So, who exactly is Black Adam? Shazam’s archenemy at times is Black Adam (also known as Captain Marvel). While Shazam derives his powers from Greek and Roman gods and historical characters, Black Adam derives his powers from the Egyptian religious pantheon. Both continue to use the acronym “Shazam,” with Black Adam’s powers being:
- S for the stamina of Shu, a goddess similar to Atlas and is responsible for holding up the sky.
- H for the speed of Horus, a god who moved the sun and moon as he flew across the sky.
- A for the strength of Amon, the chief deity of the Egyptian Empire.
- Z for the wisdom of Zehuti (also known as Thoth), the god of magic, wisdom, writing, and more.
- A for the power of Aten, a god that rivals Ra over dominion of the sun.
- M for the courage of Mehen, an enigmatic snake god.
Since Black Adam originally appeared in comic books in the 1940s, the character has grown from stereotypical villain to a more nuanced position. In comic books, antiheroes have become popular.
