Born into slavery in ancient Kahndaq, Teth-Adam is bestowed with the almighty powers of the gods. After using these powers for vengeance, he is imprisoned, becoming Black Adam. His actions, deemed too extreme, lead to his containment for nearly five millennia. Through the power of a magical word, he is accidentally freed in modern times, where his brand of justice, honed in a far more brutal era, clashes with contemporary societal norms.

As Black Adam acclimates to the changed world, his actions attract the attention of the Justice Society of America (JSA), a team of superheroes that includes Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Atom Smasher, and Cyclone. The JSA seeks to stop the powerful anti-hero from unleashing his unique form of justice upon the world while also facing a new threat that emerges from the shadows of Kahndaq. Conflicting ideals about heroism and the use of power soon lead to a fierce confrontation between the newly awakened force and the seasoned heroes.