DC Comics Reveals Black Adam’s Successor

September 2022 solicits for DC comics are here and they reveal the future of Kahndaq, and Irvin Rodriguez’s masterfully painted cover for Black Adam #4 showcases a new character dressed in a white version of a familiar costume. Rafa Sandoval’s variant cover shows him sitting in a room while Etrigan the Demon looms behind him. His name is Malik, he’s a descendant of Teth-Adam, and he will take on the moniker of Bolt when transformed. His debut comes in Black Adam #4, written by Christopher Priest (Deathstroke, Justice League) and illustrated by Rafa Sandoval.

Black Adam Is A Busy Man

Black Adam has a lot going on for him these days. Firstly, October sees his live-action debut with the release of his solo movie. Dwayne Johnson stars in the titular role. DC also announced a solo Black Adam comic series ahead of the film’s release. In the DC universe, the ruler of Kahndaq is a member of the Justice League and the lone survivor of the team after the Death of the Justice League story. Lastly, DC Comics’ Black Adam #3 sees the anti-hero meet his fate. Taken out by an incurable plague that eats at his immortality.

The synopsis for Black Adam #4:

THERE IS NO REDEMPTION FOR BLACK ADAM. Thousands of years ago, did Black Adam inadvertently create a powerful race who’ve modeled themselves after the Akkadian pantheon of goddesses and gods? Or is he being gaslighted, taunted by illusions, by one of his many enemies? Theo Teth-Adam finds only more questions when he is lured to the Akkadian Hightower and given a cryptic message. Meanwhile, Adam has dispatched Etrigan the demon, an unlikely ally, to either train his youthful successor or kill him.

Writer of the series, Christopher Priest, shared his thoughts on the series in a swirl of excitement:

Forgive the cliché, but I’ve rarely been this excited about a new project. DC has provided an amazing opportunity for me to explore and, to some degree, reimagine this character in a very new light while bringing new challenges and consequences to a man who has lived far too long and is desperate for redemption. Rafa Sandoval brings palpable voltage to every panel, bringing out my Kirby-Simonson Big Noise instinct as Rafa’s gifts take me to places I never knew I wanted to go. My only regret is we only have 22 pages a month for this.

The first issue of Black Adam drops on June 21st, 2022. Issue four releases September 20 with cover art by Irvin Rodriguez and variant covers by Sandoval, Taurin Clarke, and Pamela Hoogeboom.