Warning! SPOILERS for Black AdamDebuting a new kind of protector in the DCEU, Black Adam features several exciting Easter eggs and references to the greater universe, as well as to the original DC Comics. Starring Dwayne «The Rock» Johnson as Teth-Adam, the ancient champion of Kahndaq enters the modern world after his 5,000-year imprisonment. After his presence gains the attentions of several heroes and villains, Teth-Adam has to decide whether he’ll be the world’s destroyer or its savior as he becomes Black Adam.
Black Adam features brand-new character debuts in the DCEU, such as the modern Justice Society of America and the criminal organization Intergang. Likewise, several Easter eggs and callbacks are made to the original comics, as audiences are introduced to the fictional nation of Kahndaq. There are also plenty of exciting cameos along the way. Here’s every major Easter egg and references in Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam.
1. Black Adam’s Nation Of Khandaq
Black Adam opens in the ancient past to introduce Kahndaq, a nation older than Rome and Babylon. Ruled by the dark King Anh-Kot, Kahndaq’s people were enslaved until their champion rose, chosen by the Council of Wizards with the power of gods. As seen throughout the movie and even in the modern iteration of Kahndaq, there are major elements of the capital city that are accurate to the comics such as the two statues of kneeling men in front of the ancient palace.
Eternium is the first fictional and powerful new metal to be introduced in Black Adam. Capable of harnessing magical power and harming magical beings such as Teth-Adam, Eternium was established in the comics as the shattered pieces of the powerful Rock of Eternity. Mined by Intergang and used for their bikes and weapons, it was also used to craft the Crown of Sabbac.
3. Council of Wizards’ History With Teth-Adam And Rock of Eternity
Black Adam reveals the history of Teth-Adam and how he was allegedly chosen by the Council of Wizards to become their champion. Wielding the Stamina of Shu, the Speed of Horus, the Strength of Amon, Widsom of Zehuti, Power of Aton, and Courage of Mehen, Teth-Adam’s powerful magical form comes from saying the name «Shazam,» just like the DCEU’s Billy Batson. The Rock of Eternity can also be seen during flashbacks to the champion of Kahndaq’s transformation, revealed to actually be Teth-Adam’s son Hurut before he gave his power to Adam to save his father’s life.
4. Intergang Are Black Adam’s Primary Villains
Led by Ishmael Gregor, Intergang is an international terrorist organization who took over Kahndaq in their desire to mine Eternium and find the Crown of Sabbac. Using hover-bikes and wielding weapons powered by the magical metal, Intergang poses a significant threat to Teth-Adam who eventually agrees to help liberate the nation from its years of oppressions from foreign invaders (Intergang simply being the most recent). In the original comics, Intergang followed the Religion of Crime, an ancient guide created by Darkseid.
5. Adrianna and Amon Tomaz Make Their DCEU Debut In Black Adam
The primary Kahndaqi citizens Teth-Adam interacts with in the modern DCEU, Adrianna Tomaz is a scholar seeking to find the Crown of Sabbac and keep it out of Intergang’s hands. She is also mother to Amon, who believes Teth-Adam can finally be the hero their nation never had. In the comics, Adrianna was Black Adam’s second wife and Amon was her brother. Adam also shared his power with his new family, respectively naming them Isis and Osiris, mirroring Billy Batson who shares his power with his own family.
6. Amon’s DC Comics In Black Adam
While distracting the Intergang soldiers so his mother can escape the city, Amon’s backpack is knocked to the ground and several comics fall out starring the heroes of the DCEU. Many of these look to be actual DC titles from the Rebirth era such as Cyborg, Wonder Woman, and Flash.
7. «Paint It, Black» By The Rolling Stones Plays In Black Adam’s First Fight
Upon exiting the mountain where he had been entombed, Black Adam battles Intergang’s forces to the song «Paint It, Black» by the Rolling Stones. Not only does it work as an effective theme for the aptly named character, but composer Lorne Balfe subtly teases the song’s use within the film’s score just before Adam engages the helicopters and forces positioned outside the mountain.
8. JSA’s DCEU Debut And Partnership With Amanda Waller
Black Adam’s first battle in the modern era gains the attentions of Task Force X’s Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) who has a partnership with Hawkman of the Justice Society of America (Aldis Hodge). Promising to have a cell ready if the JSA can bring Black Adam in, Carter Hall assembles a team to bring the awakened Black Adam to justice, having ancient texts confirming the rage-fueled destruction that led to his imprisonment. As such, Hawkman calls in Doctor Fate, Atom Smasher, and Cyclone as a new iteration of the Justice Society of America.
9. Cyclone’s Origins And Red Tornado Alias
A new recruit to the team, Maxine Hunkel’s Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell) arrives to Hawkman’s estate, her ID confirming her other alias as the Red Tornado. Later on, Maxine confirms her origins where she was taken by scientists and injected with nanobots. As such, it’s likely that she was taken by the same scientist from the comics named T.O. Morrow, who also created the Red Tornado android.
10. Atom Smasher’s Uncle Al
A legacy hero as well, Albert Rothstein (Noah Centineo) inherited the suit and mantle of Atom Smasher from his Uncle Al who was on the original Justice Society. Uncle Al himself is played by Henry Winkler as a fun cameo who’s hilariously concerned his nephew will somehow damage his old suit.
11. St. Roch, Louisiana (Hawkman’s Hometown)
Carter Hall’s estate is revealed to be in St. Roch, Louisiana. This is also the city where Hawkman takes residence in the original comics. While he’s also joined by Kendra Saunders in the comics, Hawkgirl does not appear in Black Adam.
Hawkman confirms his use of Nth metal, another powerful metal in DC Comics. Among its many abilities, Nth metal has gravity defying properties, hence Carter Hall’s armor and wings that allow him to fly. Likewise, Carter’s mace is made out of the substance which can also change its form, at one point turning it into an ax. Hawkman and the JSA additionally fly to Kahndaq in a jet resembling the Justice League’s Javelin from the original animated series. Carter confirms the cruiser is made from Nth metal as well.
13. Amon’s Room Is Filled With Justice League Merchandise
Amon’s room is packed with merchandise of the Justice League, confirming their continued presence in the DCEU, even if the League is absent in Black Adam. Several posters and action figures are seen of Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Cyborg. As such, Amon is very much Black Adam’s equivalent to Shazam’s Freddy Freeman.
14. Black Adam Homages Clint Eastwood Western
After seeing Clint Eastwood’s The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly on television, Black Adam recreates the gunslinger’s duel a few scenes later with members of Intergang. However, he shoots lightning from his fingers far faster than any of the soldier ever could with their bullets.
15. Doctor Fate’s Helmet And Comics Powers
Once the JSA engages Black Adam for the first time, Kent Nelson (Pierce Brosnan) becomes a major player using his magical power sourced from the helmet of Doctor Fate. Just before their battle, it was confirmed that the Helmet of Fate takes possession of its wearer, using them as its host in its mission as a Lord of Order. Likewise, many of Fate’s powers carry an exciting accuracy to the comics, such as using constructs of ankhs and casting multiplications of himself.
16. Black Adam References His Justice League Status In DC Comics
When Black Adam reluctantly agrees to join forces with the JSA to save Amon who’s been captured by Intergang, he sarcastically says that he loves teams. However, this could be considered a reference not only to his past when he was a member of the JSA in the comics, but also his current status as a member of the Justice League (with Superman having vouched for his membership).
17. «Power» By Kanye West Plays In Black Adam
Another fitting song track, «Power» by Kanye West plays after Teth-Adam chooses to attack Intergang directly to save Amon, ignoring Hawkman’s attempts at making a plan. Considering the lyric «no one man should have all that power,» the song’s use makes it quite clear that Black Adam and his great power is a force to be reckoned with.
18. DCEU Debuts First Appearance Black Adam (Hurut)
The reveal that Teth-Adam’s son Hurut was the Council of Wizards’ chosen champion also features his magical transformation in front of the Rock of Eternity. However, the lightning and shadows combined with his more ancient style serves as a homage Black Adam’s original first appearance in the comics.
19. Task Force X’s New HQ And Peacemaker Cameo
After agreeing to turn himself in and de-powering himself, the JSA leaves Teth-Adam in the care of Task Force X at their underwater base. They’re also greeted by Peacemaker’s Emilia Harcourt who tells the JSA that Amanda Waller sends her regards. Teth-Adam is then put in suspended animation where its revealed Task Force X has several meta-humans locked away in their headquarters as well.
20. Amon’s JSA Cape Foreshadows DCEU Future
Recovering on the cruiser after being saved from Intergang, Atom Smasher and Cyclone give Amon his own cape as a gift. Admiring himself in the mirror, this moment potentially foreshadows Amon’s DCEU future as Osiris, based on the comics when Black Adam shares his power with him and Adrianna.
21. Rock of Finality and Six Demons Summon Black Adam’s Sabbac
Having survived to become the champion of the Six Demons, Ishmael Gregor stands before the Rock of Finality which is the dark mirror to the Rock and Eternity and Council of Wizards. Gaining the powers of Satan, Aym, Belial, Beelzebub, Asmodeus, and Crateis, Ishmael becomes Sabbac to rival Black Adam’s own magical power.
22. Shiruta- Black Adams’s First Wife in DC Comics
Upon the JSA’s return to Khandaq to fight Sabbac, the cruiser’s navigation confirms that Khandaq’s capital city is named Shiruta. This is also the name of Teth-Adam’s wife seen in the movie’s flashbacks. In the original comics, the city is specifically named after her.
23. Doctor Fate Compares Black Adam To Batman
During Doctor Fate’s final stand against Sabbac, he sends a message to Black Adam who’s still in suspended animation. Fate confirms that sometimes the world doesn’t always need a white knight and sometimes needs «something darker.» This could certainly be taken as a reference to the DCEU’s Batman, who’s widely known as Gotham’s Dark Knight.
24. Doctor Fate’s Classic Helmet And Teased Future (New Host)
While Doctor Fate’s helmet in the DCEU doesn’t have eyes, it does resemble the more classic style from the comics when Hawkman uses the Helmet of Fate after Kent’s death, giving Black Adam the opportunity to destroy Sabbac once and for all. Likewise, the Helmet of Fate disappears once the battle ends, presumably in search of a new host to serve Nabu and the Lords of Order.
25. Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam Homages Iconic DC Comics Cover
When Adrianna tells Teth-Adam that he could become Khandaq’s new ruler, Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam sits on the palace throne and recreates the iconic cover from DC’s 52 #45. However, Black Adam decides to destroy the throne, choosing instead to let his nation be free and to serve as its protector.
26. Amanda Waller Teases Black Adam Showdown With Suicide Squad
In Black Adam’s post-credits scene, Amanda Waller sends a message to Adam, warning him to not step foot outside Khandaq lest he face the consequences. This could be a setting up a future showdown between Black Adam and the Suicide Squad, calling back to a similar conflict seen in DC’s 52 as well.
27. Henry Cavill’s Superman Returns To Face Black Adam
Black Adam’s final cameo comes from none other than Henry Cavill’s Superman who arrives after Black Adam destroys Waller’s message. Wanting to talk to Teth-Adam about how nervous he’s made the world, it’s unclear if Superman and Black Adam will become rivals in the DCEU’s future or allies. At any rate, Superman’s return confirms that while Teth-Adam may be the most powerful being on the planet, Kal-El is still the most powerful being in the universe.
28. Henry Cavill’s Return Uses John Williams’ Superman Theme (Not Hans Zimmer’s)
It should also be noted that Black Adam uses John Williams’ Superman theme and not Hans Zimmer’s score from Man of Steel. Likewise, the style of Henry Cavill’s Superman has evolved to some degree seeing as how Kal-El now has a classic comics curl in his hair as well as a brighter, more colorful costume compared to his look in past DCEU films.