Warning: contains spoilers for Shazam #4!

In the future, Shazam will lead his own version of the Justice League — with disastrous results. In Shazam #4, Black Adam gives Shazam a glimpse of his future, and when Shazam cracks a joke about leading a branch of the Justice League, he learns he eventually actually will. The issue, the last of the miniseries, is on sale now in print and digital.

Shazam was a member of the Justice League during the infamous Justice League International era, but only for a short time, exiting after several issues. Since then, Shazam has not been much of a team player, usually relegated to reserve status on the League. Recently, however, Shazam has joined the Teen Titans, attending the Titans Academy. Shazam’s powers are not working properly as of late, and he is desperately seeking a way to stabilize them, not only so he can stay a hero, but to save the life of his foster brother Freddy as well. Shazam’s quest has taken him to Hell, where the Rock of Eternity is currently stuck. There, he finds a young-looking Black Adam, sent back from the 853rd century to help stop the Unkindness from coming about. The two walk and talk, with Black Adam making a stunning revelation about Shazam’s future. The issue is written by Tim Sheridan, with art by Clayton Henry, colors by Marcelo Maiolo and letters by Rob Leigh.

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Black Adam tells Shazam that he will one day be responsible for many murders, referencing the character’s destiny in Future State. Shazam is understandably aghast, telling Black Adam all he wanted to do was “fix things.” Shazam goes on to list all the things he wanted to accomplish, both in the short and long term, concluding that he wanted to head up his own branch of the Justice League. Adam replies that one day, Shazam will lead a Justice League team based in Detroit, but he will kill several of them.

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Shazam leading his own Justice League team does not seem far-fetched. However, considering the character is a representation of childhood innocence and virtue, the idea that he would murder his own team is downright horrifying. However, Future State showed that Shazam is heading down a dark path, perhaps darker than any of his contemporaries. Shazam and Billy will be split by the demon Neron, and without Billy to guide him, Shazam turns into a brutal vigilante. What will lead Shazam to kill his teammates?

It is also worth noting that this is a callout to another infamous era in Justice League history. In the early 1980s, League heavyweights such as Superman and Wonder Woman exited the team. Several B-list heroes joined Aquaman and the Martian Manhunter on a new Justice League team, based in Detroit. Informally referred to as the “Justice League Detroit,” this team lasted for only a few years, before several of the members were killed off. While this incarnation of the League is not as fondly remembered as others, it helped elevate characters such as Vibe and Vixen to greater places in the DC Universe.

Black Adam’s reference to Shazam leading a Detroit-based version of the Justice League is a fun call-out, but one laced with darkness, as Shazam will not only lead the team—he’s destined to kill them as well.

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About The Author


Shaun Corley
(1378 Articles Published)

Shaun Corley is a pop culture enthusiast living in the Pacific Northwest. After stints in both customer service and academia, he’s turned his attention to writing about comic books–his lifelong passion. He is a graduate of Radford University, with a degree in English. When not reading comics, he enjoys spending time with his fiance and their dog.

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