Mad Hatter (DC Comics): Difference between revisions

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The '''Mad Hatter''' is a [[supervillain]]fictional character in the ''[[Batman]]'' comics, published by [[DC Comics]]. He was modelled after [[The Hatter]] from [[Lewis Carroll]]'s book, [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]. He made his first appearance in ''Batman'' #49 in [[October]] [[1948]]. Like other [[Batman villains]], he has darkenedbecome a darker character in recent years.

==Character Overview==

'''Jervis Tetch''' is fascinated with [[hats]] of all shapes and sizes, as well as [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]] and its sequel [[Through the Looking Glass]], particularly favoring the chapter 'A Mad Tea Party'. He is [[obsessive-compulsive]], highly delusional, suffers from [[psychosis|psychotic]] [[manic depression]], and can even sometimes be homicidal. (As shown in [[Secret Six]], he won't eat a piece of food that doesn't have a hat on it.) He exhibits delusions and thought processes typical of [[schizophrenia]]. Not only is he often known to quote and associate with Carroll's ''Wonderland'' novels, but he often fails to discern between these stories and reality. He will go to [[insane]] lengths to get what he wants. A few more recent stories have implied [[pedophilia|pedophilic]] overtones in his fascination with the character of [[Alice (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Alice]], perhaps in reference to "Wonderland" author [[Lewis Carroll]] who himself at modern times has been suspected of the same.{{fact}}

[[Image:MadHatter - Batman49.JPG|thumb|250px|left|Jervis Tetch/The Mad Hatter in his first appearance in [[Batman]] #49 (1948).]]

In his first appearance, the Mad Hatter attempted to steal a trophy from the Gotham Yacht Club, but was foiled by Batman while he tried to rob spectators from a [[high society]] horseshow. Tetch was subsequently sent to [[Arkham Asylum]]. Later a very different Mad Hatter appeared, claiming to be Jervis Tetch, but he was revealed as an impostor and subsequently disposed of once the real Tetch re-appeared.

The real Jervis Tetch reappeared in ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #510 in [[1981]]. Tetch appeared with a [[pet]] monkey, as well as a mind-erasing machine. This was also the issue in which Tetch claimed to have killed his [[impostor]], even thoughbut that turned out to be untrue when the impostor returned one last time in ''Detective Comics'' #573 in [[1987]].

It was in [[1983]]'s ''Detective Comics'' #526 that Tetch was first portrayed with the mind-controlling devices for which he is now best known. He even managed to slip one into [[Scarecrow (comics)|Scarecrow]]'s hat and take control of him for a short time. Tetch seemed to have died under the wheels of a train, but that turned out to have been another trick.

Tetch has even kidnapped [[Lucius Fox]] of [[Wayne Enterprises]] and held him for ransom. Once again, Tetch was stopped by Batman, but not before using his advanced equipment to feed information from Fox's mind into his computer.

In ''Robin: Year One'', Tetch devised a plan to implant his mind control devices in [[Walkman|Walkmen]],<!--for plural of Walkman, cf. Life, the Universe, and Everything--> which he gave out to young girls at [[Robin (comics)|Robin/Dick Grayson]]'s school in order to sell the young girls to millionaire third-world [[dictator]] Generalissimo Lee. The young Robin managed to defeat the Mad Hatter, however.

[[Image:MadHatter-Coffee.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Mad Hatter's mind control ticket for free coffee and donuts.]]

One of Tetch's latest plans consisted of implanting his devices in "free [[coffee]] and [[donuts]]" tickets he handed out in front of the police stations in Gotham. That plan had him controlling most of the cops in the city. He even had Gotham police detectives [[Crispus Allen|Allen]] and [[Renee Montoya|Montoya]] break into a bank for him.

More recently, in ''[[Gotham Central]]'' #21 (September 2004), Tetch was trying to escape Arkham Asylum with the aid of a guard under mind control. The guard fired on police and was killed in return fire. Tetch as well was shot multiple times and left in critical condition. It was thought he might have died, but a small appearance in ''Detective Comics'' #800 (January [[2005]]), in which he was working for [[Black Mask (comics)|Black Mask]], proves otherwise.

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During [[Infinite Crisis]] Tetch was seen amongst the fighting with the [[Secret Society of Super Villains]] during the [[Battle of Metropolis]].

===''[[One Year Later]]''===

Tetch was revealed to have been involved in the plot by [[Great White (comics)|The Great White Shark]] to frame [[Harvey Dent]] for murdering various Gotham villains in the Detective Comics storyline "Face The Face", although in what capacity he was involved is left vague.

Tetch's base of opperations in [[Gotham]] was destroyed following a search for an [[atomic weapon]], by Robin III, [[Tim Drake]] and Captan Boomerang II, [[Owen Mercer]]. A recording of Tetch came on a monitor screen and told them that the roof will be the final hat they will ever wear as it fell down on them- Robin and Boomerang narrowly made it out of the building.

Aftwards he was approached by [[Catman]], and he has joined the members of the [[Secret Six (comics)|Secret Six]] in opposition of the [[Secret Society of Super Villains]]; they have recruited him in hopes of a defense against [[Doctor Psycho]]'s mind control abilities.

When Ragdoll attacked the Secret Six under Dr. Psycho's control, Jervis Tetch put on what he called his "thinking cap" and went into a seizure. After the Six crash-landed, they were attacked by the [[Doom Patrol]], who came close to apprehending the Six until Mad Hatter stepped in and used his mind control abilities to subdue the Doom Patrol singlehandedly, going so far as to almost make [[Elasti-Girl]] eat [[Beast Boy]] before Scandal stopped him. The Six commented to themselves afterwards that even they had no idea Jervis could do this.

Jervis also seems to have developed a crush on Scandal, for touching his hat.

In the most recent issue of Secret Six, it has been revealed that Tetch nowdesigned usesa his self built Hathat to make himselfhim happy, beyond the measures of what illegal drugs can. He also revealed that he had planted miniture listening devices around the [[House of Secrets]] to keep tabs on his fellow members. After revealing the true motives of [[Scandal (comics)|Scandal]] to leave the team, the [[Secret Six (comics)|Six]] go after her, finding themselves at [[Vandal Savage]]'s temple in the mountains, where [[Doctor Psycho]] starts attacking the team. Tetch is about to get the upper hand on Dr. Psycho when [[Cheshire (comics)|Cheshire]] appears and stabs him in the back with a poisoned dagger. The story is ongoing.

==Changes in physical appearance==

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The headgear he wanted most was, of course, Batman's cowl. In numerous attempts he tried to de-cowl Batman. After many tries, he was successful, after spraying the cowl with a radioactive substance causing Batman to remove it. No sooner did the Mad Hatter put it in his collection than Batman and Robin arrive. They had traced the cowl with their "super sensitive Geiger counter" in the Batplane.

Later on, in ''Batman'' #297 ([[March]] [[1978]]), "Tetch" claimed to have gone straight, but that turned out to be a lie. In [[1981]] it was revealed that he was in fact an imposter when the real Jervis Tetch returned. The real Hatter claimed to have killed his imposter, but the fake Mad Hatter appeared one last time in 1987 in ''Detective Comics'' #573, where he ended up being beaten by Batman and has never appeared since.

==Appearances in other media==