World War III

{{DC Database:Event Template
 * Image                  = World War III TP.jpg
 * OfficialName           = World War III
 * Aliases                = WWIII


 * Universe               = New Earth
 * Locations              = Australia, Beijing China, Egypt, Kahndaq, Rock of Eternity, Rocky Mountains


 * Heroes                 = JSA, Great Ten, Marvel Family
 * Villains               = Black Adam
 * Others                 =


 * Quotation              = I WILL SHOW YOU WAR!!
 * Speaker                = Black Adam


 * Origin                 = World War III (abbreviated WW III), was a worldwide metahuman conflict which lasted for only one week. Precipitated by the mass slaughter by Black Adam in Bialya, which resulted in millions of deaths, the conflict raged over the surface of the Earth. Eventually, the combined forces of the JSA, Captain Marvel, China's Great Ten, Teen Titans, Doom Patrol, and other heroes stopped Black Adam's rampage by transforming him back into his human form.
 * Titles                 = 52, World War III Series
 * Collected              = World War III (Collected)
 * Creators               =
 * First                  = 52 #50
 * Last                   = World War III #4


 * HistoryText            =

World War III was a worldwide metahuman conflict which lasted for only one week. Precipitated by the mass slaughter by Black Adam in Bialya, which resulted in millions of deaths, the conflict raged over the surface of the Earth. Eventually, the combined forces of the JSA, JLA, Captain Marvel, China's Great Ten, Phantom Stranger, Martian Manhunter, and other heroes stopped Black Adam's rampage.

The War was ultimately the result of a confluence of several events:

Week 38, Day 2
The primary product of the Science Squad of Oolong Island was the Four Horsemen:
 * Azraeuz - Silent King of the Age of Death (Death)
 * Roggra - The Age of War (War)
 * Yurrd - The Unknown in Formless Time Before Time (Famine)
 * Zorrm - Lor of the Age of Fevers (Pestilence)

Week 39, Day 6
These beings were turned loose on the Black Marvel Family, killig Isis and Osiris. As Isis lay dying in Black Adam's arms, she told him that she was wrong - it wasn't he that required redemption, it was
 * "the rest of the world. The world of men that made such horrible creatures. The evil needs to die. I thought we could be above them, but, for the pain they have put our family through ... avenge us."

Week 45, Days 4-6
Black Adam then followed Azraeuz to the nation of Bialya, killing first the military authorities in league with Intergang, then the entire population of the country - every last man, woman, and child. The world, for unknown reasons, chose not to intervene.



Week 45, Day 7
Succeeding in destroying Azraeuz, Black Adam learned that it was the Science Squad that created the Horsemen, and he set out for Oolong Island.

Week 46-Week 47
Black Adam, destroyed all of the defenses of the Science Squad easily, but they succeed slowing him down by attempting to unfold the hidden dimensions of space/time in his invulnerable brain. While Black Adam had appeared to heal from the damage done by the dimensional warp in his brain shortly after wards, the short moment allowed them to place the Neuro Crown on Black Adam (Which rerouted the electrical impulses Black Adam's brain sent to his body. Although this device had only a momentarily affect on Black Adam, it allowed them to place him in restraints specifically designed for the Black Marvel Family). While he was captured, they also tried to tortured him (The worst they could do was to use a devise known as the Thunder Pliers to break of a piece of his toe nail)

Week 48, Day 5
Chang Tzu offers Black Adam to the world community - by auction.

Week 49, Day 1
Arriving at Oolong Island, the JSA demands the release of Black Adam to stand trial for crimes against humanity. It is then, through the telepathicaly provided information of Thundermind that Alan Scott learns of the plot against Black Adam:


 * Chang Tzu was a member of the Great Ten, China's metahuman defenders. Oolong Island was a Red Chinese stronhold. Under order from Beijing, Chang Tzu utilized Intergang money to design and build doomsday weapons for one purpose -- to destroy the Black Marvel Family.

After entering the Island facility, Atom Smasher, unable to believe the charges against his former ally, lets Adam go free.

Week 50, Day 1
In Egypt, the Marvel Family does battle with Black Adam, destroying some of the Great Pyramids. The Marvel Family was defeated.

Week 50, Day 3
Australia is hit.

Week 50, Day 4


Italy is hit, with the Doom Patrol proving no match for the rampaging Black Adam. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is knocked over in the battle.

Week 50, Day 5
Checkmate locates Black Adam and notifies Mr. Terrific and the JSA.

Week 50, Day 6
Over the skies of China, Adam destroys fighter jets and makes his way to Beijing. Convinced that the Great Ten will be sufficient to stop his rampage, August General in Iron denies the world community the permission to assist them.

Week 50, Day 7
By Day 7, the JSA, JLA, Teen Titans, Doom Patrol and the other assembled heroes stand ready at the Chinese border, prevented from entering by virtue of a possible nuclear escalation. Black Adam easily defeats the Great Ten and, eventually, China allows international help. The JSA attack Adam.

Captain Marvel, petitions the Egyptian gods that power Adam to remove his powers, but they refused to make Adam mortal again, apparently supporting him in his quest for blood.

As the battle rages, the "heroes" of the Everyman Project retreat from the field, leaving the JSA and the other collected heroes to continue fighting.

They could not stop him in battle, so while co-ordinated by Zatanna, Jay Garrick, Green Lantern, and Power Girl try to force Adam into the skies, where Captain Marvel has called down the lightning of Shazam.

Captain Marvel caught the Bolt in the air.

Zatanna, Phantom Stranger, Zatara use their magical abilities, and force it to strike Black Adam, transforming him into a mortal again.

Falling from the sky, Adam is apparently caught by Atom Smasher and escapes.

Captain Marvel reveals that, although he couldn't get the gods to rescind Adam's powers, as Guardian of Magic he did have the power to change his magic word to something Adam will never be able to guess.


 * Vehicles               =
 * Items                  =
 * Weapons                =


 * Notes                  =
 * Not to be confused with JLA: World War III
 * Black Adam eventually learned the new magic word, Chocolate Egg Cream, by accident in Black Adam: The Dark Age Vol 1 4
 * Trivia                 =
 * RecommendedReading     =


 * 52 #50
 * World War III Series
 * Links                  =

Related Articles
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 * World War I
 * World War II
 * Black Adam
 * Oolong Island
 * Great Ten
 * JSA