A fictitious character that appears in American comic books published by DC Comics is called Black Adam (Teth/Theo-Adam). The figure, who was conceived by Otto Binder and C. C. Beck, is the antagonist of the Marvel Family and one of Captain Marvel’s archenemies. Black Adam made his comic book debut as a one-shot antagonist in the December 1945 issue of The Marvel Family published by Fawcett Comics. But after DC Comics first licensed and later bought the Fawcett characters, they published Shazam (previously Captain Marvel) Family stories under the title Shazam! in the 1970s, resurrecting Black Adam as a recurring character.

As originally depicted, Black Adam was a corrupted, ancient Egyptian predecessor of Captain Marvel, who fought his way to modern times to challenge the hero and his Marvel Family associates. Since the turn of the 21st century, however, Black Adam has been re-defined by DC Comics writers Jerry Ordway, Geoff Johns, and David S. Goyer as a corrupted antihero attempting to clear his name and reputation. Featured roles in such comic book series as Justice Society of America (JSA), Villains United, Infinite Crisis, and 52 have elevated the character’s prominence in the DC Universe. In 2009, Black Adam was ranked as IGN’s 16th-greatest comic book villain of all time. The character will make his cinematic debut in 2022’s Black Adam portrayed by Dwayne Johnson set in the DC Extended Universe.