, and while explaining things to them I'm explaining things to the reader.
Secondly, overuse of slow motion. There was slow motion in almost every fight scene if not every fight scene. I give it about a seven overall because it was entertaining and it was nice to see a superhero movie where motherfuckers took L's. If you're fighting someone who's no match for you you should beat the shit out of their ass.
I mean, it's nice to see a mother fucker who can kick ass actually kicking ass. Taking a motherfucker who tried to shoot you with a punk ass gun with ineffective bullets and throwing his ass about 2 miles.
So much slow-mo.
Third thing: There was also a passionless inspiration scene. I don't know if it's because the young Arab boy is a bad actor, which is possible I'm not going to put it on him. But that's something that should have been corrected by the director.
He's trying to pump people up to do something (spoiler free) and he looks like he's standing in front of the class reciting his book report - I mean he had that much energy and then he threw up The Roc and everyone was like, "YEAH"
That shit felt flat as fuck.
Last small point. Someone needs to tell Hollywood that dark-skinned black women are beautiful too. The black chick in the film was pretty and light skin and had wavy hair and all that shit, but you always see these light skin girls in roles like this.
Black people come in an amazing number of hues, but far too often Hollywood pics a light skin chick. You who have daughters, nieces, etc. know what I mean especially. Im older and I see it now.
Representation matter, but not just for the light-skinned mixed-looking girls, okay?
Overall: 7.
Nice to see fight scenes where 2 badasses are going at it. One is just a little stronger but the other one won't let up, and not in the Captain America, "I can do this all day," kinda way.
They should have gone into his background. You don't know which version he is.
And Marvel movies haven't been good since Endgame. How does a Thunder god get taken out by a taser? For me its the little things about Black Adam he doesn't walk in the movie.
Yall know his full name is Adam Jenkins right....he's one of them Jenkins boys...
Anyone else gonna see Black Adams... I'm checking out Black Adams tonight.
I'll let yall know what I think of Black Adams when I get back..
Anyone else gonna see Black Adams... I'm checking out Black Adams tonight.
I'll let yall know what I think of Black Adams when I get back..
hmmm
I gotta see this soon
Could be a good choice and not A BAD IDEA
because of his reincarnation story arc they could REALLY flip this a couple of ways.
and give him a lot to work with in a solo film
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He was actually pretty good. Actor did a great job. I'm not well versed in modern takes of Hawkman, but he reminded me of a more serious Tony Stark.
Nice technology and cool jet. I don't think he is an Alien and probably more based on the classic character origins, but I want to see his story told.
I'd really like to see a prequel film centered on the JSA, that dives into their backstory, especially Dr. Fate and Hawkman.
For folks who aren't familiar with these characters, their existence in the DCEU may cause questions like "where the fuck y'all been when Zod and crew fucked up Metropolis in Man of Steel?"
that is completely your opinion.
and factually inaccurate on a couple of levels
based on box office or audience reaction or critical acclaim?
Far from Home, No Way Home, Shang Chi, Thor and Dr. Strange
Broke records. got great reviews, record streams and VOD
In some way shape or form hit at least ONE of those targets
and they ALL made money period
and the Spiderman is considered a classic
and Shang Chi got them a VERY valuable foothold in the Asian market.
All those movies
Even a Marvel "flop" is most studios annual goal.
Black Adam seems to have done the MAIN job
make peolep WANT to see a DC movie that was just fun.
Not extra dark or a complete departure from the main cinematic universe.
I am a very big fan of that brother (and HIS brother is a great actor too)
I will even admit something here
HE is who I wanted to be Black Panther originally when Marvel was searching
RIP Chadwick
Hawkman history been revamped a few times (like EVERY SINGLE COMIC CHARACTER EVER!)
But as a black Carter Hall? to have him be able to see into his past lives?
And his relationship to Hawkgirl?
And then him being a historian archeologist Egyptologist?
Could be some POWERFUL storytelling in the right hands.
I hated Eternals. Such a boring and depressing film.
‘Black Adam’ Ending And Mid-Credits, Explained: Why Did Black Adam Refuse To Rule Over Kahndaq?
Despite all the brickbats DC's cinematic universe has received for trying to ape the Marvel cinematic universe or being too dark, they've had quite a brilliant
dmtalkies.com
there IS a good movie in there
somewhere
deep
deep
deep
deep
somewhere
a small one
maybe?
Say what you want...
VISUALLY?
That is one of the most beautiful travel channel 2 hour nature porn videos ever seen on the big screen
I aint seriously attempted to craft a script in YEARS
but real talk?
I would actually tackle that one for fun.
Visually, the colors were too damned muted. Cinematography was nice but it was depressing.
And the story didn't make (in world) sense. The Eternals did not fight Thanos because they don't interfere in human history....but they fought the Deviants, saving humans during historical times?
Just dumb.
Bro I swear if you just took out all the location shots and edited them together with that same soundtrack
you would have the greatest zen sleep mediation film ever.
Cause I haven't sleep that well in a theatre in a LONG time
they tried to explain it like BECAUSE they did it before and felt like it messed things up they agreed to totally stay out moving forward.
IT could have should have been done much better
and been the CENTRAL conflict
when to interfere when not to the cost of interfering
flip the whole "with great power comes great responsibility" thing
It should have a globe trotting fun adventure
they HAD ALL THE MONEY and ALL THE TALENT
Just TELL THE STORY
it has ALREADY been written
just apply it to the modern MCU
it could have 2 hour version of the end of endgame showing how they were THERE doing the greatest most pivotal MCU moments but either stayed hidden or helped in secret...
Imagine an Eternal in Wakanda?
It was ALL right there!
This. The kid was horrible and the scene should have been cut.
Speaking of cut, did they cut the scene where Adam smashes the plane wing?
This too. DC seems to do this a lot
This has been happening since The Matrix in 1998. Movies have been overusing it ever since.
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Yep
lack Adam’s Mid-Credits Scene Flies Up, Up, and Away
By Richard Newby
Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures
Cue the John Williams music. The hierarchy of the DC Extended Universe has changed and Superman has returned! Black Adam’s worst-kept secret still manages to be one of its biggest delights: Henry Cavill returns as Superman. Cavill’s position in the DCEU has long been up in the air since the theatrical release of Justice League in 2017, amid a number of executive shifts over at Warner Bros. and several plans to reboot Superman. Cavill fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Black Adam sets up an inevitable showdown between The Last Son of Krypton and The Man in Black.
After defeating Sabaac (Marwan Kenzari), Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) decides not to rule Kahndaq as its king but to serve it as its protector instead. Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) informs him that he may have escaped her prison, but if he crosses the border, she’ll send in the big guns to stop him. Black Adam challenges her and tells her there’s no one on this planet who can stop him. She’s not talking about someone from this planet, she retorts. Black Adam calls her bluff, daring her to “call them all.” But she only needs to call one. Superman descends from the sky, shrouded in fog as John Williams’ iconic score begins to stir. For a moment, it seems like it’ll be another fake out, or a gag like the headless Superman in Shazam! But hey, it’s really him, complete with his classic curl and a shiny new costume. “We should have a talk,” Superman says.
A showdown with Superman has been high on Johnson’s list for years. What’s interesting is that Johnson has somehow managed to successfully shift Black Adam from a Shazam adversary to a Superman one. His character was originally set to be the villain in Shazam!, which Johnson also produced. But the actor believed the character was worthy of his own film as an anti-hero. While a face-off between Black Adam and Shazam is still on the table somewhere down the line, Johnson is angling for Black Adam to be an A-list character, which means pitting him against the most famous superhero in the world. Johnson is, in fact, so committed to this idea that he even established a rivalry between the two characters in the post-credits scene of the animated DC’s League of Super-Pets.
Not that Superman and Black Adam haven’t come to blows in the comics before. They have, though usually only in Elseworlds tales or with multiversal versions of the characters. (Action Comics #831 (2005) by Gail Simone and John Byrne features the two super-beings’ most destructive and notable encounter.) Superman already has an incredible range of villains in his rogue’s gallery, including Lex Luthor, Zod, Mongul, Brainiac, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Metallo, Parasite, Darkseid, who all test him in different ways. But given that one of Superman’s only weaknesses is magic, he’s yet to have a significant and reoccurring magic-based adversary. Black Adam is about to change that.
Johnson has alluded to big plans for Black Adam, and probably isn’t looking to do a plain ol’ Black Adam vs. Superman movie. He seems to have something more ambitious in mind. If I had my guess, he’s looking to engineer an international incident that will pit two of DC’s most iconic teams against each other: that is, a battle between the Justice League and the Justice Society. Johnson has referred to Black Adam as the start of Phase One in the DCEU’s revitalized plans. In terms of significance, that would make Superman meeting Black Adam the equivalent of Nick Fury telling Tony Stark about the Avengers Initiative. Black Adam, an anti-hero that few beyond DC Comics fans were familiar with until now, is about to become central to setting up the next big theatrical DC event film. If Johnson pulls it off, the whole world will come to know the name Black Adam.
By Richard Newby
Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures
Cue the John Williams music. The hierarchy of the DC Extended Universe has changed and Superman has returned! Black Adam’s worst-kept secret still manages to be one of its biggest delights: Henry Cavill returns as Superman. Cavill’s position in the DCEU has long been up in the air since the theatrical release of Justice League in 2017, amid a number of executive shifts over at Warner Bros. and several plans to reboot Superman. Cavill fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Black Adam sets up an inevitable showdown between The Last Son of Krypton and The Man in Black.
After defeating Sabaac (Marwan Kenzari), Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) decides not to rule Kahndaq as its king but to serve it as its protector instead. Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) informs him that he may have escaped her prison, but if he crosses the border, she’ll send in the big guns to stop him. Black Adam challenges her and tells her there’s no one on this planet who can stop him. She’s not talking about someone from this planet, she retorts. Black Adam calls her bluff, daring her to “call them all.” But she only needs to call one. Superman descends from the sky, shrouded in fog as John Williams’ iconic score begins to stir. For a moment, it seems like it’ll be another fake out, or a gag like the headless Superman in Shazam! But hey, it’s really him, complete with his classic curl and a shiny new costume. “We should have a talk,” Superman says.
A showdown with Superman has been high on Johnson’s list for years. What’s interesting is that Johnson has somehow managed to successfully shift Black Adam from a Shazam adversary to a Superman one. His character was originally set to be the villain in Shazam!, which Johnson also produced. But the actor believed the character was worthy of his own film as an anti-hero. While a face-off between Black Adam and Shazam is still on the table somewhere down the line, Johnson is angling for Black Adam to be an A-list character, which means pitting him against the most famous superhero in the world. Johnson is, in fact, so committed to this idea that he even established a rivalry between the two characters in the post-credits scene of the animated DC’s League of Super-Pets.
Not that Superman and Black Adam haven’t come to blows in the comics before. They have, though usually only in Elseworlds tales or with multiversal versions of the characters. (Action Comics #831 (2005) by Gail Simone and John Byrne features the two super-beings’ most destructive and notable encounter.) Superman already has an incredible range of villains in his rogue’s gallery, including Lex Luthor, Zod, Mongul, Brainiac, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Metallo, Parasite, Darkseid, who all test him in different ways. But given that one of Superman’s only weaknesses is magic, he’s yet to have a significant and reoccurring magic-based adversary. Black Adam is about to change that.
Johnson has alluded to big plans for Black Adam, and probably isn’t looking to do a plain ol’ Black Adam vs. Superman movie. He seems to have something more ambitious in mind. If I had my guess, he’s looking to engineer an international incident that will pit two of DC’s most iconic teams against each other: that is, a battle between the Justice League and the Justice Society. Johnson has referred to Black Adam as the start of Phase One in the DCEU’s revitalized plans. In terms of significance, that would make Superman meeting Black Adam the equivalent of Nick Fury telling Tony Stark about the Avengers Initiative. Black Adam, an anti-hero that few beyond DC Comics fans were familiar with until now, is about to become central to setting up the next big theatrical DC event film. If Johnson pulls it off, the whole world will come to know the name Black Adam.
EASTER EGGS OCT. 21, 2022
All the Black Adam Easter Eggs You Might Have Missed
By Richard Newby
Photo: Frank Masi/Warner Bros.
A new champion has arrived: Black Adam. Fulfilling a 15-year journey to the screen for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Black Adam not only brings one of comics’ oldest anti-heroes to life on the big-screen for the first time, it also introduces a cadre of brand-new heroes: The Justice Society, consisting of Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo). With Black Adam and the Justice Society now positioned as central players in the DCEU, let’s break down the Easter eggs referencing the characters’ comic-book pasts and cinematic futures.
Kahndaq
The home of Black Adam is actually a relatively recent addition to DC’s mythos. The character originally hailed from Egypt. Kahndaq was introduced in 2006 and its comics history is similar to the one in the film, in that it was ruled over by a malevolent dictator who had Teth-Adam’s family killed.
The Wizard Shazam
Djimon Hounsou reprises his role as the wizard Shazam — from, you know Shazam! (2019) — bestowing powers on Kahndaq’s champion. In Shazam!, the wizard references Teth-Adam as a past individual who misused the power of the gods in a warning to Billy Batson (Angel Asher). Hounsou will reprise the role in Shazam! Fury of the Gods in 2023.
Intergang
The army of occupying soldiers that Black Adam makes quick work of in the film are Intergang. In the comics they’re a crime syndicate who received weapons, vehicles and advanced technology from Apokolips at the behest of Darkseid, under the condition that the gang helped him track down the Anti-Life Equation. While they are typically Superman’s adversaries, they ran into trouble with Black Adam in the comic maxi-series called 52. While there’s no mention of Apokolips in the film, Intergang does have advanced technology, leaving room for a thread to be tied between Darkseid (Ray Porter) in Zack Snyder’s Justice League and the events of Black Adam.
Adrianna Tomaz and Amon
Adrianna first debuted as Andrea Thomas in the 1975 CBS television series, The Secrets of Isis, about a science teacher who gained the powers of the Egyptian goddess. The show served as the second half of The Shazam! Isis Hour. She was later brought into the comics and reimagined in 52 as Adrianna Tomaz, a refugee captured by Intergang. After being saved by Black Adam, she helped him realize how he could change Kahndaq for the better. Gifting her with the Amulet of Isis, Adrianna developed powers of her own and married Black Adam. While Black Adam doesn’t hint at any romantic possibilities between Adrianna (Sarah Shahi) and Teth-Adam, that could change in the future. What seems more certain is that Adrianna will eventually receive powers of her own, helping form the “Black Marvels” family, just as Shazam has his own family.
Another member of that family is Amon (Bodhi Sabongui). In the movie, he’s Adrianna’s superhero-obsessed son, though in the comics, he was her brother. The latter version became the teenager superhero, Osiris, and gained his powers by speaking Black Adam’s name.
The Original Atom
Henry Winkler makes a brief appearance via Facetime as Al Rothstein’s (Centenio) Uncle Al, aka Al Pratt, the original Atom who was a founding member of the Justice Society. In the comics, Pratt was originally a diminutive masked boxer, before he acquired the power to pack an atomic punch after being exposed to radiation in a fight with the atomic scientist turned villain, Cyclotron. In the film, Rothstein reveals that his costume is a hand-me-down from his uncle.
Cyclone’s Origin
Maxine Hunkel (Swindell) tells Al she got her powers at 15 when she was kidnapped by a mad scientist, who injected her with “nanobites.” Cyclone’s comic origin is the same. The name of that scientist is T.O. Morrow, creator of the android Red Tornado, the second individual to use that moniker. The first was Mathilda Hunkel, Maxine’s grandmother, who disguised herself as a man to fight crime as a member of the original Justice Society. In Mark Waid and Alex Ross’ Kingdom Come, which depicts a near future version of the DC Universe, Maxine Hunkel adopts the name Red Tornado, becoming the third iteration.
Doctor Fate and the Helmet of Nabu
Kent Nelson (Pierce Brosnan) reveals that his helmet is alien in origin and possesses him when he becomes Doctor Fate. This is a slight simplification of the character’s comic book history in which the helmet houses a cosmic entity, Nabu, who is a Lord of Order and stands against the Lords of Chaos. As referenced in Black Adam, the helm has possessed different bearers over the centuries. The death of Nelson in the film’s third act leaves room for his successor, Khalid Nassour, to be chosen by Nabu as the new Doctor Fate in a sequel or spin-off.
Hawkman’s Rebirth
While the film doesn’t outright say it, Carter Hall’s (Hodge) lack of fear over his own death is due to the fact that he is destined for reincarnation, something that has happened repeatedly throughout his many lifetimes. Granted longevity and immortality, Hawkman has not only been around since ancient Egypt but also reincarnated across the multiverse, along with his partner and soulmate, Hawkgirl. Occasionally, two or more iterations of themselves exist at the same time across different dimensions.
Emilia Harcourt
Jennifer Holland reprises her role as Agent Emilia Harcourt from The Suicide Squad (2021) and Peacemaker (2022), this time sporting her comics-accurate look as designed by Jim Lee when she first appeared in 2015. What she’s doing working that closely for Waller again, or why the Justice Society has allied itself with her following the revelations of both Task Force X’s existence and Waller’s culpability at the end of the first season of Peacemaker, remains to be seen. It’s possible Black Adam is set before The Suicide Squad, or that the second season of Peacemaker will clue us in on how these allegiances shifted, and perhaps even justified Waller’s actions to the public. One thing is certain though, Waller’s new Artic holding facility undoubtedly houses a sizable number of supervillains who surely won’t all stay locked there forever.
Sabaac
Black Adam’s big bad is another one of Shazam’s oldest adversaries, alongside Black Adam and Doctor Sivana (Mark Strong). The original version, Timothy Karnes, received his powers from the forces of Hell but largely retained his human look. Ishmael Gregor, the version of Sabaac portrayed by Marwan Kenzari in the film, first appeared in 2004 as an adversary of Freddy Freeman and his teammates, The Outsiders. In the comics, Gregor is Russian born, but the film ties him to Kahndaq’s history and an ancient crown. The end result is the same. Gregor is transformed into a beastly, horned demon whose powers stand in opposition to those granted by Shazam.
The Rock of Finality
Just as Shazam and Black Adam receive their powers from The Rock of Eternity, Sabaac receives his from The Rock of Finality. In the comics, Shazam once threatened to trap Black Adam there if he did not stop his rampage.
The Original Champion
The film reveals that Teth-Adam was not chosen as Kahndaq’s champion. Rather, it was his son, Hurut (Jalon Christian). While Teth-Adam did have a son named Hurut in the comics who was killed, his being the original champion is a new wrinkle added to the mythology. When the power of the gods is originally bestowed on Hurut, he transforms into a being that looks strikingly similar to the comic book depiction of Black Adam, right down to the widow’s peak. His subsequent form, The Champion, is played by Uli Latukefu — who plays Dwayne Johnson on NBC’s Young Rock. Talk about keeping it in the family.
Nth Metal
Hawkman tells the new members of the Justice Society that his ship is made entirely of Nth Metal. This anti-gravity metal is from the planet Thanagar, where one iteration of Hawkman, Katar Hol, is from. More recently, the comic series Dark Knights: Metal revealed Nth Metal is actually 9th Metal and forms the barriers of the multiverse, preventing separate dimensions from bleeding into each other. If those barriers were broken, the DCEU would have a crisis of infinite proportions on their hands. But that’s another story best saved for a later sequel.
All the Black Adam Easter Eggs You Might Have Missed
By Richard Newby
Photo: Frank Masi/Warner Bros.
A new champion has arrived: Black Adam. Fulfilling a 15-year journey to the screen for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Black Adam not only brings one of comics’ oldest anti-heroes to life on the big-screen for the first time, it also introduces a cadre of brand-new heroes: The Justice Society, consisting of Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo). With Black Adam and the Justice Society now positioned as central players in the DCEU, let’s break down the Easter eggs referencing the characters’ comic-book pasts and cinematic futures.
Kahndaq
The home of Black Adam is actually a relatively recent addition to DC’s mythos. The character originally hailed from Egypt. Kahndaq was introduced in 2006 and its comics history is similar to the one in the film, in that it was ruled over by a malevolent dictator who had Teth-Adam’s family killed.
The Wizard Shazam
Djimon Hounsou reprises his role as the wizard Shazam — from, you know Shazam! (2019) — bestowing powers on Kahndaq’s champion. In Shazam!, the wizard references Teth-Adam as a past individual who misused the power of the gods in a warning to Billy Batson (Angel Asher). Hounsou will reprise the role in Shazam! Fury of the Gods in 2023.
Intergang
The army of occupying soldiers that Black Adam makes quick work of in the film are Intergang. In the comics they’re a crime syndicate who received weapons, vehicles and advanced technology from Apokolips at the behest of Darkseid, under the condition that the gang helped him track down the Anti-Life Equation. While they are typically Superman’s adversaries, they ran into trouble with Black Adam in the comic maxi-series called 52. While there’s no mention of Apokolips in the film, Intergang does have advanced technology, leaving room for a thread to be tied between Darkseid (Ray Porter) in Zack Snyder’s Justice League and the events of Black Adam.
Adrianna Tomaz and Amon
Adrianna first debuted as Andrea Thomas in the 1975 CBS television series, The Secrets of Isis, about a science teacher who gained the powers of the Egyptian goddess. The show served as the second half of The Shazam! Isis Hour. She was later brought into the comics and reimagined in 52 as Adrianna Tomaz, a refugee captured by Intergang. After being saved by Black Adam, she helped him realize how he could change Kahndaq for the better. Gifting her with the Amulet of Isis, Adrianna developed powers of her own and married Black Adam. While Black Adam doesn’t hint at any romantic possibilities between Adrianna (Sarah Shahi) and Teth-Adam, that could change in the future. What seems more certain is that Adrianna will eventually receive powers of her own, helping form the “Black Marvels” family, just as Shazam has his own family.
Another member of that family is Amon (Bodhi Sabongui). In the movie, he’s Adrianna’s superhero-obsessed son, though in the comics, he was her brother. The latter version became the teenager superhero, Osiris, and gained his powers by speaking Black Adam’s name.
The Original Atom
Henry Winkler makes a brief appearance via Facetime as Al Rothstein’s (Centenio) Uncle Al, aka Al Pratt, the original Atom who was a founding member of the Justice Society. In the comics, Pratt was originally a diminutive masked boxer, before he acquired the power to pack an atomic punch after being exposed to radiation in a fight with the atomic scientist turned villain, Cyclotron. In the film, Rothstein reveals that his costume is a hand-me-down from his uncle.
Cyclone’s Origin
Maxine Hunkel (Swindell) tells Al she got her powers at 15 when she was kidnapped by a mad scientist, who injected her with “nanobites.” Cyclone’s comic origin is the same. The name of that scientist is T.O. Morrow, creator of the android Red Tornado, the second individual to use that moniker. The first was Mathilda Hunkel, Maxine’s grandmother, who disguised herself as a man to fight crime as a member of the original Justice Society. In Mark Waid and Alex Ross’ Kingdom Come, which depicts a near future version of the DC Universe, Maxine Hunkel adopts the name Red Tornado, becoming the third iteration.
Doctor Fate and the Helmet of Nabu
Kent Nelson (Pierce Brosnan) reveals that his helmet is alien in origin and possesses him when he becomes Doctor Fate. This is a slight simplification of the character’s comic book history in which the helmet houses a cosmic entity, Nabu, who is a Lord of Order and stands against the Lords of Chaos. As referenced in Black Adam, the helm has possessed different bearers over the centuries. The death of Nelson in the film’s third act leaves room for his successor, Khalid Nassour, to be chosen by Nabu as the new Doctor Fate in a sequel or spin-off.
Hawkman’s Rebirth
While the film doesn’t outright say it, Carter Hall’s (Hodge) lack of fear over his own death is due to the fact that he is destined for reincarnation, something that has happened repeatedly throughout his many lifetimes. Granted longevity and immortality, Hawkman has not only been around since ancient Egypt but also reincarnated across the multiverse, along with his partner and soulmate, Hawkgirl. Occasionally, two or more iterations of themselves exist at the same time across different dimensions.
Emilia Harcourt
Jennifer Holland reprises her role as Agent Emilia Harcourt from The Suicide Squad (2021) and Peacemaker (2022), this time sporting her comics-accurate look as designed by Jim Lee when she first appeared in 2015. What she’s doing working that closely for Waller again, or why the Justice Society has allied itself with her following the revelations of both Task Force X’s existence and Waller’s culpability at the end of the first season of Peacemaker, remains to be seen. It’s possible Black Adam is set before The Suicide Squad, or that the second season of Peacemaker will clue us in on how these allegiances shifted, and perhaps even justified Waller’s actions to the public. One thing is certain though, Waller’s new Artic holding facility undoubtedly houses a sizable number of supervillains who surely won’t all stay locked there forever.
Sabaac
Black Adam’s big bad is another one of Shazam’s oldest adversaries, alongside Black Adam and Doctor Sivana (Mark Strong). The original version, Timothy Karnes, received his powers from the forces of Hell but largely retained his human look. Ishmael Gregor, the version of Sabaac portrayed by Marwan Kenzari in the film, first appeared in 2004 as an adversary of Freddy Freeman and his teammates, The Outsiders. In the comics, Gregor is Russian born, but the film ties him to Kahndaq’s history and an ancient crown. The end result is the same. Gregor is transformed into a beastly, horned demon whose powers stand in opposition to those granted by Shazam.
The Rock of Finality
Just as Shazam and Black Adam receive their powers from The Rock of Eternity, Sabaac receives his from The Rock of Finality. In the comics, Shazam once threatened to trap Black Adam there if he did not stop his rampage.
The Original Champion
The film reveals that Teth-Adam was not chosen as Kahndaq’s champion. Rather, it was his son, Hurut (Jalon Christian). While Teth-Adam did have a son named Hurut in the comics who was killed, his being the original champion is a new wrinkle added to the mythology. When the power of the gods is originally bestowed on Hurut, he transforms into a being that looks strikingly similar to the comic book depiction of Black Adam, right down to the widow’s peak. His subsequent form, The Champion, is played by Uli Latukefu — who plays Dwayne Johnson on NBC’s Young Rock. Talk about keeping it in the family.
Nth Metal
Hawkman tells the new members of the Justice Society that his ship is made entirely of Nth Metal. This anti-gravity metal is from the planet Thanagar, where one iteration of Hawkman, Katar Hol, is from. More recently, the comic series Dark Knights: Metal revealed Nth Metal is actually 9th Metal and forms the barriers of the multiverse, preventing separate dimensions from bleeding into each other. If those barriers were broken, the DCEU would have a crisis of infinite proportions on their hands. But that’s another story best saved for a later sequel.