Osiris (DC Comics)
Egyptian teenager empowered by Black Adam and the Egyptian deities.
Osiris, also known as Amon Tomaz, is a DC Comics character who debuted in 52 #23, created by Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, and Grant Morrison. He functions as an analogue to Captain Marvel Jr. within Black Adam’s circle and has taken on roles as a superhero, antihero, and villain. As one of DC’s prominent Arab characters, his death drew criticism.
Quick Facts
- Character name
- Osiris
- Publisher
- DC Comics
- Debut
- Cameo appearance:
- Teen Titans #38 (September 2006), Full appearance:
- 52 #23 (December 2006)
- Creators
- Geoff Johns
- Grant Morrison
- Greg Rucka
- Mark Waid
- Keith Giffen
- Drew Johnson
- Real name
- Amon Tomaz
- Species
- Human
- Alliances
- Teen Titans
- Titans, Villains for Hire
- Black Marvel Family
- Black Lantern Corps
- White Lantern Corps
- Sons of Adam
- Also known as
- Black Adam Jr.; Heir of Black Adam
Facts from the source article.
Publication history
Osiris first appeared in Teen Titans #38 (September 2006) and made his full appearance in 52 #23 (December 2006), created by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen, and Drew Johnson. He appeared extensively in the 2006-2007 weekly series 52 as a supporting character in Black Adam's storyline. The character was killed off in 52 #43, with his death sequences drawn by Giffen, who disliked Osiris and had earlier drawn a short joke comic with Sobek contemplating eating him. Osiris briefly returned in the Blackest Night crossover in March 2010, appearing in The Power of Shazam! revival and later in Blackest Night #8.
Characterization
Amon Tomaz, a Cairo native and younger brother of Adrianna Tomaz, dreamed of becoming a musician until Intergang killed his parents and sold both siblings into slavery. After several escapes, he was brutalized and made a paraplegic on Whisper A'Daire's orders. Found by Question and Renee Montoya, they alerted Black Adam and Isis (Adrianna). Adam shared his power to save Amon, and the Egyptian deities christened him Osiris, forming the Black Marvel Family with Sobek, an anthropomorphic crocodile. Eager to prove himself a hero, Osiris was discredited by Amanda Waller and the Suicide Squad after accidentally killing Persuader to protect his sister. He later believed his powers caused disasters in Kahndaq and adopted human form before being eaten by Sobek, who revealed himself as Famine of the Four Horsemen of Apokolips. His death, along with Isis's, catalyzed Black Adam's rampage during World War III. Amon returned as a Black Lantern corpse but, due to his body being restored by Adam, retained the Wizard Shazam's power and gained a chance to kill Sobek and die as a hero from the Kahndaqi perspective.
Reception and critical impact
Osiris received mixed to positive reactions since his creation. His initial debut was received positively, seen as a stepping stone for more interesting stories with Black Adam. His death in 52 #43 was considered by one review to be done for shock value, criticizing the series for developing the character before killing him off. His return during the 2008 Titans series drew criticism for single-noted characterization, with his motivation stated repeatedly with little development. An IGN review for Titans #24 called him the star of the team but criticized his scenes as cringe-worthy and noted his contradictory actions made it difficult for characters to act with reason. Osiris is known as one of the few noteworthy Arab characters in DC Comics; Bodhi Sabongui, who portrayed Amon in the Black Adam film, noted the rarity of Arabic protagonists in superhero movies and the opportunity to portray Middle Eastern and North African people positively.
In other media
A character inspired by Amon Tomaz named Behrad Tarazi appears in Legends of Tomorrow, portrayed by Shayan Sobhian as an adult and by Bodhi Sabongui in flashbacks. Originally from a dystopian future in 2042, he possessed aerokinesis via the Air Totem before being killed by A.R.G.U.S.; after the Legends erased that future, a revived Behrad joined them. Amon Tomaz appears in the DC Extended Universe film Black Adam (2022), portrayed by Bodhi Sabongui. This version is Adrianna Tomaz's teenage son and a superhero fan who keeps Teth-Adam in his room. He discovers Ishmael Gregor is the militant leader of Intergang, escapes with the Crown of Sabbac, and later rallies the people of Kahndaq to fight Sabbac's skeleton army alongside Teth-Adam and the Justice Society.
More in Mythology in DC Comics
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