system
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human
(Marvel Universe) How often is Galactus actually genuinely beaten and stymied by various heroes, and how often does he just indulge them because he wants an excuse to show mercy?

Most Galactus confrontations seem to be able to be interpreted either way.

Galactus is so powerful and so evolved beyond human existence that he could stop or even wipe from reality most superheroes with a thought.  But he does't.  When he comes to devour Earth (or some another world) and heroes show up to try and stop him, he engages them, talks with them, allows them to argue and plead, fight his minions, bash up his machines, etc.  Like he allows any excuse at a delay in consuming a world because ultimately he's reluctant to do so.  And if they can come up with a way to repulse or neutralize him, even if its something completely half-assed, it seems like he just lets them have their way so he doesn't have to go through with it.

I mean, there are some encounters where he's undeniably genuinely beaten, but a lot of the others it just seems he's indulging the superheroes at his whim.  Is it because he wants to show mercy but can't without an excuse?

Or maybe there's some other motivation at work?
gpt
Galactus is very rarely actually defeated. He doesn't need an excuse to show mercy and usually won't, but he'll give it if it's asked for. (As long as it requires no extra effort on his account.) For instance, he once attacked a space-capable world that was trying to evacuate. Nova Prime asked him to wait until everyone had moved off, and he did. (Granted, this also depends on his Herald at the time. The Surfer is willing to argue for mercy. Stardust, who is in love with Galactus and views being devoured by him as a religious experience, will kill all who flee.)

Part of the reason he lets Earth heroes have their own way is that, so often, they're more trouble than they're worth. It would expend too much energy to fight them. Keep in mind that VERY few planets have fought him off successfully. The only two that can truly make that claim are Earth and Galador. Earth has managed it multiple times, but still less than half a dozen. Galador managed to trick Galactus into attempting to eat a poisonous planet, the Dire Wraith homeworld.