Ranting about how I see Summer because its so different from the fandom version
What we know about Summer (note ive not read the comics but i have seen pictures of certain pages regarding Summer):
A) What Yang has told us
- Yang remembers her fondly "she was maker of cookies and slayer of giant monsters"
- She traveled through the kingdoms when Yang and Ruby were growing up
B) What Qrow has told us
- Qrow said she was always trying to help people, but she was also a brat
C) What the show has shown us
- Her photo implies shes shy or quiet, by having her hidden by her cloak and her body turned away
D) Comics
- Yang would make up stories about how great she was
- Raven is upset Summer got with Tai not about becoming Yang's mother (Raven greatly emphasizes the word "wife" and wifely charcteristics)
- She did not fight with a sword
- She would always try to help people no matter the situtation
1. I do not think Summer was a carbon copy of Ruby
Due to lack of knowelege regarding her looking to Ruby for common traits is a good idea. I think the differences are Summer was quieter than Ruby, not as energetic as Ruby, and generally more reserved. I take this from the impression I got from her photograph.
Im also a little mad that CRWBY decided to design her clothing so similar to Ruby's. We know from the photograph she wore a large white cloak and a black skirt, and in the show the seemed to have recolored Vol 4 Ruby's clothes and different hair. Tbh i understand that but that they kept that look in the comics when they could have altered it bums me out a little. Its canon tho so i gotta accept it. Ruby's life has been so defined by her mother's death to have Ruby wear almost the excat same thing feels like she has almost no control of her life, which she does. Ruby most likely keeps her hair short because she likes it short, and it was implied she wears a cloak because she idealizes Qrow so much and he wears a cape (also her Little Red Riding Hood allusion). I just feel like she might incorporate small addtions into her look, not attempt to turn herself into Summer.
2. I do not think Summer was the perfect mom
IM NOT SAYING SHE WAS A BAD MOTHER. I just think many people paint her as perfect, because thats how Yang tells her. Summer was kind and compassionate but i also believe she was strong in her beliefs and opinions. She was probably strict on bed times and the such. This is a trait she shares with her daughters but i also believe that she had to have had these traits as she was leader on a team with two Branwens. I also think this is the reason Raven was never completly upset with Summer mothering her child. I believe Summer was a very caring person and it was clear she was going to cherish and spoil Yang even when she was planning on only being a aunt. I think that may even be one of the reasons Raven was okay with leaving, she knew Summer and Tai would raise Yang well.
People often paint Summer as being always present, when we know thats not true. Summer was on missions far away, and she worked for Ozpin. There was probably often times when they wouldnt get a call from her for days. We dont know what Tai was doing at this time, but I believe he had already started his teaching job at Signal. Qrow and Raven were spies, and we dont know exactly what Summer did but i think its fair to think Time Zones are a thing in Remanent. So either Summer couldnt answer her scroll because she was working or the time zones didnt line up in a good way.