Is Black Adam Related to Shazam? Are They Both the Same Person?
by Rubaditsha
Updated May 06, 2023
Is Black Adam Related to Shazam?
Black Adam is related to Shazam through the source of their powers. Both Shazam and Black Adam were granted their powers by the same Wizard, who bestowed them with abilities from the Gods. However, they draw their powers from different sets of Gods.
Shazam, also known as Billy Batson, draws his powers from the Greek Gods. When he yells "SHAZAM," he is imbued with the Wisdom of Solomon, the Strength of Hercules, the Stamina of Atlas, the Power of Zeus, the Courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury. All letters of the word "SHAZAM" represent the initials of each Greek God that grant him powers.
On the other hand, Black Adam, also known as Teth Adam, was also initially granted his powers by the Wizard Shazam. However, he draws his powers from the Egyptian Gods, not the Greek Gods like Shazam. When he yells "SHAZAM," he is granted superhuman stamina and invulnerability from Shu, super speed and the ability to fly from Horus, superhuman strength from the King of Egyptian Gods Amon, wisdom and enhanced senses from the Egyptian God of learning Zehuti, lightning abilities from Aton, and unmovable courage and resilience from the Egyptian snake God Mehen.
Although they share the same source of power, Black Adam and Shazam are not the same character. They have different origins, personalities, and motivations. Shazam is portrayed as a hero, while Black Adam is usually portrayed as a villain or anti-hero. Shazam is a child who transforms into an adult hero, whereas Black Adam is already an adult when he receives his powers. Their differences make them unique and interesting characters in the DC Universe.
Are Shazam and Black Adam the Same?
No, Shazam and Black Adam are not the same character. While they both get their powers by saying the same word, "SHAZAM," and they have some similar abilities, they have significant differences in their origin, powers, and personalities.
Shazam and Black Adam were both chosen as champions of the Wizard Shazam, who granted them the power of the Gods. However, Billy Batson, who becomes Shazam, is a kid who grows into his peak human self after uttering the word "SHAZAM," while Teth Adam, who becomes Black Adam, is already a grown adult when he gets the ability to transform into a superpowered individual.
The main difference between these two characters is the source of their powers. Shazam gets his powers from the Greek Gods, while Black Adam gets a similar set of abilities from Egyptian Gods. When Billy Batson says "SHAZAM," he gets imbued with the Wisdom of Solomon, the Strength of Hercules, the Stamina of Atlas, the Power of Zeus, the Courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury.
On the other hand, when Black Adam yells the word, he gets his superhuman stamina and invulnerability from Shu, his super speed and ability to fly from God Horus, his superhuman strength from the King of Egyptian Gods, Amon, his wisdom from the Egyptian God of learning, Zehuti, and his unmovable courage and resilience from the Egyptian snake God, Mehen.
Moreover, Black Adam is portrayed as a villain and an antihero, while Shazam has always been a hero. Black Adam's personality is marked by his desire for vengeance against those who wronged him and his people, which can lead him to take violent and ruthless actions. In contrast, Shazam is characterized by his youthful enthusiasm, humor, and sense of justice. In conclusion, while Shazam and Black Adam share some similarities, they are different characters with distinct powers, origin, and personality traits.
Will Shazam and Black Adam Meet?
It is currently unclear if Shazam and Black Adam will meet in the DC Extended Universe. While the two characters are connected through the source of their powers, their storylines have not intersected on screen yet.
There were initial plans to have Black Adam appear in the first Shazam! film as the primary antagonist, but those plans were changed, and Black Adam is now getting his own standalone film. The two characters were also reportedly going to meet in a post-credits scene in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, but Dwayne Johnson, who plays Black Adam, ultimately turned down the cameo.
However, there is still a possibility that the two characters could meet in the future. Both characters are beloved by fans and have a strong presence in the DC Universe, so it would not be surprising if they eventually cross paths. In fact, Dwayne Johnson has expressed his desire to face off against Zachary Levi's Shazam on multiple occasions.
Additionally, with the recent restructuring of DC Studios, it's possible that plans for the two characters to meet could change again. James Gunn, who is now co-head of DC Studios, has shown a willingness to bring characters from different properties together in films like The Suicide Squad. So, it's always possible that we could see a Shazam and Black Adam crossover in the future.
What is the Difference Between Black Adam and Shazam?
While Black Adam and Shazam have similar powers and both derive their abilities by uttering the word "SHAZAM," there are several key differences between the two characters:
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Origin of their powers: Shazam gets his powers from the Greek Gods, while Black Adam gets his from the Egyptian Gods. While Shazam calls upon the Wisdom of Solomon, the Strength of Hercules, the Stamina of Atlas, the Power of Zeus, the Courage of Achilles, and the Speed of Mercury, Black Adam's powers come from the Egyptian Gods Shu, Horus, Amon, Zehuti, Aton, and Mehen.
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Characterization: Black Adam is often portrayed as a villain or antihero, while Shazam is typically a hero. This is largely due to their differing beliefs about how to use their powers to help others.
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Age: When Billy Batson utters "SHAZAM," he transforms from a child into an adult with superhuman abilities. In contrast, Teth Adam is already an adult when he gains his powers, allowing him to transform into a superpowered being without physically growing in size.
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Personality: Black Adam is often portrayed as more ruthless and impulsive than Shazam, who tends to be more lighthearted and playful.
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Powers: While both characters have similar powers, such as flight, superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, and lightning abilities, the exact nature of their powers differs. For example, Black Adam's invulnerability allows him to survive without food or water, while Shazam does not have this ability. Additionally, Black Adam's lightning powers are derived from the Egyptian God Aton, while Shazam's lightning powers come from the Power of Zeus.
How are Black Adam and Shazam Related?
Black Adam and Shazam are related through the wizard who granted them their powers. Both characters were chosen as champions of the Wizard Shazam, who granted them the power of the gods. The Wizard Shazam is a powerful sorcerer who possesses the ability to give his chosen champion the power of six ancient gods: the Wisdom of Solomon, the Strength of Hercules, the Stamina of Atlas, the Power of Zeus, the Courage of Achilles, and the Speed of Mercury.
Shazam and Black Adam get their powers by speaking the same word, "SHAZAM." When they speak this word, they are struck by lightning and imbued with godly abilities. Shazam draws his powers from the Greek gods, while Black Adam gets a similar set of abilities from Egyptian gods.
Although Black Adam and Shazam share the same source of power and were chosen by the same Wizard, they are not the same character. Black Adam is portrayed as a villain and an antihero, while Shazam has always been a hero. Another distinction between the two is the fact that Billy Batson is a kid who grows into his peak human self after uttering the word "SHAZAM." Meanwhile, Teth Adam is already a grown adult when he gets the ability to transform into a superpowered individual.
Is Black Adam Related to Shazam - FAQs
Black Adam is a fictional DC Comics supervillain and occasional antihero who first appeared in 1945. He is a former champion of the wizard Shazam, who was granted godlike powers, but turned evil and was imprisoned for thousands of years before being released in the modern day.
Black Adam and Shazam are related in that they both gain their powers from the same source - a council of wizards who imbue them with abilities from different mythologies. Black Adam gained his powers from the Egyptian pantheon of gods, while Shazam gained his powers from Greek gods (plus the biblical king Solomon).
Black Adam is a more ruthless and powerful version of Shazam, with a darker backstory and a tendency to use lethal force against his enemies. Shazam, on the other hand, is a more lighthearted and comedic hero who is still learning how to use his powers.
It's unclear if Shazam and Black Adam will ever meet on screen, as Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam movie is set in a different continuity from the Shazam! movies. However, there have been hints that the two characters could eventually cross paths in a future DC movie.