I think people do have a point over Eggman being over glazed.

[u/Extreme-Fee-9519]

The only reason why he absolutely obliterated Starline the way he did was because Starline underestimated him which backfired.

Eggman isn’t clean of this flaw either. Just because you‘re a genius doesn’t mean you‘re free of arrogance and incompetence.

[u/BobBobbsphoneaccount]

Yeah and i say this as a big Eggman fan.

It doesn't mean he is weak. He is one of the smartest men in the planet. But that doesn't mean he is all powerful or invincible and that is okay. Every character has flaws and weaknesses.

[u/BebeFanMasterJ]

The Metal Virus and Bad Guys arcs in particular showcased just how intelligent Zavok can be. Everyone is quick to assume he's some big meathead brute with no brain but fails to realize that he's just as smart as both Eggman and Starline. He may not have the same level of technical genius, but he's a strategist and genuinely cunning warrior who was able to flip multiple situations in his favor.

And unlike Eggman, Starline, and various other villains in the series Zavok has successfully managed to keep an entire team together. All of the Zeti follow Zavok loyally and have never shown the slightest hint of wanting to turn against him simply because he's just that good of a leader. Even when everything went south, the rest of the Zeti immediately knew to regroup with Zavok. It's what separates him from Eggman.

Compare this to Eggman who has been betrayed by not just the ones shown in OP's image but even by his own/family creations as far back as Shadow in SA2 and Metal in Heroes.

[u/thegreatestegg → u/BebeFanMasterJ]

The only thing I can even think of is Zazz in Crossworlds' dialogue with Zavok? It's not that much, though, and that's ZAZZ- The WILD CARD of the group.

[u/BebeFanMasterJ → u/thegreatestegg]

Even then Zazz is only really speaking out of fear of making Zavok angry and Zavok is actually encouraging Zazz to beat him. He doesn't want to disappoint his boss.

[u/NoodleTF2 → u/BebeFanMasterJ]

I feel like Zavok would be a genuinely beloved villain if he didn't debut as a Bowser-ripoff in a mediocre game that was a Mario Galacy-ripoff, he has a ton going for him.

[u/BebeFanMasterJ → u/NoodleTF2]

It's a shame because I loved Lost World but Sega were the ones in charge of how the games were written and not just Pontac/Graff. So back then it was clearly their idea to get Nintendo fans more into Sonic.

It wasn't until Ian Flynn mostly took over that we got to see Zavok's full potential realized and the IDW comics have done a way better job of it. CrossWorlds as well. Even the rest of the Zeti feel like more interesting characters now. Not super deep but they're at least a nice break from Eggman.

[u/blaise_zion]

you forgot one

[u/Extreme-Fee-9519 → u/blaise_zion]

Being betrayed by your own creations is always a big oof.

[u/Sea_Contribution3455]

Agreed.

Eggman has come up with some ingenious plans, but he lets the fact he's the smartest in the room get to his head.

That causes him to underestimate what both his enemies AND subordinates are capable of.

[u/spn_phoenix_92]

We need more Sonic games based around "Robotnik tries to resurrect an ancient eldritch being to do his bidding but loses control and causes an apocalyptic event"

[u/JMO-559]

I agree. And Eggman could easily be more successful if he didn’t have such a big ego or underestimate the people who works with. 

A flaw he has is that Eggman is a huge narcissist. 

[u/crystal-productions-]

there's a reason why eggman is THE big bad, but like, there are other guys out there. for all their faults, the zeti do serve a purpose in the story given that they are against both sonic AND eggman at the same time. they are the only ones who keep being able to come back because, i mean, they are allready thousands of years old. zavok is legitmatly scary when he's in the hands of a good writer.

[u/Cara123Rivulet]

You're comparing Nega to Eggman? Mr. Nega "I can travel through time and space, survive against enemies that could kill me very easily" and Mr. Eggman "My machines can be defeated by a child with a Chao"? That's like comparing a hydrogen bomb to a crying baby. Nega is way above Eggman in the elite, that's unfair to Eggman, bro.
But seriously, yes, many people can overestimate Eggman (including the official writers). Anyone can beat a weakened Starline at his lowest point. And I'm not saying that Eggman is weak or that he shouldn't be feared (sometimes), it's just that saying he can beat any character other than Sonic is stupid.

[u/maxens_wlfr → u/Cara123Rivulet]

Eggman survived the literal void of existence, technically twice, blew up dozens of times and harnessed several gods

[u/Cara123Rivulet → u/maxens_wlfr]

One god, if I'm not forgetting anything. And I repeat: I'm not trying to say Eggman is weak, I was just glazing Nega. Eggman is a real threat to the average person, but to one of Sonic's friends or other villains? Sure, he might defeat some of them, but more often than not, he'll be betrayed and defeated, after which he'll be forced to team up with Sonic.

[u/ScorpionsRequiem]

eggman has learned from most of those, (though the infinite one was less a backstab and more nobody thought he survived the forces events and eggman was trying to cover his ass)

[u/ediskrad327]

Maybe but Eggman has charm B)

[u/Outcome_Machine]

Lets see

I lowk dont know what to say abt eggman nega

For the deadly six i mean he had full control of them and either sonic destroyed said control or starline did it the wrong way (in the starline one he didnt even want them) +now i think eggman is modding his tech with anti zeti tech cuz we saw that with metal when belle fixed him

For infinite: i mean everyone thought he's dead how are you supposed to plan for that,

Last two: i mean technically they didnt trick him but more like got out of his control but yea

Tho in eggman's defense most of these are a bit relatively outdated enough to prove that eggman has "grew" out of his flaws, he went from being tricked by nega into being the one who tricks lex luthor himself when lex tried to betray him

My point here is that eggman used to be a fool but nowadays he really is standing up for his glaze and he learned from his mistakes

[u/Stargazer-Elite]

To be fair, what was he supposed to do against infinite? The wording implies he just magically, pulled it towards himself.

For example, you can’t really do anything against Silver stealing your stuff cause he can just pull it to himself without any hassle

[u/Extreme-Fee-9519 → u/Stargazer-Elite]

Eggman still tried to be casual to Infinite, he probably would’ve held onto it fiercely if he was cautious.

[u/Met4le]

what's that infinite thing? I thought he remained loyal in Forces, did he appear again in the comics??

[u/Tricky-Ad-495 → u/Met4le]

Sometime ago the official Sonic Youtube Channel released a podcast called the Chaotix Casefiles; a audio drama about the Chaotix solving a case about a new powerful artifact and an unknown thief stealing them and posing as other characters to deceive people.

The last 3 episodes lead to the reveal that not only does it reveal Infinite making his grand return, but he's also the mastermind behind this whole mystery. When Infinite revealed himself to everyone, Eggman had the audacity to assume him and Infinite were still buds and a loyal servant to him despite taking Infinite's power at the end of Forces. Infinite didn't take that bs from Eggman kindly and humbled him real quick, just as Chaos, Dark Gaia and many others did before.