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View Full Version : Why are Black Adam's ears pointy?

Zembo
10-16-2009, 06:47 PM
I've always wondered this, and no one can tell me why. Was he originally supposed to be an alien? What?
The Cool Thatguy
10-16-2009, 07:28 PM
It's because he's evil!
True Herald
10-16-2009, 07:32 PM
I said it elsewhere, and I'll say it again:
Spock envy.
marshal99
10-16-2009, 08:07 PM
He's the stunt double for Spock.
protonik
10-16-2009, 09:47 PM
I'd say it was to play to the negative & racial stereotypes of the day. Often non-white characters were given offensive portrayals like Ming the Merciless & Fu Manchu. Asians were portrayed as vampire-like as well as middle easterners with pointy ears etc.
Retro315
10-16-2009, 10:15 PM
Very easily it's the same reason he has a widow's peak ... it gives him a little bit of a Dracula vibe. Dracula might not be the "First" super-villain ... but he's one of the first epic ones, and by god, he's the most enduring in the history of literature.

Evil things get the vampire features ... black hair, widow's peaks, pointed ears ... I'm surprised Black Adam doesn't have fangs.
mgs
10-17-2009, 12:14 AM
who knows? my first though it maybe it's an homage to the fact that he has Egyptian god powers and having Anubis as one of his powers, the doberman type doggy ears may be the reason, or it's because the ancient egyptian rulers transmorphed their bodies into weird shapes and stuff.

but maybe it's the 'evil' thing too, which might harken back to history, but also, maybe who knows. I've seen pics with and without them. Anyone know if the creators ever said anything about his creation?
Zembo
10-17-2009, 04:46 AM
I DID wonder if he got his head stuck in a rice picker. And wouldn't he look awesome with a big Fu Manchu mustache? What if that was part of the whole Shazam package: godlike power and facial hair? Billy could have a goatee, Freddy would have a soul patch, and Mary would wear a mask.
RyleKayner
10-18-2009, 05:43 AM
...all the better to hear you with my dear.
bottlecityofkanga
10-18-2009, 05:48 PM
He didn't always have pointy ears though did he?

I quite liked the Roy Thomas Power of Shazam mini series in the 80s and he didn't have pointy ears then.

I agree that the pointy ears are a distraction.
carabas
10-19-2009, 12:58 AM
He didn't used to in the golden age.
Spiffy
10-19-2009, 01:14 AM
Because... er... his look-alike Namor did?
Darrell D.
10-19-2009, 06:06 AM
Because... er... his look-alike Namor did?

Yeah, pretty much. I guess DC wanted their own version of Namor.
Splatt
10-19-2009, 06:24 AM
It's because he's evil!

Goddamit. Took the words out of my mouth.
fireSTRIKE!
10-19-2009, 06:36 AM
Because... er... his look-alike Namor did?

Yeah, pretty much. I guess DC wanted their own version of Namor.

no, it's actually Namor himself moonlighting in the DC Universe, as he feels that he's not getting enough exposure over at Marvel... :tongue:
Zembo
10-19-2009, 08:51 AM
no, it's actually Namor himself moonlighting in the DC Universe, as he feels that he's not getting enough exposure over at Marvel... :tongue:

Actually, I've alwasy felt Namor and Aquaman would work better if they switched places. Namor would garner more respect than Aquaman based on physical power (and he'd probably punch out Batman, but that's just my wish) and Aquaman would be a more rational King for Marvel.
Salvester
10-19-2009, 10:09 AM
Because he and Namor are pretty much the same person.
Ziggy Stardust
10-19-2009, 10:38 AM
I've always wondered this, and no one can tell me why. Was he originally supposed to be an alien? What?

The only way SHAZAM could get his attention at times was to grab BA by the ears.
Spiffy
10-19-2009, 12:54 PM
Because he and Namor are pretty much the same person.
While Namor and Aquaman have the same background and "job", Namor and Black Adam DO share almost the same appearance and personality.