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Mad HatterA fictional character from comic books published by DC Comics
Date of Birth: .
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Content:
- The Mad Hatter: Origin and Evolution
- Obsessive Compulsion and Genius
- Tragic Past and Descent into Madness
- New 52 Origin
- Abilities and Techniques
- Television and Video Game Depictions
- Abandoned Film Appearances
- Affiliations and Alliances
The Mad Hatter: Origin and Evolution
The Mad Hatter (Dr. Jervis Tetch) is a supervillain in DC Comics and a primary adversary of Batman. Inspired by the character of the same name from Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland," he first appeared in Batman #49 in October 1948.
Obsessive Compulsion and Genius
Over the years, the Mad Hatter has become a darker and more complex villain. He is a brilliant scientist who employs mind-controlling devices and manipulates the minds of his victims, believing that "the mind is man's weakest component." His signature green top hat, often oversized, and his eccentric and unhinged demeanor are well-known.
Dr. Blacklock, a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum, has diagnosed Tetch with obsessive-compulsive disorder and delusions, as well as an immature sense of self, identifying more with a child than an adult. However, Blacklock also notes that Tetch, despite his abnormalities, is undoubtedly a genius.
Tragic Past and Descent into Madness
Growing up, Jervis Tetch's repulsive appearance alienated him from peers. He became a neurologist and took residence in Ella Littleton's boarding house, where he befriended Ella's daughter, Connie, and students from the school's computer club, helping them with projects.
When Connie became pregnant in high school, fearing her authoritarian mother's wrath, she lied that she had been raped by a member of the Gotham City College basketball team, the "Gotham Hawks." Ella sought Tetch's help, convincing him that the Hawks deserved punishment. He utilized his mind-control technology on a Hawks player, forcing him to construct a homemade bomb to kill the team.
Assuming the Mad Hatter persona, Dr. Tetch emerged during the robbery of the Gotham Yacht Club. Obsessed with Carroll's books and searching for his own Alice, he became a toymaker for Wayne Enterprises and relied heavily on microchips that controlled the mind to execute his crimes.
New 52 Origin
In DC Comics' 2011 "New 52" relaunch, Jervis is depicted as the son of a successful "hatter and haberdasher." A popular boy in school, he was friends with Alice Dee, with whom he shared a memorable day at an "Alice in Wonderland" theme park. While Alice and his friends develop normally, Jervis is diagnosed with hypogonadism.
Against his doctor's advice, Jervis seeks to remedy his condition through dangerous means, taking "steroid-enhanced testosterone." The decision has detrimental effects on his mental stability, his face becoming deformed. Compensating for his stunted growth with hats, Jervis's unpredictable behavior alienates his peers. When Alice rejects him, he lashes out.
Terrified, Jervis's parents are horrified when he brutally dismembers his pet white rabbit. They send him to Arkham Asylum for Troubled Youths.
Abilities and Techniques
Lacking superpowers, the Mad Hatter relies on his vast knowledge of "neurotechnology." He subdues and controls minds using hypnosis or various devices. He conceals mind-control devices within the brim of his hat, but at times, his influence seems undetectable, hinting at possible superhuman abilities. Despite his diminutive stature, he possesses surprising strength and agility, occasionally engaging in hand-to-hand combat.
Television and Video Game Depictions
In the 1960s Batman TV series, Dr. Jervis Tetch was played by David Wayne. The character's gimmick was his hat's trick cylinder, which housed an "eye mechanism" that popped out and fired hypnotic beams.
Roddy McDowall voiced the Mad Hatter in Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, where he was depicted as short, gaunt, and rodent-like, with a pallid complexion. His motivations were less focused than in the previous series, where he sought to accumulate enough wealth to leave Gotham and avoid further encounters with Batman.
The Mad Hatter appeared as a boss in The Adventures of Batman and Robin video game for Sega Genesis. He resembled his Batman: The Animated Series counterpart but had elongated eyelashes on his left eye, a nod to Alex (Delarge) from Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange.
He has also made appearances or cameos in Lego Batman: The Videogame, Batman: Arkham Asylum, DC Universe Online, Batman: Arkham City, Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, Batman: Arkham Origins, and Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.
Abandoned Film Appearances
The Mad Hatter was considered as an antagonist for a canceled third Batman film directed by Joel Schumacher. Robin Williams or Rowan Atkinson were under consideration for the role, with a storyline similar to the Riddler's in Batman Forever.
Affiliations and Alliances
Sometimes referred to as "The Hat" or "The Phantom Phreak," the Mad Hatter has been affiliated with the Secret Six, the Arkham Inmates, the Injustice Society, and the Wonderland Gang. He has had alliances with the likes of the Penguin, Scarecrow, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Harley Quinn, and the Joker.
