“Black Adam” is a breath of fresh air in the superhero genre. Buoyed by a propulsive score, it is filled with action and cool visual effects. A wonderful sense of humor leavens the seriousness of the classic good versus evil confrontation.

A narrator tells us the story of Kahndaq in approximately 2600 B.C.E. Its peaceful natives were taken over by an evil king, Ank-hot, who made the residents dig for the rare magical mineral eternium. His purpose was to create the Crown of Sabbac, with which he could rule the entire world.

One boy, Hurut (Jalon Christian), speaks out against this oppression. He is taken into custody. As he is about to be executed, he vanishes into thin air.

A Council of Wizards has decided that natural balance must be restored by creating a champion. They invest him with magical powers encoded in the word “Shazam.” He ascends not as a youth but as a muscular man (Uli Latukefu) to wreak vengeance on the King and stop his evil plan.

Today the most recent invaders, Intergang, now rule Kahndaq. A skateboarding youth, Amon (Bodhi Sabongui), tangles with the guard at a checkpoint. A van approaches. Inside are Karim (Mohammed Amer), Samir (James Cusati-Moyer), and Ishmael (Marwam Kenzari).

As they drive away from the checkpoint, a secret panel is opened to reveal Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi). Amon comes astride the van on his skateboard, and he is revealed to be Adrianna’s son. She tells him to go home.

The four drive to a remote area where they ascend to a cave. Adrianna can read the inscriptions. Their mission is to obtain the Crown of Sabbac before Intergang gets its hands on it. While inside, they are ambushed by Intergang thugs. Adrianna reads an inscription on a floor panel and says “Shazam.”

Out pops Teth Adam (Dwayne Johnson), who proceeds to kill all of the gunmen. Ishmael appears to be buried under a rockslide and Samir is killed. Adam enables the escape of Kamir and Adrianna, but is injured.

In Amon’s bedroom, we find Adam resting. Once he is revived, Amon brings him up to speed on his legendary status and the present day. Adam believes in using force to achieve his ends which shocks Adrianna.

Across the world, Carter Hall (Aldis Hodge), aka Hawkman, is contacted by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis). She wants the Justice Society of America to pick up and immobilize Adam. Hall puts out a call to the other members of his team: Kent Nelson aka Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan); Maxine Hunkel aka Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell); and Al Rothstein aka Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo).

Their confrontation with Adam does not go as planned. Dr. Fate senses that Adrianna has the Crown of Sabbac but she denies it. Amon ends up with it but is surprised by Ishmael, who is still alive and has nefarious plans for the Crown.

Many twists and surprises remain to be revealed as Adam, the JSA and Intergang tangle.

The casting of Dwayne Johnson in the role of Black Adam is a stroke of genius. He has proven in film after film to be able to balance comedy and action. Here he is able to create a character who often is unintentionally humorous as he tries to cope with being in the modern world. Some of the humor derives from the JSA’s attempts to get him not to kill his opponents and he kills them anyway in what amount to sight gags.

I was not familiar with the JSA or Black Adam. I did know Amanda Waller from her appearance in both Suicide Squad movies. So the novelty of a new set of heroes and an antihero was a plus for me.

The screenplay is quite taut. There are no wasted scenes. The story moves along at a brisk pace with wonderful twists and turns. The origin stories of JSA are told in context and are brief. (Henry Winkler makes a delightful cameo appearance as uncle to Al.)

I have to admit that I never cared for the division among the Avengers which I found to be artificial and tedious in its exposition. So much verbiage was expended in arguing both sides which I found repetitive.

In “Black Adam,” there are similar arguments about good versus evil. But they are not protracted and often end with Black Adam ignoring his interlocutors and flying away.

The colonial aspect of the JSA is reflected in their name. That they are from “America” and have now come to Kahndaq to impose their will is not lost on the screenwriters. Adrianna makes a telling retort to them when she mentions how they were nowhere to be found while Kahndaq suffered under Intergang but now, when Black Adam is their champion against the invaders, JSA feels that they have the right to dictate unilateral terms. I loved this exchange.

The visual effects are top-notch. Mr. Fate’s multiplication is stunning in its execution. The jet in which they travel is super-cool. The chase scenes are superb. The battle sequences also are well-done, including a fight with zombie skeletons (“Jason & the Argonauts,” anyone?). Slow-motion is used effectively, as are future-sight segments.

Pierce Brosnan gives a nuanced, wistful, often melancholic performance as a man who has seen too much in his lifetime. I wish that Aldis Hodge had been given more of a range of emotions as a character. He seems angry most of the time, which is understandable considering the obstacles as he faces as the leader.

The breakout performance is Bodhi Sabongui as Amon. He totally embodies the skateboarder ethic. He is funny and resourceful.

Sarah Shahi as Adrianna also gives a powerful performance as a strong-willed fighter. Her belief in her family, her country and in justice are the core values that Sarah portrays so well.

You have to stay through the mid-credits. I can’t give away why since you would know how the movie ends but it includes the appearance of another DC character.

The film is rated PG-13, which seems justified. The action can be intense for younger children. But this is a first-rate superhero movie propelled by the strong titular performance of Dwayne Johnson.

Four and a half out of five stars

In ancient Kahndaq, Teth Adam was bestowed the almighty powers of the gods. After using these powers for vengeance, he was imprisoned, becoming Black Adam. Nearly 5,000 years have passed, and Black Adam has gone from man to myth to legend. Now free, his unique form of justice, born out of rage, is challenged by modern-day heroes who form the Justice Society: Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Atom Smasher and Cyclone.

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari, Quintessa Swindell, Bodhi Sabongui, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Screenplay: Sohrab Noshirvani, Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines