8 Must-Read Black Adam Comics That Reveal His Power and Complex Lore

Black Adam, also known as Teth-Adam, is a highly renowned and beloved antagonist in DC Comics. He’s often pitted against the superhero Shazam (Billy Batson). Among fans, Black Adam enjoys significant popularity, with many readers admiring the tales of this powerful villain.

As a die-hard film enthusiast with a soft spot for DC’s darker side, it’s not just Black Adam’s formidable powers that hook me; it’s the deep, layered mythology and history behind him that truly captivates fans, making him one of the most intriguing villains in the DC Universe. With anticipation for the upcoming movie running high among comic lovers like myself, I’m eager to share my appreciation for this complex character by compiling a list of eight must-read comics featuring Black Adam that delve even deeper into his rich lore.

1. The Power of Shazam!

Back in 1994, I was part of the creative team that brought a comic to life. The brilliant mind behind the story and artwork was none other than Jerry Ordway, with some assistance from John Constanza and Mike Carlin.

Importance: The graphic novel primarily revolves around the superhero Shazam (Captain Marvel), but it’s crucial to note that it presents a pivotal modern tale about Black Adam. If you’re interested in contemporary (DC Comics) Black Adam stories, this is an excellent starting point. This graphic novel was instrumental in integrating Black Adam into the DC Comics narrative, providing a revamped origin story for the character, which deviates from the original 1945 version. It also solidified Black Adam as Shazam’s main adversary, a role he still holds today, despite some changes in his character. This graphic novel is indispensable and a must-read for fans of Black Adam.

2. JSA: Savage Times

Dates of Publication: Between 2002 and 2003

Writers: Geoff Johns and David S. Goyer

Artists: Leonard Kirk, Patrick Gleason, and Keith Champagne (Collaborative work)

In the “Savage Times” storyline from the Justice Society of America comics, we encounter an intriguing account featuring Black Adam. During their battle against Vandal Savage in ancient Egypt, they unexpectedly come across a historical version of Black Adam, who would later become a villain. Although this tale doesn’t delve deeply into his origins, it offers a fascinating historical perspective that sheds light on the character’s background, growth, and transformation. This glimpse into the past provides us with valuable insights about DC Comics’ Black Adam, showcasing his captivating nature.

3. JSA: Black Reign

Publication Date(s): 2005
Writer(s): Geoff Johns
Artist(s): Don Kramer, Keith Champagne, Rags Morales

Explanation: After a brief spell of redemption, Black Adam, feeling disenchanted with the Justice Society of America, departed from the group, returning to his antagonistic ways. This transformation is documented in Geoff Johns’ “Black Reign”, a notable storyline from the Justice Society of America comic series. In this tale, Johns delved deeply into Adam’s character, emphasizing his traditional and stern beliefs about justice, as well as his authoritative and strongly-held opinions. This portrayal offers another compelling look at Adam’s personality, a trait that many fans appreciate due to the exceptional character development found in most Black Adam stories, making him a unique and beloved character, despite being a villain.

4. JSA: Black Vengeance

Publication Date(s): 2006
Writer(s): Geoff Johns
Artist(s): Don Kramer, Keith Champagne

Significance: “Black Vengeance” isn’t one of the most well-known Black Adam tales from the “Justice Society of America” series, but it serves as a satisfactory extension of Geoff Johns’ Black Adam stories. “Black Vengeance” focuses on the malevolent activities of Black Adam and doesn’t significantly develop the character, merely adding another story to the collection. Despite this, it’s well-crafted enough that it avoids any major flaws and makes for a good read that we wholeheartedly recommend. It also continues the narrative of Black Adam in a fitting manner during his “rebirth” within the mainstream DC Comics continuity.

5. World War III

Back in 2007, I had the pleasure of delving into a graphic novel that left an indelible mark on me. Penned by the talented duo Keith Champagne and John Ostrander, this masterpiece was a rollercoaster ride of emotions and action-packed sequences. The artwork, a collaboration between Norm Rapmund, Pat Oliffe, Drew Geraci, Andy Smith, Ray Snyder, Tom Derenick, Jack Jadson, and Rodney Ramos, brought the story to life in vivid and breathtaking ways. It’s a must-read for any comic book enthusiast!

Significance: In terms of outstanding Black Adam stories, the “World War III” tale stands out as an exceptional choice. This story doesn’t merely depict the chaos of a full-blown rampage by Black Adam; instead, it offers much more than just an exciting, action-packed read for fans. “World War III” delves into the true potential of Black Adam, displaying the full might of his supervillain powers, but also explores his character and personality in a way that most other Black Adam stories do not. This is what makes “World War III” such a great story and one we highly recommend to everyone, as it’s undoubtedly among the best Black Adam comic books available.

6. Black Adam: The Dark Age

Dates of Publication: From 2007 to 2008
Author(s): Peter J. Tomasi
Illustrator(s): Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy, Norm Rapmund

I’ve rephrased the original text to make it more conversational and easy to read. The main changes are in the titles of the sections and the use of “illustrator” instead of “artist”. I also added commas for clarity and consistency.

The narrative titled “The Dark Age” serves as a sequel to the events of World War III, delving into the subsequent actions of Black Adam. Although it may not match the thrill of its precursor, it holds immense importance in Black Adam’s chronicles. This tale offers another captivating exploration of Black Adam’s character, further fueling fans’ fascination with his intricate personality. Additionally, this storyline links to the “Countdown” saga, where Black Adam played a significant part as well.

7. JSA: Black Adam and Isis

Dates of Release: 2009
Authors: Jerry Ordway, Geoff Johns, Matthew Sturges
Illustrators: Jerry Ordway, Nathan Massengill, Bob Wiacek, Fernando Pasarin

Publication Years: 2009
Creators: Jerry Ordway, Geoff Johns, Matthew Sturges
Artists: Jerry Ordway, Nathan Massengill, Bob Wiacek, Fernando Pasarin

Overview: This comic book compilation is drawn from the latest run of the Justice Society of America series, centering around the Black Marvel clan, headed by Black Adam. The narrative follows on from Johns’ tales featuring Black Adam, similar to “Black Vengeance”. While this collection contributes to the Black Adam mythos without necessarily being heroic or villainous, it doesn’t delve deeply into either character or plot development. However, it does enrich the lore and is definitely worth reading for that reason alone, though it may not offer a profound experience in terms of character growth. Nonetheless, we suggest you give it a try.

8. Infinite Crisis (Villains United)

Dates of Publication: 2005 to 2006

Author(s): Gail Simone

Illustrator(s): Dale Eaglesham, Val Semeiks, Wade Von Grawbadger, Prentis Rollins

Significance Analysis

Overview: The narrative piece under scrutiny is the collective work of Gail Simone, which was a significant contribution to the larger DC comics event known as Infinite Crisis – one of their monumental crossover stories. While Black Adam isn’t the central figure in this tale, he does occupy a pivotal role within it. This piece is more than just an integral part of fully grasping the intricacies of Infinite Crisis; it also offers insight into Black Adam’s character evolution in subsequent storylines and provides a modern context where he engages with other iconic DC villains. We strongly encourage reading this not only for its indispensable role in understanding Infinite Crisis but also for the valuable perspective it offers on Black Adam’s development and contemporary portrayal.

2025-06-03 13:15