No one?

In regards to Superman, Darkseid rarely uses the Omega Effect on him. Most of the time, he just uses force beams on him (without the actual effect). The only one time I recall him using the Omega Effect on Superman was when he was in his Clark Kent identity. It teleported him directly to Apokalips. Why he doesn't use the Omega Effect on Superman often is because the writer has to make possible for Superman to win, even though Darkseid is supposed to be more powerful than he is. Dwayne McDuffie explained this by saying that writers have to 'cheat' because most of the time, the heroes always win.

As for Surfer vs. Thanos, it's the same, only the tables are turned. It's believable that Surfer could use his matter manipulation abilities on Thanos with success, since Adam Warlock was able to turn him to stone.

I wouldn't say its bad writing as much as misinterpretation due to ambiguity from many readers and even some writers. Lets take the Power Cosmic for example. Its not a magical, absolute, applicable in any and all situations that will work. its basically just another, albeit cool term for space energy. How you apply that power will differ, especially from each character to each character. Its not the medium, its the exertion behind the medium. Say compare Silver Surfer and Galactus. Or for another example, Magneto has power over electric magnetic energy, and a being with absolute control over electric magnetic energy would be able to beat Thanos pretty easy but... Magneto does not have absolute control over electro magnetic energy. He only has absolute power over his age and how young he looks.  
 
Then when you talk matter manipulation, I mean. its not just the person manipulating matter that is the factor, but the thing that they are trying to matter manipulate that matters. After all you and me manipulate energy when we clap our hands turning potential energy into physical energy (and like thermal energy) but that doesn't mean we can clap a metal box into wood. Thus generally characters like Thanos, Thor, and Silver Surfer himself, their extremely high durabilities could reasonably provide them buffers against matter manipulation from someone like Silver Surfer, but that itself isn't absolute either. A character like old school Beyonder's exertion behind his matter manipulation powers is greater and thus. 

Yeah what he said ^^ ..Guys like Darksied always have some long term plan anyway. Darksied wants to control Superman more than kill him. Surfer plain out does not like to kill but there could be some deeper rooted reason why he wont go all out with Thanos specifically. I'm sure we will find out someday that Thanos is important to the future and all that good stuff.

Stupid plot devices.... I mean, we know Darkseid can destroy Superman, but the writer's make up some stupid excuse to keep him alive. Dumb. Maybe Thanos just outclasses the Power Cosmic in regards to heralds, but not Galactus. Can those things travel through matter? Like through walls or objects too?

Can both the Omega Effect and Power Cosmic pass through solid matter?

The stupidity goes beyond power cosmic and omega effect.Divine powers BS has spectre lose. Magic BS has Dormammu lose. Earthly BS has sentry lose

One acronym. PIS

Now, I won't sit here and say Surfer should be able to beat Thanos. I don't think he could on his best day. But he should definitely present more of a challenge.

And with Superman and Darkseid. MAJOR PIS. Everyone in COMICBOOKDOM cows to Superman. I can't help but dislike the characte a little for that very reason. It's as if ALL reason just goes out the door when Superman fights just about anyone. Except Batman of course, who CAN beat Superman.

Yeah. That makes all the sense in the world.

@justanormalguy said:

I have noticed something that seems to plague the both of these.

Their wielders, in regards to plot or character stupidity (i.e. Thanos vs. Surfer and Superman vs. Darkseid), they get downplayed stupidly for another's gain. We all know that one blast of the Omega Effect would annihilate Superman and turn him to dust(and not even that. Omega Sanction him to the Stone Age like Batman), and if the Surfer went all out and used the amount of power cosmic that he has to it's full extent, what stops him from turning and matter manipulating Thanos into a cheesestick?

Is it just bad writing from the writers?

We know that overall, the Omega Effect and the Power Cosmic have feats that solidify the true power of them, but when Superman or Thanos (respectively) come into the picture, it's like Darkseid becomes a weakling and Surfer can't seem to harm Thanos.

I mean, why is that? Am I just wrong here? I mean, clearly this shouldn't be happening, but it does. Why?

As far as the Omega whatever (beams, effect or sanction) and Supes are concerned I agree it's nonsensical imo. As far as the power cosmic and Thanos I utterly disagree. Thanos has even stated something to the likes of him finding it to be an inferior power source. Surfer has never been effective vs Thanos for him to all of a sudden start would be nonsense imo (nonsense akin to Supes vs Darkseid like you mentioned) and he is one of my favorite comic book characters. Surfer is not the power cosmic he only wields it ( a small portion for that matter). Now bring in the source Galactus himself and then you get effectiveness.

Darkseid doesn't use that much the Omega Effect and for the Thanos vs. SS,well,they try to make it more interesting to us.

@Malevolent1 said:

One acronym. PIS

Now, I won't sit here and say Surfer should be able to beat Thanos. I don't think he could on his best day. But he should definitely present more of a challenge.

And with Superman and Darkseid. MAJOR PIS. Everyone in COMICBOOKDOM cows to Superman. I can't help but dislike the characte a little for that very reason. It's as if ALL reason just goes out the door when Superman fights just about anyone. Except Batman of course, who CAN beat Superman.

Yeah. That makes all the sense in the world.

QFT

I feel your pain. The Surfer, given the extent of his powers, seems to suffer worse than some from PIS, or at least, the PIS becomes more pronounced from a guy who it's easier to list what he can't do than what he can, right? I would love to see someone inject new life into the character. Honestly, when Greg Pak did the last mini with the Surfer, I thought he was really on to something. I always felt like the Surfer needed a new direction and compelling reason for him to add a...nasty side...if you will. I love that he is mainly a pacifist. But for goodness sakes, its okay to cut loose. I mean what is the point of having all that power if you aren't going to use it?