Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman: Urban Legends #17
While Black Adam is a major force to be reckoned with in the DC Universe, the latest issue of Batman: Urban Legends reveals a hidden power that's come from living several lifetimes as an immortal. Discovered during Batman's first encounter with the powerful dictator, this power isn't inherently magic like the rest of his impressive abilities. Instead, Black Adam's secret skill is one he's developed over hundreds of years (much to the Dark Knight's surprise).
Featured in the new Batman: Urban Legends #17, the short story entitled, "Statecraft" comes from Alex Paknadel and Amancay Nahuelpan. While other stories featured in the anthology series have been focused on Batman's Gotham allies such as Red Hood and Ace the Bat-Hound, this new issue focuses on some of Batman's earliest team-ups and encounters with the Flash, Aquaman, and the always formidable anti-hero Black Adam.
In the new story, Batman faces Black Adam who's recently taken over the country of Kahndaq as its new ruler. Fearing that Adam's dictatorship will create more injustice, the Dark Knight brazenly attempts to take Black Adam and his power by himself. For all his magical power he could use to easily end Batman's life, Black Adam honorably agrees to fight mortal to mortal. While this was what Batman was betting on, the Dark Knight didn't expect to face Black Adam's mastery of a fighting form so complex it can only be perfected by immortals.
According to Batman in this new story, Dhritishstra was a combat system developed by the immortal Vandal Savage thousands of years prior in India. The Dark Knight also notes that Ra's al Ghul took an entire lifetime just to learn the basic moves. While Batman is a master of multiple forms of martial arts, this is one he can never fully learn in his single life as a mortal, giving Black Adam a major advantage. That being said, Adam still respects Batman and his crusade in Gotham despite the Dark Knight's limitations.
By the issue's end, Batman and Black Adam come to an uneasy understanding after Kahndaq is attacked, requiring Black Adam to go defend his new nation. Declining Black Adam's offer to share his power so Batman could rule Gotham as an immortal as well, the Dark Knight was thankfully allowed to leave with his life. Following this intense encounter, the Dark Knight is now one of the few who knows that Black Adam is secretly one of the best hand-to-hand fighters in the entire DC Universe.