I can get over the turning of the new DC into a Wildstorm retread however in the recent JLA Aquaman says to his brother 'he's the most powerful being on the planet and you've pissed him off'' yet twice he is knocked flying by Atlanteans.So either they have gotten a huge boost in the strength department or Superman's abilites are not being shown at the same levels all the time.Yes there is fatigue, caught off guard etc, but even that doesn't explain how an Atlantean who could easily whup a human's butt can knock the most powerful being on the planet flying out of control.If the explanation is his powers wan the longer away from the sun's rays then he is always away from it it seems.

@beowulfe:

It's Aquaman's story arc with a fanboy for a writer so this happening isn't really shocking and there's probalby worse to come.

@argusx could not have said it better myself

Superman's power levels are about as crazy as the Joker.

@argusx said:

@beowulfe:

It's Aquaman's story arc with a fanboy for a writer so this happening isn't really shocking and there's probalby worse to come.

mainly this.

plus we can say that the lightning was possibly magical and that ocean master has sucker-blasted supes while he was fighting his army. however supes was not damaged at all by aquaman or the other guy,he was caught off guard....but even this, is still a bad showing for him.dc just uses this strategy often: if somebody can hurt or annoy superman he is a bad ass.

The "explanation" of how inconsistent Superman's power is, is because his power comes from the sun, and it keeps getting used up and replenished, so his power level changes depending on how much yellow sun energy he has left in him.

In most stories, Superman is not portrayed as too powerful and even Cyborg can probably knock out Superman.

How about we use the "he's-holding-back-then-got-sucker-punched" routine?

Superman is PIS incarnate.

You have to remember, that Superman was sent flying because he was off-guard, just like the Wonder Woman's attack. Superman still wieghs the amount as a normal human, there is no reason why someone with Super Strength can't send him flying, but the fact he was dazed is impressive, but I'm sure that a trained fight can daze people stronger than them with a well connected punch.

@drgnx said:

You have to remember, that Superman was sent flying because he was off-guard, just like the Wonder Woman's attack. Superman still wieghs the amount as a normal human, there is no reason why someone with Super Strength can't send him flying, but the fact he was dazed is impressive, but I'm sure that a trained fight can daze people stronger than them with a well connected punch.

This. Magic could have also been involved.

Maybe Superman became dazed bec Aquaman was using his magic fish based deodorant ?

@toptom said:

@argusx said:

@beowulfe:

It's Aquaman's story arc with a fanboy for a writer so this happening isn't really shocking and there's probalby worse to come.

mainly this.

plus we can say that the lightning was possibly magical and that ocean master has sucker-blasted supes while he was fighting his army. however supes was not damaged at all by aquaman or the other guy,he was caught off guard....but even this, is still a bad showing for him.dc just uses this strategy often: if somebody can hurt or annoy superman he is a bad ass.

This!!!!!^ Absolutely This!! u guys literally just spoke my mind!

His appearances in JLA have him being knocked around by jus about every villain.Darkseid,Cheetah,Greaves and now this.i am sorry but I really find his potrayal in this series to be really inconsistent.There should be no excuses because Geoff Jones is supposed ot be a good gauge of power levels.Aquaman shouldnt even have time to get his trident out before Supes flattens him with his superspeed alone.

@JohnReese:

Superman can be sucker punched, he seems to know Batman well enough to know when a punch is coming, but I guess some can still get him off-guard.

@UltimateSMfan said:

@toptom said:

@argusx said:

@beowulfe:

It's Aquaman's story arc with a fanboy for a writer so this happening isn't really shocking and there's probalby worse to come.

mainly this.

plus we can say that the lightning was possibly magical and that ocean master has sucker-blasted supes while he was fighting his army. however supes was not damaged at all by aquaman or the other guy,he was caught off guard....but even this, is still a bad showing for him.dc just uses this strategy often: if somebody can hurt or annoy superman he is a bad ass.

This!!!!!^ Absolutely This!! u guys literally just spoke my mind!

I agree to a point, but I think Aquaman might be getting an upgrade, he went toe to toe with Wonder Woman and took a punch from her that sent him flying. Aquaman is selling well now, and it is not uncommon for heroes that sell well to get upgrades. Without Martian Manhunter there is no reason why Aquaman can't be more a physical force as along as he does not become overpowered. Plus he is in water, so he should have some advantage. Still I think Superman would wreck him once he is revved up and focused. Personally, I think Aquaman in water should be able to hold his 'ground' to Wonder Woman, but lose outside, but with at least a little bit of effort from her. I think she was holding back and that is why she used her rope.

Also, on the flip side, remember, this was not a blood-lusted fight, Aquaman might not hold back because he knows he can't really hurt them, but they might hold back because they know they could hurt him badly if they didn't, and because they didn't expect him to seriously attack them.

It's a new continuity.
Aquaman and the Atlanteans are THAT strong. In every other case they wouldn't be threat, hence they would become pointless.
In the Graves storyline AQ lifted an entire ocean liner full of passengers. That's in the 100.000 tons scale.
Get used to it people. 
This is Aquaman's consistentpower level since the NuDC began.
Nothing for Superfans to be ashamed of.
 
Plus Ocean Master was always a magic user.
The lightning was magic. 
Plus Superman was not koed or anything from Aquaman, just knocked back.
 
And just to note in the same issue Aquaman speedblitzed Wonder Woman AFTER she attacked him first from behind.
He is that fast. 

in the justice league doom animated movie........Ace (who has super strength) broke his hand/arm while punching superman dead in the face..............that is superman done the right way

@comicfan11 said:

It's a new continuity.
Aquaman and the Atlanteans are THAT strong. In every other case they wouldn't be threat, hence they would become pointless.
In the Graves storyline AQ lifted an entire ocean liner full of passengers. That's in the 100.000 tons scale.
Get used to it people.
This is Aquaman's consistentpower level since the NuDC began.
Nothing for Superfans to be ashamed of.

Plus Ocean Master was always a magic user.
The lightning was magic.
Plus Superman was not koed or anything from Aquaman, just knocked back.

And just to note in the same issue Aquaman speedblitzed Wonder Woman AFTER she attacked him first from behind. He is that fast.

Aquaman was this strong prior to the reboot, too. He lifted up San Diego after it sank during infinite Crisis.

Well, when you have a character who can haul around planets and survive supernovas, there's not a lot you can do to create valid threats for him shy of sicking the Elder Gods him. I think Superman warrants nerfing every once in a while. It keeps things interesting.