Warning! Spoilers for Future State: Black Adam #1 below!
Black Adam has received a new redesign that makes him look a lot closer to the actor who will portray him in the upcoming DCEU film of the same name. In the pages of Future State: Black Adam #1, the backup story in this week’s Future State: Suicide Squad #1, Black Adam looks very similar to Dwayne Johnson, who’s set to play the magic user in the upcoming solo film surrounding the DC villain/antihero.
Black Adam originated as a villain to Shazam (then known as Captain Marvel), first appearing in the Marvel Family #1 by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck. Originally intended to be a one-and-done villain as he was killed in his debut issue, Black Adam was brought back when DC acquired the rights to the series in the early ’70s and has been a major player in the DC Universe ever since. While he’s mostly been an antagonist for the Justice League and Shazam, he’s become more of an antihero in his modern stories, as he’s continued to rule Khandaq.
Future State: Black Adam #1 by Jeremy Adams, Fernando Passarin, Oclair Albert, Wes Abbott, Jeromy Cox, takes place in the 853rd Century, where villains called the Unkindness aim to destroy the universe, showing immense power immediately by defeating the strongest version of Superman in seconds. The Justice Legion-A decide they need more help, leading Wonder Woman who suggests the help of her lover, Black Adam. However, this version of Black Adam has given up on magic and embraced science and technology, turning Khandaq into a peaceful paradise. However, after the Unkindness attack, Black Adam calls for his magic and transforms into his magical being – and he looks a lot like Dwayne Johnson.
It’s not surprising that this version of Black Adam has been redesigned to look more like Dwayne Johnson. He’s one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Since this is a future Black Adam, his look can be played with. In this case, DC smartly chose to embrace Johnson as the inspiration for his look, just as they’ve done with other characters before.
The Dwayne Johnson-starring Black Adam film, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (The Shallows) will feature a bevy of Justice Society of America characters including Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), and Doctor Fate (who’s yet to be cast). The movie’s new release date hasn’t been revealed, but if readers want to see what Johnson might look like in action as Black Adam, then they should check out Future State: Black Adam, which is in stores now.
