5 Things To Know About Black Adam Before Watching The Film

Black Adam recently had its world premiere last October 3. Scheduled to release in the Philippines on October 19, the movie revolves around the antihero from the ancient city of Kahndaq. Imprisoned for nearly five thousand years of imprisonment, Black Adam becomes unleashed into modern times. His brute tactics and way of justice attract the attention of the Justice Society of America, which tries to stop his rampage and teach him how to be a hero more than a villain. He, then, must team up to stop a force more powerful than himself.

5 Things To Know About Black Adam Before Watching The Film

Black Adam is connected with Shazam.

The character is an ancient Egyptian named Teth-Adam. Chosen by the wizard Shazam to be his successor due to his presumed moral purity. When Teth-Adam says the magic word Shazam, he transforms into Mighty Adam, a super-powered being possessing a vast amount of abilities. Unlike Billy Batson, the foster child selected to become Shazam’s final champion, the Mighty Adam soon becomes corrupted. Although the orphan only wanted to reunite his family, the Mighty Adam uses his superhero powers for a not-so-good cause, seeking revenge after someone kills his family.

He has the powers of SHAZAM.

Black Adam calls upon the name of Shazam. But, unlike Batson who gets his powers from Greek gods and goddesses, Black Adam gets his from Egyptian gods and goddesses. Then, the energies of those extra-dimensional beings once known as gods on Earth. The spell adds almost a hundred pounds of impervious godly muscle and tissue to his frame. Although the spell seems solely vocal, he cannot access this spell if there is some way of stopping him from talking. The powers include the following:

S for Stamina of Shu. This allows him to withstand and survive most types of extreme physical assaults. Aside from that, he also doesn’t need to eat or breathe or survive unaided in space.
H for Swiftness of Heru. He channels Heru’s speed. Black Adam can fly on earth and move at speeds in excess of 2.5-miles a second, and at the speed of light in space.
A for the Strength of Amon. Black Adam has a phenomenal level of super strength that enables him to lift 100,000 tons effortlessly. He can bend steel, punch through walls, and lift massive objects.
Z for the Wisdom of Zehuti. Black Adam has instant access to a vast level of scholarly knowledge. This also gives him clairvoyance, omnilingualism, and hypnosis. This, then, provides him with counsel and advice in times of need.
A for the Power of Aton. Aside from fueling the magic thunderbolt that transforms Adam, it also enhances his other physical abilities and allows for interdimensional travel. He has mystical transformation, physical enhancement, spell source, advanced healing, interdimensional travel, and electrokinesis.
M for the Courage of Mehen. This is partly psychological. It gives him superhuman amounts of inner strength to draw off of. Meanwhile, he makes him indestructible and practically invulnerable to conventional physical injury. He has superhuman inner strength and invulnerability.

Black Adam only has two weaknesses.

His power levels have often been depicted as much stronger than even Shazam’s. Black Adam is only vulnerable to two things — magic and lightning. Black Adam is vulnerable to magic but only significant magic can affect him. Aside from that, he can also be attacked with lightning. This, then, makes him revert back to a non-powered human.

He was more of a stereotypical supervillain in his early years.

As mentioned above, he seeks revenge after his family was killed. However, in the modern era, he has shifted into being an anti-hero than a full-blown villain. He despises those who hurt and enslave others for greed, power, and self-satisfaction among others. He does everything he can to make sure that justice reigns supreme and oppression remains eliminated. The problem, on the other hand, revolves around him being more extreme and violent when it comes to dispensing justice.

Black Adam’s primary enemy is Billy Batson aka Shazam.

Although they almost have the same powers, longtime fans know that the two are rivals. Black Adam fulfills his foil role nicely as he shows what would happen if Billy’s powers as Shazam make him corrupted. Shazam fights for justice and keeps the innocent safe. However, he doesn’t believe in the ends justifying the means. Black Adam, on the other hand, will do whatever it takes to deliver his version of justice — no matter what the cost.