Teth-Adam was born on September 11, 1279 BC to the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II in the neighboring land of Kahnda. He was given God like powers by the wizard Shazam. Teth-Adam served Egypt for many years as a successful hero.

Over a millennia later, Adam's home was destroyed and his family killed by the evil priest Ahk-Ton using the Orb of Ra. A disparaged Adam returned to Kahndaq and forcefully overthrew the government present there, appointing himself ruler. The wizard Shazam became aware of these events and, thinking Adam had been corrupted, unleashed a powerful spell. He trapped Adam's soul and powers within a powerful scarab and rendered Adam's de-powered body, now several hundred years old, into a withered corpse. Shazam then buried both the body and the scarab in the tomb of Ramses II, where he had planned for it to remain for all eternity. In death, the former hero was referred to as "Khem-Adam" ("Black Adam").

Years later Rameses II's tomb was excavated by the Batsons under the orders of the Sivana Federation. A colleague of the Batsons, Adam's descendant Theo, murdered the Batsons after finding the scarab. After seeing Billy Batson as Captain Marvel, Theo spoke the name "Shazam" and became possessed by the soul of Black Adam. With Black Adam reborn, e became the archenemy of the next champion, Captain Marvel. He has since worked to redeem himself with the Justice Society of America, but his path is long and troubled.