I know the thousands years happened in real time, I even said only a couple of hours passed on Earth. Seperate realities and all. And Superman could pick up mjonlir, he's definitly worthy enough. Captain America picked it up, hell I even think She Hulk picked it up once. But let me ask you this, whats one of the vs. matches that fans want to see the most? Thor vs. Superman... So DC went ahead and had Superman fight alongside DC's equivelent of Thor. Then they had Thor die...to me it kind of illustrates that Superman is supeior and took and eventuall won where Thor couldent, at least that's how DC made it out. And the following instance might not be as straight out, but how about Doomsday? He's just like The Hulk, in my opinion. Specifically the mindless Hulk. Let me compare...
1. Both extremly strong...
2. Both can jump very long distances...
3. Both are very unintelligent, usually both rely of instincts and can barely talk.
4. Both have very powerful healing factor's.
5. And it isnt exactly the most well known thing, but DD has the whole, getting stronger as he gets madder/fights longer. It wasnt very prominent, but it was said in The Death of Superman "The more I hit him, the more he seems to like it, my attacks are getting weaker, while his are getting stronger." I mean, if they went right out and made a big deal about the anger/strength increase, EVERYONE would of said straight out that DD was a Hulk rip off, instead of the people here and there that so it now.
6. And both where somewhat unstopable. The Mindless Hulk took down The Avengers, The FF, Spiderman, Namor, Iron Man, and so on... Then Thor came in and went toe to toe with him, mainly because Thor was going all out, and then they still had to move The Hulk to the cross roads. DD took down the lame ass JLA. Still along the same lines though...
Just seems like another comparison by DC some what saying "Superman could beat The Hulk". I dont know, just my opinion...