Black Adam’s Villain Gang Explained: Darkseid Connection & DCEU Role

The DCEU will introduce the DC Comics team Intergang through Black Adam, an organization that notably has ties to Darkseid. After several years of development, Dwayne Johnson is finally joining the DC Universe as Shazam’s iconic nemesis, Black Adam. While Teth-Adam is traditionally a supervillain in the comics, the upcoming DCEU film will instead be exploring him as an anti-hero. Black Adam will be an origin story that shows his journey in getting his powers and becoming a fighter for Kahndaq. While Johnson’s role beyond Black Adam is unknown, it feels safe to say that his character will be a major deal going forward in the DCEU.

Even though Black Adam coming to life on the big screen is already a major moment for the DCEU, the Justice Society of America will also be getting a cinematic treatment. While Johnson’s titular hero will be an anti-hero instead of an outright villain, that doesn’t mean traditional superheroes won’t have a problem with him, as the film is set to have Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Atom Smasher, and Cyclone coming after him. However, Black Adam is also set to include another familiar DC group: Intergang. Even though the villainous organization may not be as big as the Justice Society of America, Intergang is an important group to note, as they do have significant ties to Darkseid.

While Darkseid himself is not part of Black Adam, it is definitely intriguing for the DCEU to bring the group from panel to screen. Intergang has been featured in many past DC animated projects while having been depicted in a handful of live-action properties. Black Adam will be the first time any DC movie has included Intergang in such a large capacity. What is Intergang, their Darkseid connection, and what role will they serve in Black Adam?

What Is Intergang? DC Comics Origins & Powers Explained

DC Comics first introduced Intergang back in October 1970 through Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #133. Like most things in the DC Universe, Intergang has been retconned and reimagined multiple times throughout history. The original Intergang was founded by Moxie Mannheim, a gangster boss who his enemies eventually killed. Following Moxie’s death, his son Bruno Mannheim took over the crime syndicate. Despite having ties to Darkseid and Apokolips, Intergang is heavily connected to a lot of Superman stories, given that they were based in Metropolis.

After Crisis on Infinite Earths, Intergang’s history was changed as Morgan Edge was their leader instead of Bruno, although he would take the reigns later on. Besides Bruno and Morgan, Intergang has had other villainous members like Lex Luthor, Thaddeus Killgrave, Tobias Whale, Toyman, and many more. While some members have powers, most of Intergang heavily features regular humans. Despite Intergang consisting mostly of human crime lords, this is where Darkseid and Apokolips come into the picture in terms of their “powers.”

Intergang’s Connection To Darkseid and Apokolips

In the pre-Crisis era, when Bruno took over for Intergang, it was revealed that they were working for Darkseid. The New God was providing them with Apokoliptian weapons to help Darkseid locate the Anti-Life Equation. Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths, it turned out that DeSaad, not Darkseid, was their Apokolips associate. By getting upgrades from Apokolips, Intergang became more than the average crime ring.

Thanks to the New Gods, Intergang possessed alien weapons that allowed them to go up against superpowered people. Besides getting highly advanced weapons, Intergang also had Apokolips technology that allowed them to transport easier to other locations. Even when Intergang doesn’t have their meta-human members, they are still a very dangerous group in the DC Universe.

Intergang’s Role In Black Adam & The DCEU

Since most plot details have been under wrap for Black Adam, it definitely came as a surprise when actress Sarah Shahi revealed that Intergang is involved in the story. Shahi, who plays Adrianna Tomaz – a.k.a. Isis – described Intergang as an “evil, malicious group,” and she will lead a resistance force against them as a freedom fighter. The fact that Black Adam is including Adrianna and Intergang makes sense, given that there is actually a comic arc where they are all involved.

In the 52 storyline, Intregang came to Kahndaq and offered Adrianna to Black Adam as a tribute. They attempted to obtain Black Adam’s blessings and get immunity while committing criminal activity in Kahndaq. However, Black Adam strongly declined their proposal and murdered the two members while rescuing Adrianna in the process. While they are likely not doing the exact story as they did in 52, this does give some precedent for Black Adam to have Adrianna and Intergang in the same film. It’s unclear which members from the comics will be featured and if they will have their Darkseid/Apokolips connection.

Since Zack Snyder’s Justice League is outside the DCEU canon, Darkseid has technically only been mentioned in the 2017 theatrical cut. However, due to Black Adam taking place years before the present DCEU, this does become a way to incorporate Darkseid into their history. Although this would mean Intergang existed long before Superman was born, there is no reason a new version of the group couldn’t live in the DCEU’s present. Perhaps the reason Intergang is targetting Kahndaq because they believe the Anti-Life Equation exists there. That would be one story reason to put them at odds with Adrianna and Black Adam.

Despite the Justice Society of America coming after Black Adam, it wouldn’t be a stretch if Intergang is the overall big bad of the DCEU movie. If Intergang has Apokolips weapons, it would explain why they would be able to go up against someone as powerful as Black Adam. Perhaps Marwan Kenzari is playing an Intergang member as he is reported to be playing a villain. It is still intriguing that Intergang is getting this kind of role in a movie like Black Adam. Hopefully, as Black Adam starts its marketing campaign, more answers will be given about DCEU’s Intergang and whether or not they will have their canonical ties to Darkseid and Apokolips.

About The Author

Andy Behbakht
(1045 Articles Published)

Andy is a senior writer at Screen Rant as he has covered the world of entertainment journalism since 2010, including superhero/comic book media. In addition to his work as a reporter, Andy co-hosts The Flash Podcast while running and producing the entire DC TV Podcasts network. He is also the founder/editor-in-chief of The Marvel Report since Fall 2015. Andy has previously written for sites such as FanSided, KSiteTV, TV Fanatic, It’s Just Movies, Heroic Hollywood, TV Overmind, and more.

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