Comic Review: Hatter M Volume 4: Zen of Wonder
Hatter Madigan returns in Hatter M, Volume 4: Zen of Wonder, the fourth graphic novel in which Hatter is continually searching for Princess Alyss so that he may return her to Wonderland. In this volume we meet a new character, a young girl named Nekko. She shows an amazing ability to not only catch but also manipulate Hatter's hat, and that's not all. She seems very calm and very wise... basically, very Zen. She purposely takes Hatter on a chase through San Francisco rooftops, but she does so for his benefit, and she ends up befriending him and helping him in his quest to find Alyss. Nekko isn't the only new character, but she's definitely the most entertaining and the most helpful for Hatter.
Upon leaving San Francisco, Hatter finds himself on a ship, tied to a mast and about to be executed. It's quite an opening scene! I won't say how he escapes, just that it all works out well and eventually Hatter winds up in Hawaii. Hawaii is such a paradise that Hatter finds himself considering actually taking some time off from his search for Alyss. Seeing this side of Hatter was really fantastic, as it just adds a depth to the character and makes him feel more real. And that's not the only part that gives us the feeling that Hatter is a real person. The book doesn't end there, and I definitely skipped over some as I don't want to spoil it for anyone.
The artwork in this volume is just as wonderful as the previous three books. It's dark and gritty and has real personality. That goes for both the drawing and the coloring. It's definitely the right feel for this character and these stories. Fans of the first three volumes will obviously want to grab this one as well. If you haven't read any of these yet, you'll want to start from the beginning, though the book is still entertaining even if you don't.
Please visit the Kickstarter campaign for some interesting videos related to this release.
Hatter M Volume 4: Zen of Wonder is published by Automatic Pictures and was released on May 21, 2013.
