Superman stronger than Black Adam in Rebirth (JLA #59)

[DCfan10]

I read JLA #59 today and noticed that Superman seemed considerably more powerful than Black Adam, given how he easily knocked away Brutus who had just given Black Adam trouble.

I haven't read much rebirth, but has Adam been made weaker or something? This is a far cry from post crisis when they seemed relatively at the same level.

Even if you think Superman should be stronger, surely the difference shouldn't be by this much?

What makes this more confusing is that the cover of the upcoming issue suggests a fight, which going by the logic of the previous issue should be easily in Superman's favour.

[titanfan]

I read JLA #59 today and noticed that Superman seemed considerably more powerful than Black Adam, given how he easily knocked away Brutus who had just given Black Adam trouble.

I haven't read much rebirth, but has Adam been made weaker or something? This is a far cry from post crisis when they seemed relatively at the same level.

Even if you think Superman should be stronger, surely the difference shouldn't be by this much?

What makes this more confusing is that the cover of the upcoming issue suggests a fight, which going by the logic of the previous issue should be easily in Superman's favour.

I would consider Superman pretty stronger than Black Adam, but could still lose to him in a fight, especially since Black Adam is magic powered, which is Superman's weakness.

[DCfan10]

I would consider Superman pretty stronger than Black Adam, but could still lose to him in a fight, especially since Black Adam is magic powered, which is Superman's weakness.

They've always been portrayed as in the same ballpark strength wise.

[Robanker]

He and Clark usually tow roughly the same line but Clark does have that protagonist reservoir to draw from when he needs some extra power.

While not inherently weak to magic, if we consider Captain Marvel or Black Adam's power themselves to be magic, it stands to reason that some or all of it might bypass Clark's biological invulnerability and thus he would take more damage in a head-to-head slugfest even if he's actually punching harder.

If you're thinking of video games or tabletop rpgs, imagine that Clark's not weak to magic itself but Black Adam has high armor penetration or some such. A lot of writers don't get that, though, so hurr durr magic is kryptonite.

[charliehustle415]

He and Clark usually tow roughly the same line but Clark does have that protagonist reservoir to draw from when he needs some extra power.

While not inherently weak to magic, if we consider Captain Marvel or Black Adam's power themselves to be magic, it stands to reason that some or all of it might bypass Clark's biological invulnerability and thus he would take more damage in a head-to-head slugfest even if he's actually punching harder.

If you're thinking of video games or tabletop rpgs, imagine that Clark's not weak to magic itself but Black Adam has high armor penetration or some such. A lot of writers don't get that, though, so hurr durr magic is kryptonite.

I always understood it as "hurr durr magic is kryptonite" maybe because I was highly influenced by Justice League Unlimited where Captain Marvel really hurt Supes with lightning strikes and that is Superman didn't outsmart dumbass Billy Clark would have lost.



Now Black Adam is much smarter than Billy so I can imagine he can put a real hurt on Supes

[Robanker]

I always understood it as "hurr durr magic is kryptonite" maybe because I was highly influenced by Justice League Unlimited where Captain Marvel really hurt Supes with lightning strikes and that is Superman didn't outsmart dumbass Billy Clark would have lost.



Now Black Adam is much smarter than Billy so I can imagine he can put a real hurt on Supes

You can be forgiven for that because a lot of modern writers get it wrong. The classic interpretation was simply he's got no natural defense to it like he does blunt force trauma-- magic hits Superman the same as it does you. He had three weaknesses and each was slightly different.

Kryptonite poisoned him and took his powers. Red sunlight drained him like your phone losing juice to a greedy app, leaving him physically exhausted and vulnerable. Magic slapped him around the same as anyone else, and unlike Kryptonite he couldn't see it coming.

Green K was most effective/lethal. Red sunlight was effective but on its own wouldn't kill him, just make him relatively human. Magic was the light switch but he could fight back at full strength.

Now they're all just Kryptonite. It's more generic and I refuse to see it as anything other than lazy writing. It's goddamn dumb to think that all Kryptonians are especially biologically susceptible to getting wrecked by magic. The concept of the Homo-Magi makes enough sense in that they're more attuned to magic because it's case-by-case per person instead of Kryptonians who apparently fall to pieces if you can hide a couple rabbits in a top hat.

Again, going to video games/tabletop as an example, if Clark's hitting solid 10/10 punches but Shazam is hitting 9/10 with an enchantment, it's going to surpass Clark's defenses more than his raw power would get through to Shazam or Black Adam. It's a pretty good handwave for why Clark is the one they all turn to in Crisis events when you need raw strength but Billy/Adam can slap him around sometimes. Remember, Clark gets electrocuted by Livewire in that continuity and it's mostly a stun to him. The magic component is what actually makes it hurt Clark, but he doesn't get whammied by it anymore than any other flying brick would.

[kilderkin]

I always understood it as "hurr durr magic is kryptonite" maybe because I was highly influenced by Justice League Unlimited where Captain Marvel really hurt Supes with lightning strikes and that is Superman didn't outsmart dumbass Billy Clark would have lost.



Now Black Adam is much smarter than Billy so I can imagine he can put a real hurt on Supes

More ruthless sure

But isn't Billy as cm as wise as Solomon

I mean he's out thought 5th d imps with that