Mad Hatter (DC Animated Universe)

Evil-doer

TNBA
BTAS

Full Name

Jervis Tetch

Alias

Mad Hatter
Mr. Hatter
Jervis
Tetch

Origin

Batman: The Animated Series

Occupation

Hypnotist

Neuroscientist (all formerly)
Serial killer
Supervillain
Professional criminal
Crime lord

Powers / Skills

High intelligence
Cunning
Technological gadgets
Chemistry and psychiatric expertise
Master strategist
Mind-control via:

Hypnosis
Chemistry
Gadgets

Goals

Have Alice be his girlfriend
Murder Batman (both failed)

Crimes

Mass brainwashing

Terrorism
Assault
Kidnapping
Attempted enforced suicide
Unethical experimentation
Psychological torture
Public endangerment
Robbery
Jailbreak
Conspiracy
Sabotage
Theft

Type of Villain

Mind-Breaking Trickster

“	You're mighty in Gotham, Batman, but in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter reigns supreme!	„
	~ Mad Hatter taunting Batman

Jervis Tetch, better known as Mad Hatter, is a supporting antagonist in the DC Animated Universe.

In Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, he was voiced by the late Roddy McDowell, who also portrayed The Bookworm in the 1960s Batman TV show.

Biography[]

Batman: The Animated Series[]

Jervis Tetch, while very intelligent and technically brilliant, coped with loneliness and apparently had difficulty with social integration and relating to others. In spite of this, Tetch was a shy and kindly neuroscientist working for Wayne Enterprises, specializing his studies on enhancing the brain's potential. However, he soon began experiments and developing technology that would not strengthen the mind but enslave it. Using a series of electric antennae and receivers, he actually succeeded. His initial tests allowed him to "civilize" lab rats, but he quickly developed technology that was advanced enough to control even human brains.

While at Wayne Enterprises, Tetch worked with a secretary named Alice. Though Tetch had an infatuation for her, he found out that she was already dating Billy. After a fight, it seemed Alice and Billy were through, and Tetch made his move. Donning a costume, he dressed himself as Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter and armed with his mind control technology (which he had imprinted on to circuit cards encoded with the character's famous 10/6 logo), Tetch took Alice out on the town, and created the illusion that he was a celebrity within Gotham. Though the night went well, Alice only saw his actions as the kindness of a good friend, and when Billy apologized and subsequently proposed to her, she happily agreed.

Furious, Tetch took control of Billy's mind and forced the man to end the engagement. He then set forth to woo Alice into his arms, by filling her apartment with flowers, and may have succeeded if not for the intervention of Batman, who had discovered Tetch's secret. Seizing Alice, Tetch fled to Gotham's Storybook Land park and turned the Alice In Wonderland exhibit into a lair of sorts. Using his mind control, Tetch had created a small army of drones (dressed in Wonderland garb) to detain the Dark Knight. Batman, however, evaded capture, and defeated the Mad Hatter. Alice and Billy were reunited, and the Hatter went to Arkham Asylum with a broken heart.

The Mad Hatter eventually escaped from Arkham. Luring Batman into a trap, he knocked the vigilante out and put him into a machine-induced coma. During this time, Bruce Wayne's entire reality was altered. In the 'dream world' created by the Hatter, Bruce's parents were never murdered, and he was engaged to Selina Kyle. Everything seemed so vivid that Bruce began believing it was reality. However, though he had never become Batman, Batman still existed in the dream world. Despite his incredible plan, the Mad Hatter was unable to predict that Batman and Bruce Wayne were the same man. As a result, Bruce was eventually able to discover the true nature of the trap. Batman escaped from the dream-reality, and captured the Mad Hatter, sending him once again to Arkham.

Months later, the Mad Hatter had been released from Arkham and had learned of Veronica Vreeland's trip to Central America. Using what little funds he had left, he made his way to her site and (disguised, of course) used a heartwarming story to convince the wealthy lady to invest in miniature Worry Men dolls, and to give them out to her friends. Hidden within each doll was a tiny microchip designed to activate when the person fell asleep, making the person prone to hypnotic suggestion. Each member of Gotham's high society unknowingly gave a collective total of one-hundred million dollars to the Mad Hatter. However, after realizing his participation in the event, Batman quickly followed the trail. The Mad Hatter was one step ahead, though, and laid another trap for Batman. Though significantly less effective than his previous attempt, he still managed to apprehend the Dark Knight. However, Batman managed to release the henchmen from the effects of mind control, and they quickly turned on the Mad Hatter. He was once again arrested and sent to Arkham Asylum.

Along with many of Batman's other rogues, the Mad Hatter participated in the trial of Batman. He provided the tools that allowed the Arkham inmates to control the guards and take over the asylum. He served as a member of the jury as well.

Some time later, several Gotham comedians began acting as pseudo-super villains. Initially, Batman and Robin believed the Mad Hatter to be responsible, as mind control microchips were found on each celebrity. However, upon investigating, the Mad Hatter had become subject to his own devices. The Joker had stolen the technology and used it to exact revenge on the celebrities that wouldn't allow him to participate in a comedy competition the previous year, and, as insurance, had planted one on the Mad Hatter to silence him.

The New Batman Adventures[]

Years later, the Mad Hatter infiltrated the Haley's Circus Tour, the circus troupe Dick Grayson participated in as a child. Dressed as a circus clown, he implanted mind control circuitry upon the animals of the troupe and had them perform robberies. When Batman and Nightwing arrived at the troupe's site to investigate further, he had controlled the troupe's human members as well. However, in a fit of arrogance, his hat was destroyed, and he lost control of his mindless minions. Apprehended once again, the Mad Hatter was returned to Arkham.

In the nightmare of Barbara Gordon (infected by Scarecrow), he appears on the talk show for the subject of conflict between Jim Gordon and Batman (accused of murder for his daughter Barbara). He is with Scarface, Harley and Riddler.

When Batman had disappeared from Gotham, the Mad Hatter, the Riddler, and Bane planned a coalition to control Gotham City. However, Superman (disguised as Batman) and Robin prevented the group from ever beginning their regime. Using Tetch's technological expertise, they were able to discover that alien influences were somehow controlling Bruce Wayne, which eventually lead them to Brainiac. Mad Hatter's top hat and attire was kept by Batman and displayed in the Batcave.

Trivia[]

The Mad Hatter's gimmick is based around the novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. He frequently spouts quotes from the book while he engages his schemes or faces his adversaries.

The Mad Hatter underwent the revamp most Batman: The Animated Series characters underwent when the show became The New Batman Adventures. He became much shorter and sported a dark green coat with a matching top hat in lieu of the blue trench coat and black hat he'd worn previously. His hair also changed from faint blond to a light grey, and his ears became slightly pointed.

External links[]

Mad Hatter on the DC Database Wiki
Mad Hatter on the DC Animated Universe Wiki

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