Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam

Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam
DVD cover art
Directed by	Joaquim Dos Santos
Written by	Michael Jelenic
Produced by	Bobbie Page Alan Burnett Joaquim Dos Santos Sam Register Bruce Timm
Starring	George Newbern Jerry O'Connell Arnold Vosloo Zach Callison James Garner Kevin Michael Richardson Danica McKellar Josh Keaton
Music by	Benjamin Wynn Jeremy Zuckerman
Production companies	Warner Bros. Animation Warner Premiere DC Comics
Distributed by	Warner Home Video
Release dates	November 9, 2010 (2010-11-09)
Running time	25 minutes
Language	English

Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam is a 2010 short animated superhero film, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos and written by Michael Jelenic, featuring George Newbern and Jerry O'Connell reprising their roles from Justice League Unlimited as Superman and Captain Marvel who cooperate to do battle with the powerful Black Adam. The film, which was released on November 9, 2010 (2010-11-09) as the main feature on the compilation DVD DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection, was the fourth and to date longest of the DC Showcase series, which were also included in extended versions.

Plot

The film opens with Black Adam returning to Earth, seen as a meteor crashing into a hillside at night.

The film then cuts to young Billy Batson living alone in a rundown slum in Fawcett City. It is later revealed that Billy is an orphan whose foster parents threw him out. He goes to a diner to meet with Clark Kent who is writing an article about Billy's situation. Black Adam arrives and attacks Billy, stating his intent to kill the boy before the Wizard can get to him. Clark distracts Adam, allowing Billy to escape while he changes into Superman. Black Adam chases Billy through the streets but Superman intervenes and battles him. At first the two seem evenly matched, but Superman's vulnerability to magic gives Adam the upper hand.

Billy manages to run into the subway where he escapes with the help of a homeless man he had unsuccessfully tried to save from a mugging. Black Adam corners Billy on the tracks, but Billy is apparently run over by a train. He awakens to find he is on an empty subway car which takes him to a gigantic cave. There Billy meets the Wizard Shazam who tells him that he is the next Chosen One. The Wizard explains that Black Adam had been his champion 5000 years ago, but Adam had used his power for personal gain and corrupted the gift. He was then banished across the universe but has now returned seeking vengeance against the Wizard and his new champion. The Wizard bestows his power to Billy and causes a cave in, wishing to atone for the mistake of creating Black Adam. He tells Billy to say his name if he needs help. Billy escapes the collapsing cave and arrives outside.

Billy confronts Adam and, saying "SHAZAM!," finds himself instantly transformed by a bolt of lightning into a powerful adult version of himself with superhuman strength, speed, durability, and flight. The transformation is reversed in the same manner. Billy and Superman join forces to battle Black Adam in the skies. Realizing that he can't defeat both of them, Black Adam destroys a dam which threatens to flood the city. While Superman diverts the flood, Adam takes a motorist as hostage and tells Billy to surrender himself in his mortal form to secure her release. Billy complies, but Adam throws the hostage into the sky and silences Billy before he can catch her. The woman is rescued by Superman who attacks Adam and frees Billy. This allows Billy to transform back into Shazam and quickly defeat Black Adam. Shazam is about to kill him but Superman convinces him to be better than a murderer. Adam declares that only death will stop him. The homeless man reappears and reveals himself to be the boy's guardian angel Tawky Tawny. Tawky reverts to his true form as a tiger and threatens to get the Wizard to banish Adam even further across the universe. Unwilling to be banished again, Adam shouts "SHAZAM" reverting to the mortal Teth-Adam. Having been Black Adam for millennia, his mortal body cannot withstand the ravages of time and he turns to dust. It was an apparent bluff, as Tawny confirms the Wizard is indeed dead before leaving.

Days later, Billy is reading Clark's article when he encounters some bullies. They try to intimidate him but he simply smiles and a bolt of lightning strikes the city.

Cast

• George Newbern as Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman
• Jerry O'Connell as Captain Marvel
• Arnold Vosloo as Black Adam
• Zach Callison as Billy Batson
• James Garner as Shazam
• Josh Keaton as Punk, Sally's Boyfriend (uncredited)
• Danica McKellar as Sally
• Kevin Michael Richardson as Mister Tawky Tawny

External links

• Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam at the Internet Movie Database

[Edit] Superman franchise media
Comic strips	Superman (1939–1966) • The World's Greatest Superheroes (1978–1985) Superman: The Complete Comic Strips 1939-1966 (2013–present) - Reprint book collection
Radio	The Adventures of Superman (US, 1940–51) • The Adventures of Superman (UK, 1988)
Live-action serials and films	Serials	Superman (1948) • Atom Man vs. Superman
	1951 film series	Superman and the Mole Men • Stamp Day for Superman (short film)
	1978 film series	Superman (1978) • Superman II (The Richard Donner Cut) • Superman III • Supergirl • Superman IV: The Quest for Peace • Superman Returns
	DC Extended Universe	Man of Steel • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
	DC Universe	Superman
	Animated films	Superman animated shorts (1941–1943) • Brainiac Attacks • Doomsday • All-Star Superman • Unbound • Superman/Batman: Public Enemies • Superman/Batman: Apocalypse • Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam • vs. The Elite • The Death of Superman • Reign of the Supermen • Red Son • Man of Tomorrow • Battle of the Super Sons
	Documentary films	Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman • The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened? • Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Television	Live-action	Adventures of Superman • The Adventures of Superboy (pilot) • Superboy • Lois & Clark • Smallville • Supergirl • Krypton • Superman & Lois
	Animation	The New Adventures of Superman • The Adventures of Superboy • Superman • The Animated Series • Krypto the Superdog • Legion of Super Heroes • My Adventures with Superman
Novels	The Adventures of Superman (1942) • Superman: Last Son of Krypton • Miracle Monday • Superman: Doomsday & Beyond • Lois & Clark: A Superman Novel • It's Superman! • Superman Returns • Enemies & Allies
Video games	Superman (1979) • Superman: The Game (1985) • Superman (1987) • Superman (1988) • The Man of Steel (1989) • Superman (1992) • The Death and Return of Superman • The New Superman Adventures • Shadow of Apokolips • The Man of Steel (2002) • Countdown to Apokolips • Returns • MultiVersus
Music	"You've Got Possibilities" • Superman III (soundtrack) • Superman Returns (soundtrack) • "Save Me" (Remy Zero song) • Man of Steel (soundtrack) • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (soundtrack) • Metropolis Symphony
Parodies	Captain Caveman (The Flintstone Comedy Show segment) • Mighty Mouse • My Hero (UK TV series) • Stupor Duck • "Superduperman" • Super-Rabbit • Underdog (TV series) • Super Grover (Sesame Street)
Other media	It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman (musical) • The Adventures of Seinfeld & Superman (advertisement)
Toys	Lego Superman
Related characters	Lois Lane in other media • Lex Luthor in other media • Supergirl in other media
Related articles	Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation • "Crisis on Infinite Earths" • Hollywoodland • Lucy and Superman • "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" • National Comics Publications, Inc. v. Fawcett Publications, Inc. • Sunman (1992 video game) • Superman curse • Superman ice cream • "Superman and Paula Brown's New Snowsuit" • "The Reign of the Superman" • Superman and Lois Lane • Superman '78

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