| Isis | |
|---|---|
 Artwork for the cover of 52 Week Twelve, the debut of the Adrianna Tomaz character as Isis within the main DC Comics continuity. Art by J. G. Jones. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | The Secrets of Isis: "The Lights of Mystery Mountain" (September 6, 1975) |
| First comic appearance | Shazam! #25 (October 1976) |
| Created by | Marc Richards |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Andrea Thomas Adrianna Tomaz |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Place of origin | United States(Andrea) Kahndaq /Cairo(Adrianna) |
| Team affiliations | Black Marvel Family |
| Supporting character of | Black Adam Captain Marvel / Shazam |
| Notable aliases | The Mighty Isis |
| Abilities |
|
Isis is the name of several female characters appearing in American comic books published byDC Comics. The name is associated with the DC Universe's iteration of theancient Egyptian goddess of the same name and others who have adopted the name.
The first rendition of the character,Andrea Thomas, is a high school teacher who possesses powers linked to ancient Egyptian mythology. In this iteration, she shares a connection withCaptain Marvel/Shazam, as both characters draw their powers from divine sources. Andrea's abilities are specifically tied to the Egyptian goddess Isis, who grants her the ability to assume the role of a superhero using her name. In addition to serving as the main character inThe Secrets of Isis, a live-action television program starringJoanna Cameron that served as the second half ofThe Shazam!/Isis Hour, the character appeared in several late 1970sDC Comics publications.
In more recent publications, the name primarily refers toAdrianna Tomaz, a reimagining of the original character first introduced in52 #12 (July 2006). She is a superhero of Egyptian orKahndaqi heritage and she holds a prominent role asBlack Adam's love interest, advisor, and Queen of Kahndaq. Initially enslaved by the criminal organizationIntergang, Adrianna is offered to Black Adam in an attempt to secure an alliance. However, he frees her and proves herself a capable advisor and ruler. She is also the older sister ofAmon Tomaz, who becomes Osiris under Black Adam's tutelage and the trio form theBlack Marvel Family, a counterpart of the Marvel/Shazam Family, and worked towards the betterment of Kahndaq although the character is subjected tocomic book deaths. A new version appears in the New 52 initially as anactivist who becomes a freedom fighter when Amon is killed in his successful attempt to resurrect Black Adam but past aspects of the character is restored followingDC Rebirth although the character instead remains dead.
The television seriesSmallville depicts Isis as a supervillain form taken on byLois Lane (portrayed byErica Durance) when possessed by the Amulet of Isis. Adrianna Tomaz appears later in the episode, portrayed byErica Cerra. TheArrowverse television seriesLegends of Tomorrow introduces a new incarnation of the character namedZari Tomaz, portrayed byTala Ashe. This version was portrayed as a wisecrackinghacker from the future with wind powers derived from an amulet and no superhero code name. After the fourth season, another version of the character (also portrayed by Ashe) is introduced after an in-universe timeline change:Zari Tarazi, asocial media influencer. The Adrianna Tomaz version of the character appears in theDC Extended Universe filmBlack Adam (2022), portrayed bySarah Shahi.
Like the main character of the first half of the program,Captain Marvel, Isis has roots inancient Egyptianmythology. The television seriesThe Secrets of Isis starsJoanna Cameron as Andrea Thomas, a high school science teacher who draws power from hernamesake.
Isis later appeared in animated form onFilmation'sTarzan and the Super 7 show in 1980, as part of a segment calledThe Freedom Force. She later guest starred onThe Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam!'s "Hero High" segment, though Cameron did not voice the character.[citation needed]
Isis' first appearance in comics was inShazam! #25 (September – October 1976). She was later given her own TV tie-in book the following month, titledThe Mighty Isis, which ran for two years, out-surviving the TV series. The eight-issue run by DC Comics began in October 1976 and ended in January 1978; early issues featured a special "DC TV" logo. All stories starred the Andrea Thomas character from the television series; the book was edited byDenny O'Neil, written byJack C. Harris and most issues illustrated byMike Vosburg (the first issue was illustrated byRic Estrada andWallace Wood). Although early issues stayed within the format of the TV series, later issues covered storylines beyond the scope of the show, such as a story arc involving Andrea abandoning her "human" alter ego and cutting ties with her friends and family, resulting in Rick Mason revealing his love for her. Like other DC characters who have been reimagined, this version of Isis, though not mentioned or appearing inCrisis on Infinite Earths, can be assumed to have beenretconned out of existence following the 1985 DCminiseries.
The superhero Isis was re-introduced in the DC Universe in the weekly comic book52, in issue #3 (May 2006).[1]
Adrianna Tomaz, an Egyptian refugee, was enslaved and presented to Black Adam as a gift from Intergang, along with a significant amount of gold. However, upon being freed by Black Adam and witnessing his potential for positive change, Adrianna fearlessly expressed her belief in his ability to transform their country for the better. After engaging in weeks of discussions with Adrianna, Black Adam underwent a significant shift in his worldview. As a result, he retrieved the mystical Amulet of Isis, which had once belonged to the ancient Egyptian champion Queen Pharaoh Hatshepsut. Adam sought the assistance of Captain Marvel, who had become the Keeper of theRock of Eternity, to bestow the amulet's power upon Adrianna. The amulet had a history of bringing peace to Queen Hatshepsut's kingdom but became dormant following her death.[2]
By holding the amulet and uttering the phrase "I am Isis," Adrianna was transformed, imbued with the powers of the goddess Isis. Together, Adrianna, now known as Isis, and Black Adam embarked on a mission to travel through the Middle East, liberating enslaved children and searching for Adrianna's abducted brother. Their journey led them to significant milestones, including their wedding ceremony officiated by Captain Marvel, which saw the attendance of various Shazam! characters and the interference of Intergang's failed attempt to disrupt the event through a suicide bomber. Isis's powers paralleled those of Black Adam, granting her the ability to heal wounds of varying severity. Additionally, her control over nature was intricately linked to her emotional state, such that rain would fall indoors when she was sad, and flowers would bloom when she experienced joy. While her initial transformation was triggered by the phrase "I am Isis," subsequent transformations utilized the phrase "Oh Mighty Isis."[2]
During their endeavors, Isis successfully located her brother Amon, who had suffered torment and physical impairment due to his resistance against Intergang's criminal religious cult and numerous escape attempts. Isis intervened, preventing Black Adam from seeking vengeance against the members of Intergang. However, due to the complexity and severity of Amon's injuries, Isis could not fully heal him. In a pivotal moment, Black Adam encouraged Amon to utter his name, resulting in Amon being struck by Shazam's lightning bolt and transforming into Osiris. Reunited with her brother, Isis resolved to initiate global change, starting with China. Osiris persuaded her to reveal the identities of the Black Marvel Family and publicly declare their intentions for a brighter future. The Black Marvels' popularity increased further when they thwarted the demon Sabbac's attempt to sacrifice children to Neron during Halloween. Additionally, during a charity dinner, Osiris formed a bond with Sobek, a humanoid crocodile who escaped fromDoctor Sivana's lab.
Amanda Waller, skeptical of the Black Marvels' intentions, formed a new Suicide Squad and dispatchedPersuader to attack Isis with a radioactive ax. In an attempt to assist Isis, Osiris inadvertently kills the Persuader before Sobek kills him. The Black Marvels battle the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, during which Isis sacrifices herself to rescue Black Adam. Following this, Adam makes multiple failed attempts to resurrect her before Shazam turns them both into statues.[3][4][5][6][7]
InBrightest Day, Osiris is resurrected by theLife Entity and returns to Kahndaq, vowing to restore the kingdom to its former prosperity.[8] Despite his efforts, Osiris is unable to revive Adam and Adrianna.[9][10]
It is later revealed that Osiris was resurrected with the express purpose of reviving Adrianna.[11] He later successfully does so by channeling the power ofCaptain Marvel Jr.[12] However, Osiris' actions corrupt Isis' spirit, causing her to develop an evil split personality.[13][14][15] The Justice League attacks Deathstroke's Titans, but Isis forces them to leave.[16]
In September 2011,The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Adrianna Tomaz is a young woman who, by fighting specifically against Kahndaq's evil rule, is opposed to her brotherAmon entering The Sons of Adam terrorist group. However, after he is killed by Kahndaq's forces and she is forced to resurrect Black Adam, Adrianna decides to follow a path of violence, with an unknown voice saying that she will be chosen to wield power.[17]
InDC Rebirth, Isis and Osiris return to being dead.Mister Mind and Doctor Sivana recruit Black Adam into theMonster Society of Evil by tempting him with the power of the Darklands, which could resurrect them.[18]
Isis demonstrated numerous powers that manifested when the need arose. These included flight, super speed, super strength (to a level comparable to Superman and Wonder Woman), telekinesis (the ability to move and levitate objects), geokinesis (the ability to control elements such as fire, earth, wind, and water), the ability to change the molecules of inanimate objects to allow people to pass through them, the ability to act as a humanlightning rod,remote viewing, and (at her power's maximum) the ability to stop and reverse time. To activate these powers, Isis usually is shown reciting a rhyming chant (the most frequent being "Oh zephyr winds that blow on high, lift me now so I can fly!"). The medallion Andrea Thomas uses to change into Isis also gives her apparent limited powers even when in her non-Isis form, as she is shown communicating telepathically with her pet crow Tut and engaging in minormind control even without changing. She also received superior hand-to-hand and weapons combat skills from the goddess.
As an ordinary human, Adrianna demonstrates proficiency indiplomacy,politics, andleadership whose progressive ideals improved the welfare of Kahndaq and whose popularity exceeded her younger brother as a leader.[2][19] Complimenting her role as a champion, she is also a skilledbotanist.[2]
When empowered as a champion, she can transform between her ordinary and demigod-like superpowered form by speaking the phrase "I am Isis!". In her powered form, she gains superhuman strength that allows her to lift at least 6,000 tons, superhuman speed in which she can move at approximately 16,000 mph (Mach 20), superhuman durability, and superhuman wisdom. These abilities are comparable to Osiris's,[20] whose powers has been compared to that of aKryptonian.[21] Her agility is also makes her skilled and nimble in combat situations.[22] Most notably, Adrianna possess a range of magical abilities derived from herEgyptian goddess namesake, including the ability to fly, heal herself and others, manipulate various elements, telekinesis, and control natural phenomena such as storms.[22]
Adrianna's abilities were once conferred to her by the Amulet of Isis, a magical artifact. However, overtime, it was noted that Adrianna's body absorbed the magical energies of the amulet, resulting in a natural connection to the power it bestowed upon her.[23] Following her resurrection, Adrianna's link to her abilities became inherent, no longer relying solely on the amulet for their manifestation.[19] As a member of the Black Marvel Family, Adrianna and the other members share a collective reservoir of power. The strength of her abilities is contingent upon the number of individuals within the Black Marvel Family who have also undergone their respective transformations.
Adrianna Tomaz appears inBlack Adam, portrayed bySarah Shahi.[28][29] This version is an archaeologist and resistance fighter inIntergang-controlled Kahndaq.
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