Now, maybe it's just me as I have never read a graphic novel before, but I was so drawn into the words and drawings in Frank Beddor (and Liz Cavalier's) wondrous "Hatter The Looking Glass Wars" from the opening page that I found myself a bit breathless during the scenes in which Hatter is dashing around Paris in his quest to retrieve Princess Alyss.
Ben Templesmith provided the compelling renderings of the authors' words. From page one to the final lushly illustrated, imaginatively written last page I found myself rooting for Hatter to complete his quest but was not too horribly disappointed when he didn't as I know there will be more to come!
I found myself "following the glow" until I closed the book and even after... Believe me when I say, once you read this book you will never blithely step foot into a puddle, especially if it is in a location where a puddle should not be (that's all I will say at this point!)
In the book, Beddor grabs Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" and turns the story on its head, offering readers an entirely new take on the childrens' story many of us grew up with. In Beddor's story, however, Hatter Madigan is charged with protecting Princess Alyss after a bloody coup is staged at the palace. The pair escape through a puddle from Wonderland to our world (in 1859 Paris, France) but during the journey, Hatter is separated from Alyss and thus begins his quest to retrieve the Princess.
What Hatter doesn't know (and Beddor and Cavalier explain in their re-imagined version) is that Alyss ends up in London, England, tells her story to an aspiring author (Carroll) who interprets it in his own way and publishes the "Alice in Wonderland" fairytale. Alyss had hoped that by telling Carroll her story, it would provide clues to Hatter to rescue her. Imagine her dismay when her story is published, her name is spelled incorrectly, and it offers no clues to Hatter as to her whereabouts.
At the end of the novel, the author offers a probing questions section in which he answers readers' questions.
For anyone looking for a new and interesting twist on an old story, "Hatter" is a story that should not be missed. And for readers who enjoy an intriguing on-line game, I recommend traveling to www.cardsoldierswars.com.
Check back soon as I am hoping to offer an interview with the author here.
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