Kahndaq

Kahndaq is a place that features in DC Comics.

History

Origin

Kahndaq

During the 15th Dynasty, unrest in the lands of Egypt led to Teth-Adam leaving his homeland in order to stop the evil acts being perpetrated elsewhere. This led to an invading army attacking the country and burning it to the ground with Ahk-Ton being responsible for murdering Teth-Adam's family. (JSA v1 #43) After the defeat of Vandal Savage and Ahk-Ton, Teth-Adam returned to his homeland to set about rebuilding it but in time the wizard Shazam came to believe that his champion had become corrupted with a desire to rule over others. Thus, he came to strip the power from Teth-Adam and leaving him imprisoned for thousands of years. (JSA v1 #44)

In 1978, Kahndaq fell to the forces of Napoleon shortly after he defeated the Egyptians. During that time, their temples fell to the same vandals that plundered Egypt. Two years later, the English arrived and did the same with many aspects of Kahndaq history being taken from them. (Hawkman v4 #19)

For years, a civil war had been brewing within the borders of Kahndaq that was split between warlord Asim Muhuannad and rebels. Black Adam later assembled a band of superhumans to be proactive and aggressive in eliminating threats in the world with this included killing their enemies. Thus, he assembled Atom-Smasher, Northwind, Nemesis, Eclipso and Brainwave into a team where they killed the militant forces of Muhunnad. They then began freeing all the captive civilians before making way to the palace where they killed Muhunnad whereupon Black Adam took control of the nation. (JSA v1 #56) In response, the Justice Society of America travelled to the country where they were attacked by Black Adam and his cohorts upon entering Kahndaqi airspace. (JSA v1 #57) The conflict ended when the Justice Society saw that Black Adam was being hailed a hero by the people of his homeland. Thus, they agreed a pact whereby he would serve as the leader of Kahndaq and protect its people but that he would not take action against the rest of the world. Black Adam came to agree to the terms and the heroes were allowed to return to their home. (Hawkman v4 #25)

After securing his nation, Black Adam looked to make a more definitive impact on the world after the disasters in the crisis. This saw Intergang approach him where they offered him a captive woman and gold as payment for them to expand their operations in the region. The reason was they wanted to use the country as a gateway into further expansion into Africa and the Middle East. However, Black Adam killed the Intergang representatives and he later took part in a press conference where he committed himself with eliminating villains by publicly killing Terra-Man who had believed Kahndaq was offering him shelter. (52 v1 #3) Black Adam then spearheaded in the formation of an international coalition that looked to curtail the influence of the U.S. over other countries. Kahndaq then then become of the signatories of the Freedom of Power Treaty that quickly saw China, Korea and Myanmar joining the coalition. (52 v1 #6)

Unfortunately, the Black Marvel Family's plans were short-lived as Kahndaq was attacked by the Four Horsemen of Apokolips who were a quartet of artificially enhanced beings based in the nearby country of Bialya. Isis and Osiris were killed, which prompted a deeply vengeful Black Adam to kill the Horsemen and attacking Bialya, killing nearly every inhabitant. (52 v1 #45)

Post-Flashpoint

Following the Flashpoint, a new version of history was created with a different series of events. Kahndaq

Long ago, the ancient lands of Kahndaq was terrorised by the barbarian hordes of Ibac and his army of evil men who kidnapped people that were tortured or worked as slaves. Adam's wife was killed by Ibac and he was united with his nephew Aman who he attempted to shelter only to be brutally injured. The pair were then transported to the Rock of Eternity where they took before the Circle of Eternity. On the council, the Wizard decided to impart Aman with the magic of the living lightning to serve as his champion with the power being used to heal his uncle Adam. Adam then attempted to convince him to use his power to get revenge for their slain family but Aman wanted to use the power to save the souls of people. Ultimately, Adam killed his own nephew to claim the power of the living lightning thus becoming the villainous Black Adam. (Justice League v2 #20) Centuries ago, the Paling arrived on Earth and came to Kahndaq where they intended to conquer the planet but were forced back when Black Adam defeated their champion. (Sinestro v1 #16)

At one point, the Kahndaqi government was waging a war against the neighbouring nation of Bialya. To aid them, they secretly contacted the Chinese Ministry of Self-Reliance who provided them with an artificial humanoid machine construct named Warhead who was originally a person named Siyu. He was ordered to execute Bialyans and conduct a massacre but he refused leading to his handlers damaging him with Warhead fleeing to America for repairs. (Aquaman v8 #18)

At some point, a terrorist group called the Dogs of War operated out of Kahndaq and had stage an attack on Gotham City. (Batman v3 #10)

Kahndaq later came under attack from Billy Batson after be became corrupted by the Batman Who Laughs. The now villainous Shazam attacked the city in an attempt to topple Black Adam and claim his throne. This saw the two waging battle with one another where Shazam seemingly won. However, this had distracted Batson allowing for Black Adam's followers to enact magic through prayer to encase Shazam in a mystical barrier that stripped him of his magic. Black Adam ultimately decided to allow Batson to depart following the humiliating loss in order to serve as a warning to others that Kahndaq needed no one. (Black Adam: Year of the Villain v1 #1)

Overview

Locations in Kahndaq include:

• Shiruta : capitol city of the sovereign nation. (Sinestro v1 #16)
• Yemutani City : a city within Kahndaq. (Suicide Squad: Black Files v1 #1)

A number of ancient tombs were the sites of historical records of the exploits of Teth-Adam with these being guarded by the magical animated spirits of the dead. Those that sought to consult this information were only a chosen few seekers of knowledge that were required to make a sacred pilgrimage to the site. (Sinestro v1 #16) There was no direct flight from the U.S. or Europe with a journey taking 31 hours along with two stop-overs to change planes. (52 v1 #14)

The people of Kahndaq did not trust outsiders due to centuries of having their history stolen from them. (Hawkman v4 #19)

The nation's flag had pyramids that symbolised the souls of family lost. (JSA v1 #56)

For a time, Kahndaq performed public execution of criminals who were personally killed by Black Adam during his reign. (52 v1 #14)

Inhabitants

• Ibac the First :
• Black Adam :
• Shiruta :
• Adrianna Tomaz :
• Amon Tomaz :
• Asim Muhunnad : a male warlord whose band of militants abducted children where he kept the girls for himself with his group being destroyed by Black Adam's team of vigilantes. (JSA v1 #56)
• Oni Grace :
• Yigal Ro'i Blaustein : male human serving as the U.S. ambassador to Kahndaq. (Black Adam v1 #2)

Notes

• Kahndaq was created by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen and Joe Bennett where it made its first appearance in 52 v1 #1 (July, 2006).

In other media

Television

• In Justice League Unlimited, Kahndaq was mentioned in the DC Animated Universe in the episode "Ancient History". It was ruled by the tyrannical king Ahk-ton until freed by General Bashari under the direction of King Katar Hol who was a Thanagarian that crash landed on Earth in Ancient Egyptian times. In gratitude for their aid, King Teth-Adam gifted Bashari some of the finest steeds in the lands.
• In Beware the Batman, Kahndaq was referenced in the setting of the animated television series in the epsiode "Secrets". Bruce Wayne said that Tatsu Yamashiro was formerly stationed there.
• In The Flash, the country was mentioned in the newspaper and part of the plotline that featured in the episode "Going Rogue". The Kahndaq Dynasty Diamond was transported to Central City where Captain Cold orchestrated a plot to steal it.

Films

• In Justice League vs. Teen Titans, Kahndaq was mentioned in the animated film. A demonic rite to bring Trigon into the world was being conducted sixty miles north of Kahndaq city.
• In Black Adam, Kahndaq featured in the setting of the live-action film. Kahndaq was founded many millennia ago in 3,600 B.C. In 2600 B.C., the Kahndaqi people were forced into slavery or fended for themselves under the tyrannical rule of Ahk-Ton. He came to force them to mine the region for a magical element called Eternium that he intended to fashion into the mystical Crown of Sabbac. At one point, a young boy named Hurut did heroic and courageous acts for the nation of Kahndaq. This led him to be chosen as the first champion of Shazam and the Council of Wizards. Due to his new powers, he became the protector of Kahndaq. However, he eventually passed his powers onto his father, Teth-Adam to save him. After Teth-Adam's family was murdered, he became brutal and ruthless. Additionally, he killed those responsible for his son's murder and destroyed half of Kahndaq in his rage. Due to this terrible act, Shazam imprisoned him in the confines of the Earth. After this event, Shazam swore to only deem those worthy if they were pure of heart. By 1995, the region was known to have begun destabilizing due to the influence of hostile forces who put the country under military occupation. The criminal organization called Intergang later established a stranglehold over the country and came to control the nation.

Video games

• In DC Universe Online, Kahndaq made an appearance in the setting of the MMORPG video game. It served as an 8-player raid where the dead had started rising in Kahndaq as Black Adam channels a magically-created Lazarus pit with Felix Faust's help to raise his wife Isis and an army of Khandaq's undead from the grave.
• In Injustice 2, Kahndaq appeared in the setting of the video game. It was ruled by Black Adam and served as a haven for the wanted members of the fallen One Earth Regime. During Brainiac's invasion, Black Adam used the Rock of Eternity's magic to hide the city from attack. However, in order to gather enough magical power, this spell was dispelled allowing for Brainiac to find the city where he attacked it.
• In DC: Unchained, Kahndaq appeared in the setting of the mobile video game.

Appearances

• 52 v1: (2006)
• JSA v1:
• Hawkman v4:
• Justice League v2:
• Sinestro v1:
• Suicide Squad: Black Files v1 #1:
• Doomsday Clock v1:
• Black Adam: Year of the Villain v1:
• Black Adam v1: (2022)

External Links

• DC Database Entry
• Comicvine Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

This article is a stub. You can help Multiversal Omnipedia by expanding it.