Batmans always the underdog, but through the same wizardly virtues of foresight and planning ahead both utilize methods to take down their foes and track their targets. One has magic, the other technology. Neither is naturally powerfully physically or resilient and yet often they must battle those that are, and ally themselves with them to even the field.
Bat's legend is well maintained while Harry's just hitting his stride, The money is less of an issue now and could be even less so easily, and he's getting a little smarter every book. He actually preempted Nic AND Andurial in SG. Soon he'll make it look easy vs lesser fae queens and minor vampire courts lol.
*Batman's only overated because your thinking in the now, where he's everywhere and can beat anyone. He underdogs it all the time, think his comics lasted this long because he's just so overwhelmingly powerful? He thumbs his nose at the more powerful beings and thinks nobody should die meaninglessly, just like our resident Wizard P.I(both private investigators too)

I love Batman. He is one of my top 5 superheroes and could easily be my number 1 depending on the day/story. That being said, whole storylines are built just to be resolved by Batman pulling out the perfect gadget from his belt in order to show his forethought and planning ability. I don't think he is an underdog anymore. Certain stories may place him in situations where he is at the disadvantage, but as a whole he has been built up into the guy who knows more than anyone else and is always 2 steps ahead of the bad guys.

To inform and to distract.

Or it could be three-fold. To inform, distract, and plant seeds.

"The stars will rain from the sky before Mab fulfills not her word." - Mab, Changes.

The above declaration was actually prophecy. It refers to the BAT book Stars and Stones, when stars will rain from the sky. Once they do, Mab will break her word. However, it is impossible for Mab to break her word -- unless she is nemfected. This is what Harry's true purpose is - Mab wants him as Winter Knight because the Fae Queens are vulnerable to their own power (their own knight) and Harry is the best chance she has at grooming a knight that will be able to kill her. At some point, Mab will reveal to Harry that she is fighting nemfection and ask Harry, as a favor, that when she finally succumbs for him to kill her. Mab failing to refuse her word will be the sign that Harry needs and Harry will successfully kill her at the end of Stars and Stones.

Mab's death will destroy the defense of the Gates, allowing the Outsiders to enter the world for the final book of the trilogy - Empty Night. Further, by killing Mab as a favor, Harry will fulfill the 3rd request from his earlier deal with Mab, and obligation to Mab will cease, including Harry's promise in Changes to become the WK. By that point, Harry will have become accustomed to the power of Winter and in control of the mantle and losing that power will handicap him significantly, and the third book will be a rush for him to learn the true power of a Starborn so that the Outsiders can be repelled and a new defenders of the Gates can be selected.

Based on the above, my emotion when Mab dies will be a drop of sadness in a pool of fear - because it means the all of existence in the DV will be threatened.

Nothing else needed. Great summation.

How does she find herself in a situation where she has enough Fae connection to assume a Queen Mantle?

1) We don't know if she does/doesn't have fae roots. Molly was several generations distant and needed 'rehab' to make her into vessel.
2) She has been at Arctis Tor, been in NN, fought several Fae, killed them, killed Winter Lady, trains with Einherjar whose Lord has a Mask of a Fae King (Kringle), knows that Immortals can be killed on Halloween, knows that Molly was shaped into a vessel for Lady...

Also worth pointing out that close association with Winter is a big part of preparing an individual for a queen mantle. Per Cold Days:

There was one other person there who had been spending time with a powerful fae.

Who had a relationship with one that was deeper and more significant than a casual or formal acquaintance.

Whose life had been methodically, deliberately, and covertly reshaped for the purpose.

Who had been extensively prepared by one of the Sidhe.

Harry is a part of Winter now. He has already spent a lot of time with Murphy and will presumably be spending a lot more in the near future (some of it pretty intimate). He has been training her and shaping her since they first met. Arguably, all that is left is some deliberate preparation by a Sidhe. That may happen in the past during the events that lead to the vacancy in the Winter Courts.

I still think Eb and Harry were the targets since Ortega took it real personal about her husband.

Revenge against Harry for starting the war and against Eb for killing her husband (with the side benefit of taking out the Blackstaff) is enough of a reason for the Duchess to have suggested using the bloodline curse. To have the bloodline curse go any farther or target anyone else means that either the Duchess is involved in the Black Council or being manipulated by the Black Council to further their goals.

You already have Feds, but you could specifically add Tilly since I believe WoJ says he will play a role later in the series. I also believe that Gard offered her a job so you could lump her in with Odin.

I think it was while he was talking to Molly, walking along the halls of Edinburgh.  I think he called him "a real piece of work"?  maybe?

Found it in Changes when Harry and Molly go to Edinburgh while the Duchess is talking about peace.

"Nah," I said. "That would have been too much like work. Rumor has it that it used to be the palace of the lord of the Daoine Sidhe. That the original Merlin won it from him in a bet."

"Like, Merlin Merlin?" she asked. "Sword in the stone and so on?"

"Same guy," I said. "Doubt he was much like in the movies."

"Wrote the Laws of Magic, founded the White Council, was custodian of one of the Swords and established a stronghold for the Council, too," Molly said. "He must have been something else."

"He must have been a real bastard," I said. "Guys who get their name splashed all over history and folklore don't tend to be Boy Scout troop leaders."