Warning! Spoilers for Dark Crisis #1 ahead!
In the DC Universe, Aquaman's situational power set has famously left him as a punchline and this lack of respect doesn't change when the Justice League is down to one member, Black Adam. A confrontation between the new Superman Jon Kent and Black Adam perfectly encapsulates this sentiment, showing that even other heroes have no problem taking potshots at the king of Atlantis. For all of their might and mettle, Aquaman's family of heroes can't quite escape their perceived inefficacy on dry land.
Despite being the king of Atlantis, Aquaman has often faced ridicule for his skill set: namely, the ability to breathe underwater and to communicate with and command sea life. Knowing that almost everyone thinks Aquaman is a joke, DC has repeatedly tried to repair his reputation in ways both subtle (pointing out the kind of strength required to function under the crushing water pressure of the ocean without a suit) and overt (the hook-handed look from the '90s). Even with Mera and Jackson Hyde bringing hydrokinesis and bioelectricity into the mix, it has been difficult for people to recognize Aquaman as anyone other than the hero who talks to fish.
In Dark Crisis #1 by Joshua Williamson, Daniel Sampere, and Alejandro Sanchez, Black Adam is recovering from the attack that wiped out the rest of the Justice League. While filling the other heroes in on what happened, the new Superman tries to lead the next Justice League consisting of a motley arrangement of characters such as Doctor Light, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle, Harley Quinn, Frankenstein, and Jackson Hyde. Black Adam immediately dismisses the lineup and even goes so far as to refer to Jackson Hyde as 'the fish.'
Black Adam is admittedly one of the least tactful members to have ever filled out the Justice League roster; the king of Kahndaq is well-known for his brusque and abrasive attitude. However, it's telling that Aquaman bears the brunt of his acerbic tongue even when Black Adam is technically paying him a compliment. Even when the Justice League has been destroyed, even when Black Adam begrudgingly acknowledges that the Justice League has completely overlooked Aquaman, Jackson Hyde (or any of Aquaman's family) cannot escape being 'the fish.'
It's amusing to see Black Adam put Jon's slapdash team in its place. There's a long history of dunking on Aquaman, and it's difficult not to chuckle at another joke at his expense. However, the Justice League faces a terrible threat in the Dark Crisis and will need every hero they can muster. If the last surviving hero of the Justice League's old roster doesn't respect Aquaman, one of their few remaining powerhouses, the odds of them pulling through this Crisis without more casualties are a lot slimmer.
Dark Crisis #1 is now available from DC comics.