That Magic Man

So, what do y'all think Black Adam's been up to? I mean, we haven't seen him since the beginning of Countdown. That was what, thirty-seven weeks ago? He has to have been doing something. He's been basically powerless (as he gave all his power to Mary Marvel) the entire time. And I can't see him as the "settling down" type.

My guess is he's used the time for some sort of revenge. I mean, that's what the guy gets off on. Good old fashioned revenge. Of course, he could have been up to almost anything. We won't have a good idea of where his character was headed until the end of the Black Adam miniseries.

And here's the other thing: a couple weeks ago he got those powers back. At least, I assume he did. Mary Marvel chucked them out, and since Eclipso didn't get them I'd imagine they went back to gods for ready access by Adam. Which means he could show up again at any time.

Is there anybody out there who doesn't think he'll show up at some point near the end of Countdown?

A Long, Strange Journey

It's funny how the DC Universe changes. And I don't mean the structure of it. I mean the way in which certain characters rise and fall in prominence. Sure, some characters stay nearly constant (Batman, Superman, etc.), but others wax and wane as the years go by. Some disappear and aren't seen for years. Others burst onto the stage, either old reinvigorated or new entirely.

To me, the most fascinating rise of such a character in recent years is most definitely Black Adam. Isn't it funny how a one shot villain of Captain Marvel's from the Golden Age -- someone who turned to dust at the end of his first appearance -- has arguably become more central to the DCU than Captain Marvel himself? It's been a long, strange journey for Black Adam. But it's brought him to the forefront of the DC Universe.

Though Black Adam made a few appearances in the seventies and the early nineties, it wasn't until he showed up in the Geoff Johns/David Goyer JSA that he started to rise to prominence. As the legend goes, the writers were looking for someone with the power to take on the JSA single-handedly. They found it in Black Adam. He fit the bill perfectly, because at the time, he was little more than his powers.

But as the series went on, Black Adam popped up again and again. He started to become more than his powers. He joined the team, then turned against it. He went from being a one note bad guy to a strange -- and strangely fascinating -- character. He came to rule a country, then sided with the Society. Black Adam played a role in Infinite Crisis, then 52, and now Countdown. He's got a mini-series coming up.

Whatever you think about the character and the journey he's made, it can't be denied that his rise to fame has been nothing short of astonishing. It just goes to show that any character -- in the right hands -- can be elevated to a position of importance. Every character has potential. It just takes the right writer -- or writers -- to bring it out.

Let's hope DC doesn't forget that.

Where is He?

Where is Black Adam?

Of course, in once sense we know exactly where he is. He's tearing up the pages of 52, and he's about to start World War III. But we all know that that was a year ago. Where's he been since?

I'm sure we'll be finding out. There's no question of that. But I like to speculate now. So what do we know now?

We know that Black Adam has committed a terrible crime. He slaughtered an entire country -- killing millions. We know that he did/will start a World War, most assuredly killing thousands -- if not millions -- more. So the easy answer would be: he's dead.

But that's too easy. If there's one thing I've learned about Geoff Johns it's that her rarely ever kills characters he likes (unless there are legal issues involved). And Geoff Johns has made very clear that he likes Black Adam. A lot.

Plus, there have been whisperings of a possible Black Adam series (or mini-series) following the end of 52. So where exactly is Black Adam?

I think the answer came in a brief "throwaway" like in an earlier issue of 52 (noting, of course, that nothing in 52 is a throwaway). During a confrontation between Captain Marvel and Black Adam, Marvel briefly mentions that Black Adam needs to tone it down or some such. And if he doesn't, he'll imprison him in the "Rock of Finality."

As far as I'm aware, that's the first (and only time) such a Rock has been mentioned. My guess is that Black Adam is there, serving a penance for his crimes. Whether he is there willingly or not, I cannot say.

But I do know this: he won't stay there for long. Finality ain't forever, after all...

Black Rain

And so it begins. Black Adam -- one of the world's most powerful meta-humans -- has gone beyond the brink. In less than two days Black Adam has destroyed an entire country. He has slain millions of innocents. And it's only going to get worse.

His next stop is Oolong Island. And though some of the inhabitants there show fear -- the man after them has the power of six gods, after all -- one of them seems to be gleefully anticipating the showdown. Indeed, Dr. Thaddeus Sivana seems to relish in the coming showdown. And though he is known for grandiose posturing, he's not stupid, either.

Bruno Mannheim doesn't seem particularly concerned, either. Which means there is more to Intergang's plans than there initially seemed. Would they really have engineered four Apokoliptian monstrosities simply for the right to pass smuggled guns through the Sinai Peninsula? No, there is more at work here…

Of course, we know how this all ends. It ends with World War III. We've already seen forces beginning to mobilize, but things haven't quite yet hit their apex. What will Black Adam do to finally set things off? What will happen next week when he directs his rage at the inhabitants of Oolong Island?

Whatever happens, it won't be pretty.