Summary

  • Despite both being powerful 'flying brick' superheroes, Green Arrow and Batman believe Superman is a bigger threat than Black Adam when possessed by Xanadoth.
  • The conversation reveals that Kryptonian heroes, like Superman and his son, are considered more powerful than Black Adam, even with his magic abilities.
  • Black Adam's previous encounter with Ultraman, Earth-3's evil Superman, resulted in him retreating from direct combat, further demonstrating that Superman is the clear winner in terms of power.

When fans debate the Justice League's most powerful figures, Superman and Black Adam are sure to make the list. But while both are examples of the 'flying brick' superhero archetype - caped superhumans with incredible durability, strength, and the ability to soar through the air - there's a clear difference in power between them, and Green Arrow and Batman just admitted it.

Superman is seen as being synonymous with power in the DC Universe and the list of characters that could be considered able to defeat him is an incredibly short one. Nonetheless, two figures that often occupy that list are Black Adam and his heroic nemesis Shazam. This is because of their closeness in power set to Superman, but also because of how their powers are based in magic - a commonly cited weakness of Superman. Even Dwayne Johnson has proposed he as the DCEU's Black Adam should take on Henry Cavill's Superman as an exciting match-up at the box office.

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A Possessed Superman Is More Serious Than Black Adam

Justice League #73 (by Brian Michael Bendis, Szymon Kudranski, Emanuela Lupacchino, Wade von Grawbadger, and Scott Hannah)

Justice League Superman

However, if a conversation is anything to go by, Black Adam just can't compare in power to Superman. Black Adam has been possessed by an ancient Lord of Chaos named Xanadoth who has used his body to wreak havoc upon the Justice League. In a joint meeting between the main Justice League and their magic-based counterparts in the Justice League Dark over what to do, Batman offhandedly notes that both Supermen (the original and his son Jon) are off-world, and that he has asked them to stay there while Xanadoth remains at large and in control of Black Adam. Green Arrow agrees and specifically notes that "We certainly don't need Lady Chaos jumping from Black Adam to Superman..." This certainly suggests that it's casual knowledge among the League that as strong as he is, a possessed Black Adam doesn't pose the same threat as a possessed Superman.

As offhandedly as this conversation is to the issue of Xanadoth, it reveals that both the Dark Knight and the Emerald Archer believe Superman is the bigger threat. Aquaman also raises the possibility of Xanadoth being able to control both Superman and Black Adam as a separate concern, hammering home Green Arrow's original implication. At the same time, the two also seem to imply that Superman's son and second holder of the title, Jonathan Kent, would also be a bigger threat under the thrall of Xanadoth than Black Adam currently is, suggesting Kryptonian heroes are simply more powerful than Black Adam, even if his magic might allow him to beat them in a direct fight.

Kryptonians Can Beat Black Adam (Despite His Magic)

Superman's weakness to magic isn't enough to save Black Adam

Black Adam possessed

This makes sense, given how Black Adam fared against Ultraman - Earth-3's evil version of Superman - in Forever Evil, having his jaw casually broken by the Kryptonian villain and having to retreat from direct combat. As the Justice League reflect, while Superman's specific vulnerabilities give Black Adam a chance against him, that doesn't mean the two are equal in power, and the Man of Steel is the clear winner in any comparison.

Despite Superman's cameo in Black Adam's post-credits scene, it doesn't seem as though Clark Kent will be facing Kahndaq's protector on-screen anytime soon. Combined with Black Adam being a member of the Justice League in the comics and Clark keeping his distance during this issue, it seems as though fans will have to rely on similar conversations in order to imagine how theoretical showdowns would play out. Here's hoping a future Superman vs Black Adam comes soon from DC Comics.

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