By speaking the name of his benefactor ("Black Adam"), he is bestowed the same powers derived of Egyptian mythological deities. These powers grant him various others such as:
Superhuman physical attributes: strength, speed, durability, etc.
Enhanced intelligence and knowledge
Physical and magical invulnerability
Control over lightning, magic, and flight
Skilled combatant, musician, and knowledge in the supernatural.
Altered in-story information for adaptations to other media
Amon Tomaz, known as Osiris, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Making his full debut in 52 #23, the character serves as analogue to Captain Marvel Jr. / Shazam Jr, sharing a significant connections to the character Black Adam, who is depicted as both a villain and anti-hero.
The character is initially depicted as an Egyptian teenager enslaved by Intergang, an organized crime syndicate with ties to the New Gods of Apokolips. His sister, Isis, and Black Adam strive to free him, but he suffers severe injuries. Unable to heal him, Black Adam grants him power, transforming him into Osiris and joining the Black Marvel Family as Adam's protege. They face conflicts with the Teen Titans, Suicide Squad, and Amanda Waller due to their reputation and involvement in Kahndaq's affairs. Ultimately, Amon and Adrianna are killed by the Four Horsemen of Apokolips while discredited in the eyes of the public due to Waller's manipulations. In Brightest Day, Osiris is revived and seeks to resurrect his sister and Black Adam. Guided by the Life Entity in the White Lantern Corps, he joins Deathstroke's Titans, but his corruption and willingness to kill others are gradually revealed.
In the New 52 reboot, Amon's character takes on a different portrayal as a non-superpowered, Kahndaqi-native teenager. He assumes the role of a freedom fighter and acts as a translator for the Sons of Adam, a group of revolutionaries dedicated to resurrecting Black Adam. During DC Rebirth, the character's original history as Osiris is restored although his resurrection alongside Isis's own is reverted to having been killed by the Four Horsemen of Apokolips.
In the Arrowverse television series Legends of Tomorrow, a different iteration of the character named Behrad Tarazi was introduced and played by Shayan Sobhian. Additionally, Amon Tomaz made his live-action debut in the DC Extended Universe film Black Adam (2022), portrayed by Bodhi Sabongui. Within the movie's version, the character is expressed as Adrianna's son rather than younger brother. In the movie, her brother was named Karim and was portrayed by Mohammed Amer.[1][2]
Creation
During the development of the 52 series, Osiris character came into fruition later in the development process as the team behind the book sought to create a love interest for Black Adam (initially considering Power Girl and Hippolyta before settling on creating a new version of Isis) and later, a supporting cast for the character with Amon introduced as a brother-in-law.[3] As Osiris's character came into focus during the series, Geoff Johns created the Sobek character to act as a unique companion to the character, opting to dis-include another Marvel Family parallel character or another young superhero character.[4]
Publication history
Osiris was first depicted in Teen Titans #38 (September 2006), making his full appearance in 52 #23 (December 2006), created by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen, and Drew Johnson.[5] He appeared extensively in the 2006-2007 weekly series 52 as a supporting character within Black Adam's portion of the story.[3][4] The character is eventually killed off in the forty-third issue of the series, with his sequences involving his death drawn by Giffen. Giffen was noted to dislike the character and originally drew a short joke comic with Sobek's character humorously contemplating eating the character, unaware of the character's death scene.[3]
In March 2010, Osiris would first briefly return briefly in the Blackest Night crossover event. As part of DC's January campaign of bringing back 'dead comic runs', the Black Lantern Osiris featured in the one-shot The Power of Shazam! revival.[6] Two months later, the character would make a full revival within the eighth issue of the Blackest Night main series.
Fictional character biography
Origin
Amon Tomaz was a teenager and the younger brother of Adrianna Tomaz[7] who grew up in Cairo and dreamed of becoming a musician. Tragically, both their parents were killed and they were kidnapped by the criminal cult of Intergang, where both were sold into slavery and extorted. Intergang intended to brainwash him and others into serving within their off-shoot branch, the Religion of Crime and Cult of Cain. Amon refused despite attempts of coercion by Whisper A'Daire through both mind control and torture. Frustrated with his repeated attempts of escape, she orders her men to beat Amon and forcefully make him a paraplegic as punishment. This act was witnessed by the Question and Renee Montoya, friends of Adrianna (now Isis) and Black Adam who knew of Isis's efforts to locate her missing brother and relayed their location. When Isis's power proved unable to fully heal his physical body, Adam bestowed the powers of Shazam upon the boy, saving his life and giving him a new path in life.[4]
Brief heroism and death
Now both the superhero Osiris and Prince of Kahndaq, Amon sought to prove himself a worthy hero and befriend others despite his affiliation with Black Adam, whose past history and methodology towards justice was considered extreme, criminal and his efforts to embrace a different perspective by Isis met with little optimism by various world leaders, politicians, and superhero communities. Amon first sought to join the Teen Titans but while met with skepticism by Captain Marvel Junior, he agrees to vouch for him only if he proved his intention pure with the rest of the world. The Black Marvel Family would later make an attempt to appeal to the public by revealing their normal ungodly state and restating their intentions. Initially successful, Osiris's membership with the Teen Titans is short-lived after an attack by Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad. When Persuader tortures Isis during the conflict, he is gruesomely killed by an enraged Amon. Broadcasting the death of the super-villain to the public and manipulating the image, Waller discredits both the prince and the Black Marvel Family, having counted on his unpredictable nature and adolescence to provide an opportunity.[4][3]
Wracked with guilt over the killing, Osiris comes to view his powers as a curse and believe them also responsible for the decaying of Kahndaq, unaware of the Four Horsemen of Apokolips having targeted the Black Marvel Family and helping to discredit them. Amon initially sought to find Captain Marvel in the Rock of Eternity to help strip him of his powers but relents when his sister and brother-in-law convinces him otherwise. Still not convinced days later, Sobek urges him to turn back to normal. Upon doing so, he is surprisingly killed and eaten by Sobek, revealing himself as Famine.[3] Despite his short time as a Titan, a memorial statue of Osiris has been erected in Titans Tower.[8]
Osiris briefly returned as a reanimated Black Lantern corpse.[9] Because Black Adam restored Amon's deceased body to its godly form to ensure a pleasant afterlife, he returned with the powers of a Champion (in which the Marvel Family were since depowered) and resists the ring's attempt of control. He comes into conflict with a reanimated Black Lantern Sobek but manages to kill him himself, dying as a hero both for himself and in the perspective of his people.[6] Along with several other heroes and villains Osiris was brought back to life at the end of Blackest Night.[10]
Following the events of Blackest Night, Osiris appears briefly as he returns to Kahndaq. Vowing to restore Kahndaq to its former prosperity, Osiris takes the petrified bodies of Black Adam and Isis and flies off to an unknown destination.[11]
During a flashback, it is revealed that Osiris attempted to return to the Teen Titans, only to leave in anger after being told by Wonder Girl to turn himself over to the authorities for killing Persuader.[12]
Angered when he discovers that he does not possess the power to restore his loved ones, Osiris enlists in Deathstroke's new team of Titans hoping that the mercenary will be able to help him in his goal. During his first mission with the team, Osiris assists in the murder of Ryan Choi, the fourth Atom. During his confrontation with Choi, Osiris tells the hero that he is sorry that he has to kill him. After the mission, Osiris becomes angered at Deathstroke's choice to name the team after the Teen Titans, claiming that they do not deserve it.[13]
After the Titans' second mission, Osiris returns to his quarters, in which the statues of Adam and Adrianna are. He notices that Adrianna's statue has changed slightly, developing a crack in her cheek. Osiris sits and meditates, willing that Adrianna shows him the way. The White Lantern symbol appears above him as he does so.[14]
Osiris is soon after contacted by the Entity, who tells him to free Isis.[15] Just prior to being contacted by the Entity, Osiris enters into a verbal altercation with two of his teammates, Cinder and Tattooed Man, and ends up being cut across the face by the latter. Shocked after seeing that Tattooed Man was somehow able to make him bleed, a confused Osiris flies off into the sky, where he is eventually approached by the Entity. After learning that he must free his sister, Osiris muses that he may be able to rescue Black Adam as well, and claims that once his sister and Adam are freed, he will make the Titans regret mistreating him.[16]
During a battle with a drug kingpin named Elijah, Osiris again experiences a vision of Isis after Pisces knocks him out. She tells her brother that he is guilty for his hand in the murder of Ryan Choi, and that to free her, he will have to kill more people, making many more sacrifices. Osiris accidentally electrocutes Elijah after waking from his vision when he yells about Isis, and returns home to find that more cracks have appeared on Isis' statue. He then surmises that it was Elijah's death which caused the cracks, and states that he will indeed have to kill more people to free Isis from her prison.[17]
During a breakout at Arkham Asylum, Osiris is confronted by Killer Croc whom Osiris believes to be his old friend Sobek, who killed him, and brutally attacks him. Osiris kills a guard with lightning, although by doing so he releases all of the prisons' inmates.[18] While they battle, the new Batman arrives and see Osiris, realising that he has been working with Deathstroke's team.[19] Batman tries to get Osiris to explain his actions, but Osiris eventually escapes from Arkham Asylum and departs with Deathstroke's team.[20] Osiris travels to Philadelphia where he brutally kills several armed criminals until Freddy Freeman, the new Shazam, arrives.[21] Osiris and Freddy fight, with Freddy trying to convince Osiris to stop killing. Osiris tricks Freddy into thinking he has been convinced, then uses the magic lightning to steal Freddy's powers and gives them to Isis, restoring her. The Entity then speaks to Osiris telling him that his mission has been accomplished and his life has been restored. However, Isis' first words to Osiris when he returns to her are "What have you done to me?"[22] Osiris discovers that the deaths he caused have corrupted Isis' soul, causing her to fluctuate between her normal personality and a cruel callous one. While watching over her, he sees a news report on Khandaq being attacked by Qurac, and returns to find she has escaped.[23] Isis attempts to commit suicide by lightning to free herself from her corrupted soul, but Osiris shields her with his own body. When they awake, Isis discovers that the corruption has left her, but she still feels it inside Osiris, and it worries her.[24]
Later, Osiris attacks the Qurac soldiers alongside Isis; she learns that Osiris became more violent to killing soldiers. Osiris then join Deathstroke's Titans to attacks Justice League, where they were stopped by Isis and forced them to leave Khandaq. She further uses her rulership to withdraw from the United Nations, and says they will outlaw and recognize no power but their own or risk the starting of World War III. When they leave, Osiris is stunned when his sister, Isis tells him that he is no longer welcome in Khandaq because of his bloodlust.[25]
Upon returning to the labyrinth, Deathstroke reveals to them that his proceeding items were used to create a healing machine called "Methuselah" for his dying son Jericho. After healing Jericho, Deathstroke claims the machine can also resurrect the dead and can bring Black Adam as well. Osiris initially accepts, but after Cinder declares the Device a curse, he joins him and Tattooed Man in fighting the other Titans to destroy the device.[26] After Cinder sacrifices herself to destroy the device, Osiris leaves with Doctor Sivana in tow. He demands that Doctor Sivana create a new Methuselah Device to restore Black Adam, but Sivana asks in return that he helps him kill the wizard Shazam.[27]
The New 52
In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC Universe. Amon Tomas is a young human recruited by the Sons of Adam, a terrorist group working on freeing Khandaq from Ibac's dictatorship. Due to his translating abilities he is tasked in reading an ancient spell to resurrect Black Adam. But before completing it, the military attacks them. Mortally injured, Amon makes his sister Adrianna complete the spell which revives Black Adam.[28]
DC Rebirth
During the 2016 "Shazam! and the Seven Magiclands" storyline, it is revealed that Isis and Osiris's (Adrianna and Amon)'s prior history as the super-powered Black Marvel Family was restored although they died under unknown circumstances years prior. Mister Mind and Doctor Sivanna would later attempt to recruit Black Adam into his Monster Society of Evil by tempting him with the power of the Darklands, which Mind claimed could resurrect those who he tried to in the past, including Amon and Adrianna.[29]
Characterization
Amon Tomaz is a former teenage slave who suffered injuries from Intergang made to render him paraplegic but regains mobility following Black Adam sharing his powers with him and makes him a prince of Kahndaq.[4] The character was initially described to be kind-heart, trusting, and naive to an extent with unwavering loyalty towards Kahndaq, Black Adam, and Isis, the last whom is his older sister.[30] Following their revival, the character undergoes a notable change in attitude, displaying a more anti-hero outlook driven by their determination to resurrect their sister. His jaded nature is attributed to external corruption, potentially influenced by Blaze and the trauma of their initial death.[31]
A supporting character of Black Adam, Osiris within the DC Universe narratively parallels his mentor in being a benevolent and respect figure in Kahndaq[11][6] but a controversial figure within both the superhero community and world at large, a reoccurring conflict with the character.[30][31]
Depiction of death
Osiris's death has been depicted differently numerous times over the course of the character's history. The character was first killed off originally in the 43rd issue of the 52 series.[3] The character would be resurrected in early 2010 within the Blackest Night crossover main series and remained alive until the New 52 reboot.[10] Within the original version of the rebooted continuity, Amon Tomaz would later be killed by a stray bullet as he attempted to resurrect a recently slain Black Adam.[28] DC Rebirth restored the character's prior history[29] seemingly expressed from the original 52 series[32] but remained deceased, with no mentioning of the character's history reflected in the 2008 Titans series.
Powers and abilities
As an ordinary human, Amon possess no inherent superpowers but proved willful enough to resist the Religion of Crime's brainwashing.[33] In his earlier portrayals, Amon was mentioned to be a bass guitar player while in his New 52 portrayal, he had an acute knowledge in history and occultism, particularly those connected to Kahndaq, Egypt, and the Wizard Shazam.[28]
Powers of Shazam
Amon originally derived his power from a connection to Black Adam, granting him a portion of his powers in which are derived from Egyptian deities[4] and are depicted as being of greater magnitude in power.[34] These powers were enhanced following his resurrection and in the 2008 Titans series, he initially possessed all of the collective power of Black Adam.[31] He also possessed a portion of Isis's power but were relinquished following his sister's revival.[31]
The equivalent to the "Stamina of Atlas", The stamina attribute from Shu enables Amon to maintain his empowered state for an extended period without any time limitations. Additionally, the empowerment provides Amon with substance, eliminating the need for eating, sleeping, and even breathing. As a result, Adam can operate at peak efficiency, unaffected by the physiological requirements that typically apply to ordinary individuals.[35]
The equivalent to the "Speed of Mercury", the Speed of Horus grants Amon super speed, enhanced reflexes, motor skills, and flight, enabling them to move at incredible speeds, react swiftly, perform precise maneuvers, and soar through the air. His speed ranks around at least 16,000 miles per hour (roughly Mach 20).[30]
The equivalent of the "Strength of Hercules", this bestows Amon an exceptional level of superhuman strength. He gains the ability to exert immense physical power, surpassing the capabilities of ordinary individuals. With this heightened strength, they can effortlessly lift and manipulate objects of tremendous weight, overpower adversaries with ease, and deliver devastating blows in combat.[35] Osiris's strength level is comparable to that of a Kryptonian[36][31] and was capable of lifting at least 6,000 tons prior to his resurrection.[30]
Similar to the "Wisdom of Solomon", the Wisdom of Zehuti grants Adam slightly different powers from the wisdom derived from Solomon; The wisdom enhanced Adam's mind, granting him near eidetic memory, a greater understanding of mathematics, combat strategy, languages, sciences, and he can also sense mystical forces.[37] Similar to the Wisdom of Solomon, the power is considered an active one a champion must channel to activate.[35] It also granted him an understanding of architecture that enabled him to build hospitals.[33]
The equivalent to the "Power of Zeus", this attributes fasciliates the transformation that grants Amon access to the full range of his powers, including the ability to shoot bursts of electricity and lightning. He also possesses a limited gift of teleportation, allowing him to effortlessly travel to and from the Rock of Eternity with a single thought. Notably, the Power of Aten empowers him with the potential to use magic and cast spells. This power is considered the most difficult, requiring the most study, focus and displine.[35] Amon possesses an affinity for magic and showcased some abilities in casting spells and magic when he attempted to resurrect his sister and brother-in-law.[31][38]
The equivalent to the "Courage of Achilles", the Courage of Mehen grants Osiris peak physical defenses, rendering her nearly invulnerable. This heightened level of invulnerability provides significant protection against physical harm. Additionally, the empowerment grants Amon resistance to various elements, including heat, force, disease, and the effects of aging. This attribute allow Mary to withstand extreme conditions and maintain her health and vitality against formidable challenges.[35] Additionally, Amon possess a degree of magical invulnerability and has a high resistance to mind control, having resisted the Black Lantern rings successfully.[36][31]
As a member of the Black Marvel Family, the character possesses a portion of power derived from the super-powered Isis. By invoking her name, he can perform various acts, including projecting lightning and depowering others using the Powers of Shazam. This power establishes a link between himself and his sister, strengthening their connection.[31]
In the New 52 onward, the character would a possession portion of the Living Lightning derived from his empowerment by Black Adam. Amon would potentially possess the same powers as Black Adam, with magical abilities including lightning control and amplification of spells.[39]
Weaknesses
As a member of the Black Marvel Family, Amon and the other members share a collective reservoir of power. The strength of Amon's abilities is contingent upon the number of individuals within the Black Marvel Family who have also undergone their respective transformations.
Other versions
In the alternate timeline of the Flashpoint event, Osiris is a prince of Kahndaq and member of the H.I.V.E. council. He voted for using nuclear weapons to end the war in Western Europe between Aquaman and Wonder Woman, believing the death of his sister, Isis was caused by them. When Traci Thirteen battles the council, she is able to defeat him by casting spells ending in her saying 'Shazam!' causing Osiris to turn back.[40]
Osiris appeared in Justice League International vol. II #42 (March 1994) and was created by Gerard Jones and Charles Wojtkiewicz. He appeared monthly in that title and its companions, Justice League America and Justice League Task Force until August 1994. Osiris is an Egyptian hero who wears a high-tech suit of golden armor and believes he is the god Osiris re-incarnate. He first appeared as an agent of the Overmaster and a member of the Cadre of the Immortal. After the Immortal's death, Osiris finally perceived the true threat of the Overmaster, he, Seneca and Mohammed Ibn Bornu allied themselves with the Justice League to stop the Overmaster.[41]
God of death
This Osiris appeared in the one-shotSandman Presents: The Thessaliad #1 (March 2002) and was created by Bill Willingham and Shawn McManus. Osiris is the Egyptian god of death, fertility, and resurrection. He is also the lord of the Egyptian underworld and was appointed to be one of three judges of the deceased, alongside Thoth and Anubis. In modern times, Osiris and the death gods Hel, Morrigan and Pluto conspired to steal the life force of a young girl named Thessaly, because of her status as the last Thessalian witch. Their scheme failed and the young witch dismembered the Ibis-headed immortal and scattered his body parts across time and space.[42][43]
In other media
A character inspired by Amon Tomaz named Behrad Tarazi appears in Legends of Tomorrow, portrayed by Shayan Sobhian as an adult[44] and by Bodhi Sabongui in flashbacks. He originally hails from a possible dystopian future in 2042, in which he possessed aerokinesis via the Air Totem before he was killed by A.R.G.U.S. After the Legends erase the dystopian future, a revived and altered Behrad joins them.
Amon Tomaz appears in Black Adam, portrayed by Bodhi Sabongui.[45] This version is Adrianna Tomaz's teenage son who is a fan of superheroes and keeps Teth-Adam in his room, following him after his escape. Later, he finds out that Ishmael Gregor, his mother's partner, is actually the militant leader of Intergang, and escapes with the Crown of Sabbac but is captured. Upon Adam saving him from being killed by Ishmael, Amon discovers that Ishmael's death allowed him to be reborn as the demon Sabbac. Amon, Adrianna, and Karim rally the people of Khandaq to fight Sabbac's skeleton army while Teth-Adam and the Justice Society defeat Sabbac.
Collected editions
Blackest Night: Rise of the Black Lanterns (collects The Power of Shazam! #48)
Titans: Villains for Hire (collects Titans 24-27 and Titans: Villains for Hire Special #1)
^Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 224. ISBN978-1-4654-5357-0.
^Countdown to final crisis. Paul Dini, Jesús Saiz, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, Adam Beechen, Tony Bedard, Sean McKeever, David Lopez, Mike Norton, Jim Calafiore, Carlos Magno, Al Barrionuevo, Don Hillsman, Rodney Ramos, Jack Purcell, Tom Derenick, Jamal Igle, Scott Kolins, Pete Woods, John Stanisci, Wayne Faucher, Mark McKenna, Jay Leisten, Art Thibert, Jared K. Fletcher, Ken Lopez, Travis Lanham, Tom Chu, Alex Bleyaert, Pete Pantazis, Rod Reis. New York. 2008. ISBN978-1-4012-1789-1. OCLC231623970.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
