Kate Kane (Batwoman) vs Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel)

[Rogue Star]

Captain Marvel vs Batwoman 01.jpg

I could be way off but it occurred to me that Kate Kane and Carol Danvers have a lot in common. To those who are more familiar with Batwoman or Captain Marvel, please correct me if if I'm wrong. They both have military backgrounds. They both strive to be great leaders. They both have this... fierceness to them. Only one is darker thematically than the other. But I feel like Kate is a better version of Carol. I feel like DC has accomplished with Kate the things that Marvel has tried to do with Carol. Kate is a leader who demands even Batman's respect, and she does it almost effortlessly. Kate is growing in popularity. I don't ever find myself wondering when someone is going to get her right. Yes, there are a number of things here that can be debated. There is also room here, I think, for a good discussion on both characters. It doesn't have to be a competition between the two - let me stress that. I'm just holding them up, side by side, and taking a look at them. So...


Are they really so similar?

What are their similarities?

What are their differences?

Is one a better version of the other?


I was thinking earlier of how fun a Cindy Moon and Cassandra Cain team-up might be. I think Batwoman and Captain Marvel might be just as interesting to see happen.

[Valamist]

I agree that both are very similar characters when you think about it. I am still rather new to Kate and I would say that at the moment she is probably being handled better then Captain Marvel, but overall I much prefer Carol, though as you say this should not be a 'Who is better?' type of thing... even if I just gave that opinion... sorry, the Carol fanboy in me got a little carried away!

[Wiccan]

Make Carol a lesbian pls Marvel. Also you should have put this pic for Carol:

It's from the same series as the Batwoman one.

[Rogue Star]

Huh. Funny that I couldn't find that one and it was pretty much the kind of image I was looking for.

But I do think Marvel has already set up a situation with Carol and Jessica Drew that's almost like "lesbian baiting"(?), if that's the right way to put it. If that happened though, that would be another similarity between her and Batwoman.

[Rogue Star]

I agree that both are very similar characters when you think about it. I am still rather new to Kate and I would say that at the moment she is probably being handled better then Captain Marvel, but overall I much prefer Carol, though as you say this should not be a 'Who is better?' type of thing... even if I just gave that opinion... sorry, the Carol fanboy in me got a little carried away!

I know it has to just be the writing but Kate feels more impressive to me when she's on panel. She really grabs the eyes and refuses to let them go until she's finished with them. lol

That's the way Carol should be.

[dzub]

IMO Carol suffers a little from being too exposed.
Katy's always been an 'under the radar' kind of character.
It's a little harder to work when the spotlight is always on you.

Jessica Cruz vs Avril Kincaid next? :P

[Rogue Star]

I don't think it's an exposure issue. Kate is in the Batfamily. Those characters gets lots of exposure. She's even had her own solo. She's just written better. She even had three "cadets" in Robin, Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain, just like Carol had recently had three cadets under her. The difference is that Carol's cadets were trying to upstage Carol in her own book. Kate never let her cadets out from under her firm control. That's the kind of treatment Carol needs to get.

[Matternativ]

Make Carol a lesbian pls Marvel. Also you should have put this pic for Carol:

It's from the same series as the Batwoman one.

Making her a Lesbian now would diminish her other relationships in hindsight. Why not go for bisexuality instead?

But I do think Marvel has already set up a situation with Carol and Jessica Drew that's almost like "lesbian baiting"(?), if that's the right way to put it. If that happened though, that would be another similarity between her and Batwoman.

Love those two together but I never got a romantic vibe tbh. Especially since both haven't even kissed a woman as far as I know.

But apart from the fact that she is a mother and in a healthy relationship now, I think Jess would be a better fit for a bisexual than Carol.

That's the way Carol should be.

You keep saying that and yet you highlight their similarities.
I actually like that Carol is an imperfect "Leader", lacking the charisma others have to easily hold her in her position.

The fact that she is questioned in her role makes her feel more human. And I always prefered my imperfect humans like Carol or Hawkeye over the likes of Batman.

[Rogue Star]

...
You keep saying that and yet you highlight their similarities.
I actually like that Carol is an imperfect "Leader", lacking the charisma others have to easily hold her in her position.

The fact that she is questioned in her role makes her feel more human. And I always prefered my imperfect humans like Carol or Hawkeye over the likes of Batman.

When a character has flaws there should be some self awareness about them or there should be characters pointing them out. That doesn't happen often, or lately, with Carol. When flaws aren't highlighted it's like no one (even the writers) think they're flaws.

In Batman's defense, he does have flaws and they are highlighted. He's a brilliant man but he's stubborn and he always thinks he's right, and he doesn't trust the people around him as much as he should even it's to ask them for help when he needs it, and he puts his war over his humanity. These are flaws that he is forced to admit are there and even apologize for, the characters around him say how much they are impacted by Batman's flaws and the villains are sometimes created by his flaws.

But this discussion is supposed to be about Kate and Carol. I think they are similar so I believe they have similar character flaws, only Kate is written better and it helps make her flaws feel like they're actually supposed to be there.

[dragonmp93]

Make Carol a lesbian pls Marvel. Also you should have put this pic for Carol:

It's from the same series as the Batwoman one.

If that happens, i vote for Spider-woman.

[ed2962]

I dropped Batwoman's book...I found myself respecting the craft more than actually enjoying the story, if that makes sense. I dropped Carol's book as well...it's just been kinda adrift since KSD left. I like both characters though. If Kate has an "edge" over Carol it's in that the Rucka/Williams run is seen as a critical success while the KSD stuff is seen as sorta inspiring but just a fun romp.

[ed2962]

Huh. Funny that I couldn't find that one and it was pretty much the kind of image I was looking for.

But I do think Marvel has already set up a situation with Carol and Jessica Drew that's almost like "lesbian baiting"(?), if that's the right way to put it. If that happened though, that would be another similarity between her and Batwoman.

To tell you the truth I hope that never happens ( Coral and Jess becoming romantic). Not because I have a big problem with characters coming out as gay...but because a lot of times when two female supers are friends, there's part of the audiences that wants them to hook up. Why can't they just be good friends? If Carol ever came out I'd want her to date someone outside of the super community.

[Rogue Star]

To tell you the truth I hope that never happens ( Coral and Jess becoming romantic). Not because I have a big problem with characters coming out as gay...but because a lot of times when two female supers are friends, there's part of the audiences that wants them to hook up. Why can't they just be good friends? If Carol ever came out I'd want her to date someone outside of the super community.

I agree with a lot of this. It's good to keep platonic relationships intact. I also like to see heroines romantically involved with normal people.

[theoneandonly]

well they are similar in some respects in hat both have been inspired by the titular male hero, milar5ry background, have led teams, are driven women, fell in love with a colored character etc. but differentin that kates father is more invested in her, Kate doesn't have powers. etc. marvel has had more exposure and has survived her alien soldier predecessor by years and is going strong has her own former title adopted by her fan, has had many power fluctuations and had acts of violations committed against her, has operated in space etc.