In the DC comics, Black Adam and Shazam are rivals, and their powers are very similar. This connection was hinted at in the Black Adam movie.
Black Adam and Shazam’s connection was hinted at in the Black Adam movie, but there’s more there than meets the eye. Black Adam was recently released on HBO Max despite the current turmoil at DC Studios, and it's unclear what the future holds for the current iteration of live-action DC characters. Though Black Adam’s Dwayne Johnson recently released a statement letting fans know that the new DC Studios leadership doesn’t currently want to pursue a sequel, anything is possible in the future. Black Adam’s connection with another already-established DCU superhero could be just the thing to bring him back into the fold later down the line.While Black Adam’s big post-credits scene focused on Henry Cavill’s return as Superman (a scene which unfortunately no longer holds any weight) and teased an upcoming showdown, it is Black Adam’s references to the Shazam! franchise that's more exciting. Black Adam and Billy Batson/Shazam have a long history in the comics, one that would certainly be interesting to see developed on the big screen. The reason for their characters’ connection may seem obvious, but it holds a lot of storytelling potential that the DCU may want to take advantage of in the future.
Black Adam's Powers Origin Is The Same As Shazam's
The reason Black Adam shouts out “Shazam!” to power up the same way Billy Batson and his family do is that their powers come from the same source. Both Teth-Adam and Billy Batson were granted their powers by the Council of Wizards, specifically the mysterious wizard Shazam, though the reason why they got their powers differs vastly. Teth-Adam was given his powers indirectly by his son, Hurut, who was the Council of Wizards’ true chosen champion. Billy Batson was actually chosen as the Council of Wizards’ champion by Shazam, who was by then the last remaining wizard, and Billy later shared his power with his siblings.
Though Black Adam and Billy Batson’s Shazam have incredibly similar power sets, which include super speed, super strength, flight, lightning, and invincibility, it’s interesting to note that the legends behind their powers aren’t exactly the same. Billy and his family’s powers are derived from heroes of biblical, Greek, and Roman mythology, such as Solomon, Zeus, Hercules, Atlas, Mercury, and Achilles. Black Adam’s incredible powers, on the other hand, come from Egyptian deities, including Shu, Amon, Heru, Aton, Mehen, and Zehuti. But it is their connection to the wizard Shazam which grants them these powers, and so both Billy and Teth-Adam must say his name to access them.
Will Black Adam Fight Shazam In The DCU?
Considering the overhaul currently happening at DC Studios under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new leadership, it is unlikely that Black Adam and Shazam will fight one another in the near future. But, as Dwayne Johnson’s statement says, “DC and Seven Bucks have agreed to continue exploring the most valuable ways Black Adam can be utilized in future DC multiverse chapters,” (via Twitter), leaving room to explore Black Adam and Shazam’s longstanding comic's rivalry. Without an official statement from DC Studios concerning a future slate, anything is possible. Shazam!’s sequel will release early in 2023, and if it does well, everything could change once again.
Black Adam laid the groundwork for a conflict between the two powerhouses by showcasing Black Adam’s far more brutal tendencies. It would make for an interesting comparison between the two super-powered characters – despite getting their powers from the same source, it is what they do with them that defines them. Black Adam has been categorized as both a villain and an anti-hero, and watching the two go toe to toe with one another and dealing with their equal power levels would certainly provide some great action spectacle. In any case, there could still be a future for Black Adam, one that should harken back to its comic book origins and include Billy Batson’s Shazam family.
MORE: Black Adam's HBO Max Release Timing Couldn't Be Worse
