5000 years ago, living as a slave under a culture rich with wealth and magic, Teth-Adam gains the powers of Shazam and uses them against his masters. Shazam interferes, locking Adam away until the present day. Black Adam is "destroying bullies" when the Justice Society step in to help. They include Hawkman and Doctor Fate, who Adam seems to be familiar with, as well as the newcomers Cyclone and Atom Smasher. Adam describes them as an organization that believes in truth, fairness, equality, and justice, and then he blows them up, promising to teach them that the only beliefs he fights is for himself and for the good of his people in order to live in a righteous and just society. Black Adam believes he can save the world from tyrants and ruthless dictators, but to accomplish his mission, he will need the support of a craftsman's son, Kid Obama.
