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Quote: I think your last point is fair, but really the fact that he has been a major villain seems to me the primary thing. That he has lost before does not seem to impact that much.
Quote: Galactus is still considered a big and scary character but has had some bad showings. Same with other characters. Thanos could be included if he only showed up in Infinity Gauntlet really.
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They can always be 'too much' but outwitted...like Strange vs. Dormammu has generally been.
What tends to happen though, and at all levels, is a character struggles with someone seemingly more powerful and eventually finds a way to win. Then the writer has them team up with other villains, and the same hero figures out how to win, then they get diluted so they're effectively lower tier than the hero they initially seemed more powerful than.....
It can work, as in the case of a teenage Spider Man growing into his powers, but it becomes overused.
I prefer a more consistent framework, consisting of villains and enemies of all levels, and interesting stories that incorporate the right villains at the right levels.
Many Superman stories centered on him having to save someone from foes demonstrably less powerful than Supes....and some were very good...though admittedly I prefer the hero in the role of the underdog, it was a good way to create tension when you're dealing with a guy near the top of the food chain.
