Warning: This list contains spoilers for Black Adam.The release of DCEU’s The Rock his biggest weekend debut to date. The film’s success has been built on the actor’s star power, along with the intrigue surrounding the likes of the JSA and how they tie into the story.
With personalities as powerful as Black Adam and Sabbac to fight against, the film’s characters all had to display their most courageous aspects. This includes empowered beings like Doctor Fate to normal humans such as Adrianna Tomaz. It’s also interesting to see what fits the definition of being brave, as Black Adam himself had things to be afraid of that went beyond his powers.
Ishmael Gregor/Sabbac
Ishmael was the main antagonist, but he used cowardly tactics to claim the Crown of Sabbac. Ishmael fooled Adrianna into trusting him to get close to the crown in order to steal it, later using his henchmen to fight the protagonists instead of stepping up himself.
Although he was much more upfront when he was in control, Ishmael only behaved that way when he was the one holding the cards. He was very confident when he became host to Sabbac, but that was due to the fact that he’d received incredible powers that few could rival.
Atom Smasher
Atom Smasher is the latest B-list hero to appear in the DC Extended Universe, with the character treated as such considering how much of a bumbling person he was. Still, he wasn’t outright scared and went into every situation willing to fight.
But Atom Smasher was also the most vulnerable hero in Black Adam, getting shaken by anything that took him by surprise and needing encouragement from his teammates. Atom Smasher was the one in the JSA who voiced the most apprehension, which makes him brave in general but not as much compared to the others.
Cyclone
Cyclone was similar to Atom Smasher, contributing when needed and staying behind at other times. She was still a bit more confident than him, as Cyclone was generally the one between the duo who would spring into action first.
Cyclone didn’t get as many opportunities to showcase her bravery either, as Hawkman kept her away from the brunt of the action until she was absolutely needed. As a result, Cyclone’s courage was limited onscreen to times when she fought along with the rest of the group.
Black Adam
Among the differences between the DCEU Black Adam and his comics’ counterpart was that the live-action version was more of a hero. That’s not to say he was outright courageous, as Black Adam was inherently afraid of confronting his past and taking responsibility.
Black Adam’s fear of living up to his son’s sacrifice held him back until the end of the movie, which is when he truly became a brave individual. He was never afraid of fighting anyone, but Black Adam needed to confront his personal demons before he displayed the bravery of a warrior.
Hawkman
Hawkman served as the leader of the JSA and was the most interested in fighting Black Adam. His bravado was such that he tried to take on the titular character but got beat up for his efforts, although this solidified just how courageous he could be.
On the other hand, Hawkman lost his composure several times when things didn’t go according to plan. His nervousness was evident during these moments, which required a pep talk from Doctor Fate to revitalize his fighting spirit. Hawkman deserves credit for showing bravery on other occasions, such as when he was ready to meet his death and tried to prevent Doctor Fate from taking his place.
Adrianna Tomaz
Most of the movies that are similar to Black Adam have that one character who doesn’t have powers but has the courage to stand alongside empowered beings. Adrianna took up this role in the film, openly confronting everyone from the JSA to Black Adam himself.
She did display fear when her son was taken away from her, but this was a rational drop in her bravery since he was her child. Apart from that, Adrianna was never afraid of facing all the powerful beings in the story, even defying Ishmael to his face after he claimed his new powers.
Amon Tomaz
Amon was surprisingly brave for such a young character, displaying such strength that Black Adam ended up learning from him. Amon was willing to accompany his mother on her expeditions knowing the dangers they carried; he also stood up to the Intergang soldiers without fear.
Amon’s courage had to do with his naive point of view, though, as he felt that Black Adam’s return would guarantee his safety. That doesn’t take away from the many times he relied on his own skills to escape, with Amon never shown looking scared or worried about himself.
Doctor Fate
It’s a shame that Doctor Fate was killed off in the film since he could have been instrumental in further storylines the DCEU will explore. Doctor Fate was far and away the bravest character in the story, giving his life when he didn’t need to for the sake of his friendship with Hawkman.
Doctor Fate confessed he saw nothing in his future right before he chose to die, which brought him a sense of peace rather than any fear. Doctor Fate was also the calmest person in every situation, always displaying a subtle form of bravery that enabled him to think clearly and fight Sabbac even though he knew he would perish.
