I am aware there was a thread about this recently, but it seems to be locked. I don't know what happened in that one but I don't want that here. With that in mind let's all be civil in this one, please. If you don't have anything relevant to contribute politely, this probably isn't the thread for you.
Now as many, many people have pointed out, Harry does seem to resemble Kemmler a bit more and more as time goes on.
But let's look at the similarities and then the differences.
Similarities:Allies: Kemmler had connections with demons, vampires, and even some of "the nastier Fae". Not just his necromancer pals and his undead slaves.
Harry also has demons (Bob and Bonnie), has held a Coin and worked with Lash, has worked alongside the Denarians, and has summoned Chauncy. Hmm.
Harry also has connections with vampires. His half-brother (not well-known, most think of him as close associate perhaps a lover) is of course a White Court vampire. He is often seen working with Lara Raith (the power behind the throne of the White Court) and is rumoured to be her lover. His ex was a half Red Court vampire (although he did kill her and the whole Red Court - but then again the White Court helped destroy the Black Court). And we know he eventually works with Mavra in Mirror Mirror. He even had a business dealing (admittedly under duress but still) with Mavra.
Harry also is deeply connected to the Faeries. His godmother is the second most powerful Faerie in Winter after Mab (the Mother's are excluded). He is the Winter Knight as worked for years as their emissary and ally before that (Mab was clearly preparing him). His grandfather (not commonly known) quite likely wields Mother Winter's walking stick (a incredibly powerful Faerie weapon). His own mother was literally known by the epithet "le Fay" because she was so closely associated with them. His former teenage lover and foster sibling/best friend was also a close associate of Summer for years. He was a contact and friend of Lily as Summer Lady and Fix (more before he was a Knight). He also has a small friendship with the current Summer Lady Sarissa. Despite hating him, even Titania meets with him. Harry has met and worked for the Mothers (something that most mortals never do and most wouldn't even survive). His former apprentice and daughter of one of his best friends is now Winter Lady. Despite the antagonistic relationship, he is actually quite close to Mab. He also is well acquainted with the Leaders of the Wild Hunt, particularly Kringle. He regularly journeys into Faerie and returns stronger, often after achieving impossible missions. He is aided by all manner of Faerie (Summer and Winter and Wyld), and commands a small army of Little Folk. He even knows some of the deepest and most important secrets of Winter (like how they defend the Outer Gates).
Magic:Harry has also performed necromancy, just once, when raising Sue. He also has returned from death, something normally only associated with necromancers. He even has commanded spirits of the dead. He has performed several acts of magic that skate the crumbling edges of the Laws of Magic, just like his mother, including enthralling Faeries and binding them, and binding demons. He has killed mortals multiple times with magic, both intentionally and otherwise, and has attempted to several times before being stopped. And he has done this in a pattern that continues to the present day, so it isn't just a part of his past.
Equipment:He has a demon/spirit as a research assistant. The exact same one as Kemmler used.
Kemmler also used a gun (such as in A Fistful of Warlocks). Harry was one of the most well-known Wizards and the Warden's for using a gun.
Roles:Speaking of wardens, just like Kemmler he is now also the Warden of Demonreach.
Ideals/Philosophies:Both Kemmler and Harry believe the White Council is self-righteous and too restrictive. They also have both openly defied this governing body. Kemmler believed might is right, and while Harry doesn't believe that totally, he certainly has approached some problems this way. Kemmler appears to have not cared if the world burned as long as he got what he wanted. While Harry doesn't normally think like this, on more than one occasion Harry has subscribed to that philosophy - even if later he realised it was wrong he probably still would have done what he did.
Actions:Kemmler fought and resisted the White Council for decades. Maybe longer. He set himself up as first a power in his own right, then as a warlord, and even had ambitions of godhood. He gathered power, weapons, and allies to him. He set himself up as Warden of Demonreach. He allied himself (I believe) with governments and politicians. He instigated wars and caused enormous loss of life. It is possible he attempted to destroy the White Council.
Harry also has resisted the White Council for years. He even is now openly beginning to defy them. He has set himself up as Wizard of Chicago and Warden of Demonreach. He has acquired great power, new weapons and many allies (both good and evil). He even has a sometimes ally in Gentleman Johnny Marcone, the Baron of Chicago and now Knight of the Blackened Denarius. He started a war with the vampires that caused enormous loss of life, and by ending it (with a semi-nuclear option) he left a power vacuum that caused further suffering and allowed for even a new war.
Differences:Allies:Kemmler allied with the nastier Fae, supposedly for power. Harry has never liked or tried to befriend the worst Fae (although that's becoming a grey area as we see they have purpose - so what's a nastier Fae then?) Mab could be counted among the worst, or Lea, etc. But Harry was largely forced into those relationships, whereas Kemmler mostly sought them out.
Harry didn't choose to be connected to the White Court, his mother made that choice for him. But he connected with Thomas through family love. His connections are mostly political to the White Court, and he has resisted being either their puppet or their friend.
Harry might have Bob and Bonnie, but he made Bonnie out of love and so I think it's not the same as summoning or binding a horrible monster. Bob is slightly different. They have a master-servant relationship yet have formed a close friendship too. He helps Bob find morality (as best he can) and Bob seems to prefer being on the good guys team. His relationship to Chauncy was similar to police questioning a prisoner for information. Harry did use it to acquire knowledge and power, but abandoned it when he realised he was holding the short end of the stick. Kemmler continued to bind demons to himself. While he did work with Lash, and Nicodemus, voluntarily (under duress but still) he betrayed Nicodemus and never tried to be his friend or real ally (no matter what Nicodemus promised) and he actually changed Lash into a nicer being and turned her against her originator (Lasciel).
Magic:Harry has used necromancy but never on humans. Harry also only attempted it once to save people in need. He never attempted to use it for personal power. He has enthralled faeries but established a strong friendship after so he didn't need to control them directly. When he killed with magic it was only in self-defence (although he did possibly negligently kill some teenagers at Bianca's, while defending himself with magic but in a wild and dangerous way). He killed some soldiers in a battle, but it was also kill-or-be-killed combat. Kemmler seems to have had no such restraints. Harry did return from the dead but not because he was smarter, had the knowledge, or didn't want to die, but because Mab, Demonreach and Bonnie wouldn't allow it (and Uriel probably had a hand in it).
Equipment: Harry did choose to use Bob. But he didn't use him to acquire terrible and dangerous power or perform dangerous experiments and research dark things. He used him as a friend and ally, mostly to help him use his magic to help others. Harry never tried to use Bob's dark side, or to try and gain enormous personal power.
Harry does use a gun, but I'd argue that he uses it as defence, whereas Kemmler just wanted to kill people.
Roles:Harry became Warden of Demonreach by accident. He had NO idea of what he was getting into. He thought he was just getting a bit of solid ground in order to fight some dark enemies. He also has never tried to abuse the power of that island. He hasn't released any monsters, or taken knowledge or power from them. He has never taped the well. He never allowed any dark forces to release his prisoners.
It is unclear how or why Kemmler became Warden of Demonreach. But we do know he didn't immediately try and release his prisoners. He may have initially thought it was too risky, he may not have yet been corrupted. We don't know. But we do know he eventually tried to go back and the White Council spent a lot of time and effort making sure once he went dark side he couldn't actually go back. And I suspect he would have attempted to release some of the monsters should he have gotten on the island. Or perhaps even eat enough of them to become a really big dark god. I wonder if that's where he got the knowledge.
Ideas/Philosophies:But Harry's motives have always been about trying to protect those he loves. This is a key difference I think between Kemmler who seems to be only after power, and Harry who only takes on power to protect those he loves and has always tried to resist taking power (only taking it when absolutely necessary) and he tries to do the best he can. Harry always tries to use his power in defence of those who need protecting, and he tries always to resist becoming a monster. Whereas Kemmler seems to have embraced it. Harry might have hated the White Council but he seems to be aware that without it the world would probably be worse. He believes it needs reform, not destruction. Harry also seems to be able to reflect that while he didn't care if the world burned if he saved his daughter, that also meant roasting his friends and that he should have been more careful of that.
Actions: Harry resist the White Council, but his introduction to them was the White Council trying him for murder and attempting to kill him. So arguably they started it. They made no attempt to rehabilitate him. Kemmler seems to have just tried to overpower them, mostly because he wanted to do whatever he liked.
Harry has acquired power but only when absolutely necessary and never to cause harm to humans and the weak. Never to rule others. He always has tried to use it to defend the defenceless. Sometimes power has been thrust upon him and he has done his best to not be corrupted by it. He hasn't always succeeded but he has tried to do better and tried to learn from his mistakes. Kemmler seems to have taken power for power's sake. He never seems to have tried to become a better person or tried to atone for his crimes.
Harry did gain allies, but many were made for him before his birth (like Lea and Thomas). Some he was even manipulated into. He has acquired more but he has always tried to remain true to his own beliefs, values and principles and never corrupted and controlled by them. He always tries to be his own man and stick up for those weaker than himself and protect them. Kemmler seems to have actively tried to seek out dark allies only to make himself stronger so he could rule the world and destroy anyone who resisted.
Harry might have started wars, but those wars would have started without him anyway. He was pushed into being the catalyst, but make no mistake that the Reds (and the Black Council manipulating them) were the ones that wanted the war. They simply used Harry to try and give themselves legitimacy. The Fomor too had been preparing to attack for centuries. They simply exploited the situation (the fall of the Red Court) to make their play.
Kemmler simply wanted to rule and cause enough chaos and violence to get what he wanted. He exploited certain countries and factions both mortal and supernatural in order to achieve his aims. Those wars might have been avoided, but Kemmler made sure that they happened.
Conclusions:While the similarities seem to outweigh the differences, I would say that the differences are more critical.
Yes, Harry and Kemmler are dangerous. But one is concerned with trying to save the world, to protect his friends, to defend the weak and defenceless, to help others and create a better world.
The other seems to only have wished to rule the world, to cause pain and misery and death and chaos, to destroy the established order and impose his own. Perhaps even to unmake it altogether.
I think you can work out which is which.
What do you all think? Have I missed anything? Should I add other things? Anything you think shouldn't be in there?
Let me know!
