Black Adam and Shazam are two of the most powerful characters in the DC Universe, and they both got their powers from the same Council of Wizards. Their powers are identical: they both have flight, superhuman strength, super speed, stamina, and many more.
While their powers are very similar, fans wonder who would win in a fight between these two rivals. Can Shazam beat Black Adam?
The answer is yes, Shazam can beat Black Adam. Shazam and Black Adam are completely even when it comes to power level. While it may be argued that Black Adam has a lot of combat experience and Shazam is basically… a child, Shazam can take advantage of the anti-hero’s weaknesses.
RELATED: How are Shazam and Black Adam Related?
Shazam’s Powers
Billy Batson gets his powers from the following gods: Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury. Yeah, all letters of the word "SHAZAM" are the initials of the gods that grant him powers. Let’s have a look at each of these powers.
First, thanks to the Wisdom of Solomon, Shazam (at least in the comics, not the DCEU films) is one of the most intellectually-empowered beings in the DC Universe. Billy has instant access to a vast amount of knowledge, perfect memory, and a great understanding of war tactics.
Second, the Strength of Hercules gives Shazam super strength, allowing him to bend steel easily, slam through almost any structure, and lift heavy objects.
Third, thanks to the Stamina of Atlas, Billy has remarkable endurance. He does not require rest or sleep. He can also withstand physical attacks with little or no damage. If he does obtain injuries, they heal in seconds with no discomfort on his part. He has superhuman metabolism and can survive without food and air.
Fourth, the Power of Zeus grants Shazam’s lightning abilities and resistance to magical spells and attacks. The hero can generate lightning and use it as a weapon. He can also absorb lighting and electricity.
Fifth, the Courage of Achilles gives Shazam superhuman levels of inner strength, willpower, discipline, and determination.
And lastly, the Speed of Mercury allows Shazam to move and fly at superhuman speed.
RELATED: The Ending of Shazam 2 Explained
Black Adam’s Powers
On the other hand, the anti-hero Black Adam gets his powers from Egyptian Gods, whose initials also form the word "SHAZAM”. Let’s look at each of his powers.
First, when Black Adam yells "Shazam!", he gets superhuman stamina and invulnerability from the Stamina of Shu. Just like Shazam, he can also survive without food.
Second, Black Adam’s super speed and ability to fly come from the Speed of Horus. He can move and fly at superhuman speed and swiftly respond to any attack.
Third, the Strength of Amon grants Black Adam superhuman strength. With this power, Black Adam can easily lift and throw heavy objects and slam through almost any structure, just like Shazam.
Fourth, Black Adam’s wisdom comes from the Wisdom of Zehuti, the Egyptian god of learning. He also gets enhanced senses such as sight, hearing, and smell, which allows him to track his enemies even from afar.
Fifth, the Lightning of Aton grants Black Adam his lightning abilities. He can summon thunder strikes and lightning bolts, and form an electric shield around himself.
And lastly, Black Adam gets his courage and resilience from the Courage of Mehen, the Egyptian snake god.
RELATED: Can Black Adam Beat Superman?
Shazam Versus Black Adam: Who Would Win?
We can see that Shazam and Black Adam have very similar powers, although they come from different gods. However, it may be argued that Black Adam would win in a fight against Shazam because he has more experience with combat than the hero who’s basically a boy growing up. Black Adam also doesn’t hold back because he doesn’t stick to a superhero code. He’s not afraid to use lethal force when he deems it necessary.
But that doesn’t mean Shazam can’t beat Black Adam.
Shazam can beat Black Adam by taking advantage of the anti-hero’s weaknesses. Black Adam’s primary weaknesses are magic, thunderbolts, and his alter-ego.
So first, magic. It's not just ordinary magic, but it must be powerful enough to weaken him.
Second, lightning. Even though lightning is synonymous with his identity, it can actually be used against him. Lightning attacks can weaken Black Adam, which makes Shazam a match to the anti-hero.
Lastly, his alter-ego (also known as Theo). Black Adam’s mortal form allows him to get prone to all vulnerabilities like any other human being. It also makes him age forward. Shazam could take advantage of this by using creative means to force Black Adam to say the magic word that takes away his powers.
But even if Shazam could beat Black Adam, he probably wouldn’t finish him off because of his superhero code. Shazam and Black Adam may have similar powers, but they have very different moral compasses. Shazam can beat Black Adam, but he would probably choose not to out of the goodness of his heart.
RELATED: What is the Weakness of Black Adam?
Will We See Black Adam and Shazam Fight on the Big Screen?
We're not sure. There have been many uncertainties in the DC Universe due to James Gunn taking over. Black Adam Star Dwayne Johnson announced that he would not be in Gunn’s DCU “first chapter”, which means we won't be seeing him on the big screen as Black Adam anytime soon. A third Shazam film also remains unannounced. But that doesn’t mean fans can’t hope for a face-off between these two rivals in the DCU soon.
RELATED: Is Shazam 2 Worth Watching?
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is currently on theaters, while Black Adam is available to stream on HBO Max.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!