When Black Adam showed up in theaters, the DC Extended Universe received another antihero, following in the footsteps of characters like Peacemaker and Harley Quinn. However, what makes Black Adam stand out is that his history in DC has been more violent than almost any other antihero in company history.
Like The Punisher in Marvel Comics, Black Adam has no problem killing any enemy who steps in his path. Unlike Punisher, Adam will also kill heroes, innocents, and even children if pushed far enough. Black Adam is only a hero to the people of his home country of Khandaq, and he will kill anyone who threatens his homeland, and anyone who is around them when he tracks them down. This has created some terrifying moments in comics when it comes to Black Adam.
Black Adam Killed Billy Batson's Parents
In the DCEU, Billy Batson's mother just abandoned him, so she wouldn't have to worry about raising him. She then shunned him when he found her. That was sad, but what happened to his parents in the comics was tragic. Black Adam killed them both, orphaning the young Billy.
This wasn't actually Teth-Adam, but was instead Theo Adam, a descendent who was more evil than Teth was. He used Billy's parents, archeologists, and killed them when he found what he wanted. He then turned into Black Adam and started a reign of terror before Teth finally regained control.
Black Adam Rips Off Young Frankenstein's Arms
Sometimes an action is scary, but when a reader realizes who it happened to, it is terrifying. Black Adam has never been above killing children. During the World War III storyline, Adam sought out anyone he felt was responsible for his wife's death and making them pay.
The world's heroes came to stop him, and this included the teenagers in the Teen Titans. One hero was Young Frankenstein, an innocent youngster who only wanted to protect his friends. In return, Black Adam ripped his arms off after mocking him, and it was Young Frankenstein's innocence and age that made this so tragic.
Black Adam Traumatized Martian Manhunter
World War III started after Famine of the Four Horsemen of Apokolips killed Black Adam's wife Isis and destroyed his home country. Adam slaughtered everyone he felt was responsible and then went after China. Martian Manhunter, considered on a power level equal to Superman, tried to stop him.
Manhunter then used his psychic powers to reach into Adam's mind. However, he was terrified by what he saw there, the rage and hatred of those who hurt him. Manhunter fled into outer space and cowered there for a long time before returning to Earth.
Black Adam Crushed Psycho Pirate's Head
Black Adam has worked with superhero teams in the past. He was a member of the Justice League and the Justice Society, although he often clashed with other members concerning his propensity to kill. He proved this in a battle with Psycho Pirate.
Using the Medusa Mask, he can control anyone's emotions. Psycho Pirate used his powers to force Black Adam to saw "Shazam," which allowed Alex Luther to start his world-destroying machine. When Adam got his powers back, he walked up to Psycho Pirate and gouged his eyes out before smashing the Medusa mask into his face, killing him instantly.
Black Adam Slaughtered The Entire Kahndaq Military
Black Adam returned to Earth after being banished and shot into space long before. When he got back, he immediately went to his home country of Kahndaq and saw that a ruthless dictator ruled over his home, enslaving much of its population. Black Adam wanted to remedy this situation.
After working with the Justice Society of America, he convinced several members to join him, and they invaded and Black Adam took over his home country. While several JSA members stayed by his side, others saw the terrifying outcome. Adam slaughtered the dictator and his entire military, a ruthless killing spree that spared no one.
Black Adam Ripped Terra-Man In Half
Terra-Man was an old-school B-villain, someone who had a Wild West persona and was part of the Secret Society of Super-Villains. Black Adam once worked with that group as well, so Terra-Man thought he could escape justice by seeking refuge in Kahndaq. It was a mistake.
With news cameras rolling, Black Adam said that he had no use for villains like Terra-Man in his country. When Terra-Man took offense to this and jumped into action, Black Adam grabbed him and ripped him in half. It was a terrifying moment on live TV to show the world what happens to villains in Kahndaq,
Black Adam Kills Terra Of The Teen Titans
Black Adam mostly kills those he considers his equal in the comics. He has always had a soft spot for the weak, and often spares them unless they do something very bad to cross him. During World War III, Adam was at his most terrifying, and he struck out at everyone.
The Teen Titans tried to stop him, and after he injured Hawk and Dove and ripped Young Frankenstein's arms off, Beast Boy demanded they keep fighting. It was a tragic mistake because, in one of the most horrifying moments in the entire series, he punched a hole through the chest of the teenage hero Terra, killing her instantly.
Black Adam Killed His Own Nephew To Gain His Powers
The Black Adam movie went a long way to show that he was a tragic antihero with a tortured past. In the movie, his son was deemed the Champion and gave his father his powers to save his life after assassins attacked his family. That is not what happened in the comics.
The comics were much more terrifying and made Black Adam a despicable villain from the start. In the comics, it was Adam's nephew that was named the Champion. However, Adam wanted vengeance for his family's death, and he killed his own nephew to steal his powers. He then slaughtered everyone on his way to revenge.
Black Adam Brutally Killed The Horsemen Of Apokolips
Black Adam not only showed the extent of his powers, but he showed how vengeful he was when those he loved died. A family friend turned out to be the being Famine of the Four Horsemen of Apokolips. Famine killed Isis and Osiris and then slaughtered many of the people of Kahndaq.
Black Adam went into a rage and gained immediate revenge by ripping Famine's face in half. That was a terrifying panel, but then Black Adam took it one step further and brutally murdered the other Horsemen one by one before setting his sights on the world.
Black Adam Slaughtered Two Million Men, Women, and Children In Bialya
After the Horsemen of Apokolips killed the Black Marvel Family of Isis and Osiris, Black Adam chose to take his anger out on the world. He set out to make China pay, believing that the Horsemen were created in that country. It started World War III, where he fought and killed several superheroes, including the Justice Society.
However, the most terrifying moment of the entire World War III came when he went to the country of Bialya and attacked the country as he sought out the Horsemen. He rampaged through the country and killed almost every man, woman, and child there. Innocent people died and Adam went from a tortured antihero into a ruthless murderer in that moment.