If we go by the transitive property of inequalities, what is the dumbest person who is smarter than Brainiac? i.e. If Superman outsmarted Brainiac and Jimmy Olsen outsmarted Superman, then Jimmy is smarter than Brainiac.
By the same logic, who is stronger than Superman or Hulk, faster than the Flash, or more prepared than Batman?
Whose comic are we in? Because whoever has their name in the title is going to win. If Hulk appears in Millie the Model, Millie would win. That’s the first law of comic books.
Any time Batman shows up, he has to be the most brilliant, strongest, most skilled person in the book. Especially if it means making the headliner look like a total chump.
I’d imagine it has to follow along the lines of “X outwitted Y”, right? Because something like "Brainiac was outwitted by Superman in “Adventure Comics #". Superman was outwitted by Batman in "Justice League of America #. Batman was beat by Bane in “Detective Comics” #___” doesn’t work because Bane didn’t outwit Batman, merely beat the crap out of him.
Yes, you are right. Or out-fought Superman, out-raced The Flash, etc. In each case, they need to be bested in the way that the original person is best known for.