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Automatic Pictures Publishing, 2013
ISBN 9780981873770
Available:Hardcover and Paperback
Hatter M is a graphic novel series following the character Hatter Madigan, a royal guard to the Princess Alyss of Wonderland. Alyss has come through the Pool of Tears and Hatter is searching for her to bring Alyss home—a story that is told in The Looking Glass Wars trilogy of novels by Frank Beddor. The trilogy is about the “real” story of Wonderland and Alyss, who says Carroll spelled her name wrong. The graphic novel series is presented by the “Hatter M Institute”, which has chronicled his progress from 1859-1872 through Madigan’s own maps and journals. In Zen of Wonder, the story catches up with Hatter Madigan after he finds a stolen Samurai sword with strange but familiar markings. He is led to Japan by Nekko, a young girl who is attempting to teach Madigan about the Zen philosophy and how it could help him on his quest to find the princess. While in Japan, he finds his brother, who also went through the Pool of Tears from Wonderland, but Madigan discovers his brother’s loyalties are different from his own.
The cover art was done by Vincent Proce, but it is the inside artwork by Sami Makkonen that helps define the tone of the story. The artwork is raw and muted, which seems to be a reflection of Hatter Madigan himself. Madigan is fuelled by the single purpose of finding Alyss and bringing her home—he is loyal to a fault. Beddor and Makkonen bring forward a parallel between Madigan and the Samurai of Japan that adds depth to the character. Hatter M Volume 4: Zen of Wonder is very well-written and I thoroughly enjoy the character of Hatter Madigan. Hatter M and The Looking Glass Wars trilogy offer an interesting and entertaining take on Lewis Carroll’s original story. It’s an outstanding story for young adult and adult readers. Hatter M Volume 4; Zen of Wonder works as a stand-alone story but I highly recommend starting from the beginning of the series. Recommended.
Contains: some mild violence
Reviewed by: Colleen Wanglund