Are Black Adam and Shazam the same? What links the two DC characters? (2024)

Black Adam exploded onto our screens last year with a very familiar costume and power set. In fact, many things about Teth-Adam recall Shazam, including the use of that magic word. With Shazam! Fury of the Gods in cinemas now, you might be wondering just how these two characters are linked.

Below, we dive into all you need to know about the connection between Shazam and Black Adam. And, have no fear, the following contains no spoilers for Shazam! 2, so you're safe to read whether you've seen the movie or not.

Are Black Adam and Shazam the same?

Black Adam and Shazam both get their powers from the same Council of Wizards, which explains why Teth-Adam says "Shazam!" to power up. Unlike Billy Batson, though, Black Adam draws his powers from the Egyptian gods: Shu, Heru, Amon, Zehuti, Aton, and Mehen. Shazam derives his powers from other mythological figures: Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury.

Their superpowers are very similar, too. Both of them can fly and shoot lightning from their hands, though Billy is far less brutal than Teth-Adam. Plus, their costumes have a lot in common, but Black Adam doesn't sport a cape.

Will there be a Black Adam and Shazam crossover?

Black Adam doesn't appear in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and, considering Johnson has indicated that he won't be playing Black Adam again anytime soon following James Gunn and Peter Safran taking the DCU's reins, it seems unlikely that we'll ever see the two characters collide. Even the future of Shazam is uncertain, as there's no third movie on the current DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters slate.

Originally, though, there was a plan to introduce both characters together in Shazam. "When the first draft of the movie came to us, it was a combination of Black Adam and Shazam: Two origin stories in one movie," Dwayne Johnson told Vanity Fair. "Now that was the goal – so it wasn't a complete surprise. But when I read that, I just knew in my gut, 'We can't make this movie like this. We would be doing Black Adam an incredible disservice.' It would've been fine for Shazam having two origin stories converge in one movie, but not good for Black Adam."

Johnson then set out to get a Black Adam solo film. "I made a phone call," he revealed. "I said, 'I have to share my thoughts here. It's very unpopular…' because everybody thought, 'Hey, this script is great, let's go make this movie.' I said, 'I really think that you should make Shazam, make that movie on its own in the tone that you want. And I think we should separate this as well.'"

For much more on Black Adam and Shazam 2, check out our spoilery deep dives on:

• The Black Adam ending explained
• The Black Adam post-credits scene explained
• All the Black Adam cameos explained
• The Justice Society of America's comic-book history
• When is Black Adam on streaming?
• When does Black Adam take place on the DC timeline?
• How to watch the DC movies in order
• All the new superhero movies heading your way
• Shazam! Fury of the Gods ending explained
• Shazam! Fury of the Gods post-credits scenes explained
• Shazam! Fury of the Gods cameos explained
• When will Shazam! Fury of the Gods be on HBO Max?
• The comic history of the Shazam Family explained
• All the new DC movies and TV shows coming soon
• The comic history of Shazam and the Justice Society
• Do Shazam and Wonder Woman have a shared history in comics?
• The comic history of the Olympian Gods
• Shazam 2 director explains why the first movie's villain doesn’t return

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