Black Adam #2 - "Theogony, Book Two: Unsettle"

[laughing_tree]

Once I started researching this character, I read that he had thrown a temper tantrum and basically laid waste to a neighboring country. I called my editor, Paul Kaminski, and Paul was like, “Yes, well, he’s an antihero.” And I said "No. This guy can't be an antihero. I know you’re DC, I know you want all the heroes to like each other and hold hands and sing Kumbaya, but with all due respect to other writers who make way more money than I do, I just violently disagree with the idea that you can redeem this character."
So Paul and I have a gentleman's agreement. We agree to disagree. Either Paul or DC or both want to see this character as an antihero, because they want to produce a movie and they want the lunch boxes and Black Adam dolls. But this guy is a villain, a villain facing his own mortality. He is an immortal facing his own mortality. -- Christopher Priest

A month ago:







The present day:

Comments

[onsokumaru]

Didn't the massacre happen in the previous continuity?

[blueprintstyles]

Yeah, but this Adam murdered a child to get the power, according to Geoff Johns.

[shakalooloo]

Who knows anymore. Given that 52 was Black Adam's 'breakout role' that moved him across to one of DC's bigger characters, as well as being a very good series, chances are most fans will still have it in mind even if the judge tells them to disregard it.

[cainofdreaming]

Everything is real, ain't it now? Everything that happened in any continuity no matter how contradictory.

[thezmage]

I mean 52 was supposed to be the character going over the edge from antihero to full on villain, too. It was never supposed to be read as antihero behavior

[lordultimus]

According to Death Metal, everyone remembers everything.

[agharta75]

Priest just created a character named "White Adam"?

Oh, this will go places.

[lordultimus]

At least he had the sense to make him black.

[laughing_tree]

That's the joke.

[skjam]

Who immediately realizes this is a stupid/dangerous name.

[mindsweeper]

Priest couldn't change that "black" is the evil character, but choosing "white" for the adjective for the good version is all on him. Hopefully, it does go to a different/unexpected place.

[agharta75]

Oh, of course. He's going after the whole "white vs black" language thing.

And then we might get all the "spectrum colors¨. Yellow Adam, Red Adam, Green Adam, Purple With Polka Dots Adam ...

[cainofdreaming]

I wonder if one of those places is having the ghost of Black Adam mentor him and tell him to hit the villain of the day with his "white power".

And then everyone just looked at the reader and left the comic.

[agharta75]

Priest is going to use "white power". Somehow. Yes, more subversive critical propaganda in a funny-book.

[jgraygaming]

I am one hundred percent certain forcing someone to take power they don't want can't end well.

[cyberghostface]

I’d say the idea of Black Adam being an antihero goes beyond just trying to put his name on dolls and lunchboxes. Same as characters like Namor or Magneto.

[cyberghostface]

I will acknowledge that the upcoming movie will probably soften Black Adam just because I don't see the Rock playing the character as dark he has been(I know he's done villainous roles like in Pain & Gain but those are outliers) and maybe DC will try to follow suit for synergy. But Priest going that the attitude is "I know you want all the heroes to like each other and hold hands and sing Kumbaya" is disingenuous.

[bruinsfan]

Yeah, contrary to Priest's assumption I've always wanted the heroes to treat Black Adam like what he is: a wrathful, self-important murderer who's one of the most physically powerful beings on earth.

[blues32]

Perhaps it's not my place here, but maybe instead of "White Adam" he could go by "Mighty Adam"? You know, the name Teth had before he became tainted in ye olden continuity?

[dr_archeville]

"I'm really not sure on this name, guys. 'White Adam'? There's just... just so much to... look, how about 'Mighty'?"

"Yes, of course! For you are not Adam, the First, you are Adam's successor! So you shall be... MIGHTY WHITEY!"

"... I'm going to go fly into the Sun now."