Oh noes! Not another Cowl's identity theory

[Bergi]

So my favourite theory is that Cowl is future Harry, but recently I have been entertaining another idea:

Cowl is time traveller Billy and Kumori is his daughter.

So what leads to Billy becoming a dark overlord?

During one of the next Books (Peace Talks or the one after Mirror Mirror) Georgia dies. Billy is devastated and starts researching for ways to bring back the dead. In the last case file Harry defeats Cowl and recognises Billy. He hurries to Billy to stop him from becoming Cowl, but, when Harry frantically knock on his door, Billy panics and time walks away with his daughter.


So indications to this theory:

• During Dead Beat when the Alphas approach Cowl runs away. This isn't because he is afraid of them, but he is afraid of a time paradox or at least Georgia recognising his smell
• Additional during this scene Cowl chuckles about Harry calling him Darth Bathrobe. Billy is probably a fan of Harry's Humor.
• After the Darkhollow blasting of in his face he was probably badly hurt. Billy is shown to have started developing self healing. He is the only character we have seen doing this on screen till now. (Although LTW probably can do this too.)
• When first see the Alphas Billy proposes a plan to go ahead and kill the FBI Agents. He is introduced as liking the blacker solutions, but Georgia is his backbone and moral compass
• Kumori probably never really gets to know Harry.
  So in Dead Beat she is curious about the guy her Dad told her so much about.
• From narrative point of view this allows us to view Cowl's slow descent
• Also from the narrative point of view, it us smart to introduce the main antagonist in the second book. The loup garou might get relevant again but I doubt he is a villain. That only leaves the Alphas.

So feel free to tear into this theory.

[DonBugen]

One question. How does Billy go from being the one trick, small-time pony that he remains throughout the entire book series to being this incredible wizard that can beat Dresden without breaking a sweat? You need to have a certain level of innate gift and skill with magic, and Billy has none of those. He just has a small ability that he's focused on one thing. Jim's made it clear that in order to be a council level wizard, a million things have to be going right for you, one of which is your aptitude for Magic.

[peregrine]

Time travel far enough back that he can study under Kemmler?

[raidem]

I like time travel stories but Billy really doesn't fit the bill for that spot in my mind.

I do like the idea though that both cowl and kumori are time travelers first, necromancers second.

[Bergi]

Ok, two decent options how Billy got on Cowl's level.  One is boring and one has interesting implications.

First option is he made a deal with someone. Not much more to say here.

Second option is that scientific knowledge can boost magic skills. When Harry uses both Fire and Ice in Changes Lea is impressed,  but Harry just sees it as the same application of the thermodynamic laws. Scientific knowledge boosted his skills. Now Billy is much better educated in science than Harry. So Harry's science knowledge combined with his magic knowledge is at the same level as both combined on Billys side.

[Snark Knight]

Eh ... I still think Cowl = Simon has a lot more going for it.

[wardenferry419]

Agreed.

[Rasins]

Okay, this is a little bit tongue-in-cheek, but ...

I'm firmly in the Cowl=Simon camp, but I thought of this earlier today...

Cowl is actually....

(click to show/hide)

Mike the mechanic

Wait, think about this.  His ability to return Harry a working vehicle borders on magic.  Perhaps even resurrecting it from the dead.

His one, on screen, really big trick was moving a car off of himself that Harry had dumped on him.  A Mechanic knowing about cars could do that.

And let's face it, even Harry has to make a living.  Cowl would be no different.

[kazimmoinuddin]

I bet evil Bob is searching for cowl, and trying to find his identity as back up. It would make sense for him to try to learn as a much as possible about the world most likely premier necromancer.

[Rasins]

I bet evil Bob is searching for cowl, and trying to find his identity as back up. It would make sense for him to try to learn as a much as possible about the world most likely premier necromancer.

I wonder.

We know that Harry told Bob about Cowl, but was that knowledge part of what Bob cut off, thus creating EB, or was it retained and EB doesn't even know about Cowl?

[SerScot]

I AM COWL!!!!!

[Rasins]

I AM COWL!!!!!

Here I thought Cowl was The Dread Pirate Roberts

[wardenferry419]

We need a seriously detailed profile on Cowl.  The RPG covers  the rough parts but it could use some fine-tuning.

[kazimmoinuddin]

Since no one knows who cowl is, I wonder if some point Harry will attempt to pass himself off as him. To infiltrate the bad guys to get in close and deal with the bad guys.