The following contains spoilers for Black Adam, now playing in theaters.
While critics might not have taken to Black Adam, fans seem to think it’s more than serviceable, fawning over Dwayne Johnson’s Teth-Adam as he tries to keep outsiders out of Kahndaq. Whether it be the violent Intergang, the Justice Society that he thinks is oppressive, or even Amanda Waller, Adam’s made it clear: there’ll be hell to pay if foreigners come uninvited.
It’s the perfect setup for Adam being confronted by Superman (a returning Henry Cavill) However, while this does well to tease how the DC Extended Universe could unfold down the line, Black Adam does have some plot holes and mysteries that should have been filled in.
Why Does Amon Worship Superheroes in Black Adam?
Adrianna’s son, Amon, has tons of DC Easter eggs in his room, worshipping the Justice League. However, he often speaks out on how superheroes, in general, left Kahndaq to fend for itself. He echoes his mom’s statement on how these so-called seekers of justice only visit to mine resources and exploit the people, so it’d have made sense if he hated the likes of Superman, Batman and Aquaman rather than revering them as idols. Ultimately, it paints a contradictory picture.
Why Didn’t the Gods Take Back Adam’s Power?
When Adam gets the power of Shazam from his dead son and blows away the old Kahndaq kingdom centuries prior, the Council of Wizards tries to strip him of the power and imprison him. However, Black Adam’s vague on the exact mechanics and which wizards die. Seeing as they didn’t bless Adam with this power, one has to wonder why this tedious process was needed, as he was never bestowed the gift of being the Champion. Seizing power in this loophole, theoretically, should have been easy, but the film really holds back on the overall sharing of this energy and why, even after he’s imprisoned, Adam still has the transformative power.
Why Doesn’t Amanda Waller Send the Suicide Squad in Black Adam?
Hawkman’s working with Waller on quelling Adam, indicating he’s got the experienced Doctor Fate. However, he has two newbies in Cyclone and Atom Smasher, so one has to wonder why Waller didn’t offer up some Suicide Squad members. Hawkman could have inquired about Harley Quinn or Bloodsport, only to be told no one’s available. Notably, mentioning a rogue Peacemaker would also have teased the John Cena/Rock showdown WWE fans are craving.
What’s the Justice League’s Relationship With Amanda Waller?
Bruce Wayne already has a tense relationship with Waller, but Superman’s working with her, too. It’s unclear if this is before she gets exposed for her sins in Peacemaker, but the Man of Steel should know she’s a pretty shady individual. More exposition could also have shed light on where the League was in Black Adam and why it’s Kal-El who visits, not a magical leader like Wonder Woman or Waller’s ‘friend’ in the Bat.
What’s the Justice Society’s History in the DCEU?
In the comics, the Justice Society of America existed before the League as DC’s premier superhero team. But a rebrand saw the JSA used as a heroic team from an alternate reality. Here, the JSA are deemed to be in operation before, but it’s never explained who the other members were (apart from the old Atom Smasher), why they retired, or how come they never intervened in any prior DCEU matter. One would assume the Green Lantern Alan Scott or Jay Garrick/Flash would be folks the League would know of, so hopefully, the JSA’s absence will be explained down the line. They worked with Wonder Woman as well in the books, which is quite ironic since she was supposedly MIA for years, only for Wonder Woman 1984 to reveal she was in operation.
Why Didn’t Amanda Waller Kill Black Adam?
Adam eventually admits he’s sort of a villain in how he wiped out his old king and, sadly, destroyed innocents. He de-powers himself and is taken in by Waller at a snowy prison. However, it’s odd she didn’t kill him in his mortal form. It’s the only chance she’d have, plus Adam’s not the kind of person to work for her, as he hates slavery. It’s also uncertain if a neural bomb would work on him, so it doesn’t feel like she should keep him around, knowing he’s a weapon of mass destruction that could destroy the Earth or even Superman.
Why Didn’t Hawkman and Amanda Waller Use Adam?
When Sabbac rises at the end, the JSA knows they’re out of their depth. Hawkman should have called Waller to send Adam in, which would have made sense since he’s connected to the villain, plus his mystical powers would give them a massive advantage. Fate breaking him out is done for the sake of drama and also has fans wondering if Fate saw the future, why wouldn’t he advocate to keep Adam around to fight the demon?
What Is the Purpose of Intergang and Eternium in Black Adam?
Intergang’s seeking the crown of Sabbac, with the king’s descendant, Ishmael, leading the way. However, it’s never explained what the organization’s real purpose is or if Bruno Mannheim is the real boss. Bruno’s going to be introduced in Superman & Lois, so that might be why he’s omitted, but still, no real history is given behind Intergang; why the world is letting it dictate matters in Kahndaq, or if its tech is from Apokolips, per the comics. Even the refined metal, eternium, isn’t explained fully in Black Adam, which has just one shot of the substance harming Adam before it’s totally ignored.
What’s Hawkman’s Backstory?
Hawkman has one of the most convoluted histories in DC lore, beginning with the reincarnated Egyptian prince, Carter Hall, whose spirit goes from body to body, seeking out Hawkgirl. Others have him as Katar Hol, a Thanagarian space cop, which probably isn’t the iteration in the DCEU. This movie’s Carter, though, just jokes about how he isn’t afraid of death without Black Adam teasing a potential supernatural aura. In essence, he’s painted as a rich guy bankrolling the JSA, à la Bruce and the League, without giving any details on how he even got ahold of Nth metal — the cosmos’ most indestructible property.
To see all of these questions come up, Black Adam is currently in theaters.
