Hatter M: The Looking Glass Wars Volume 1 Written by Frank Beddor with Liz Cavalier. Art by Ben Templesmith

The Looking Glass Wars is one of the most inventive novels I have read in recent years in regards to an alternate view of the Alice In Wonderland story. It does seem to be somewhat of a target the last few years in both the novel, toy and comic book realm to try and twist Carroll’s original concept, but most of them are a waste of time at best. Hatter M is a story that turns the original subject matter on its head by directly attacking it with the notion that it is real and Carroll is a thief and a liar. Hatter M: The Looking Glass Wars is a comic book adaptation of Frank Beddor and Liz Cavaliers novel that features art by comic superstar Ben Templesmith.

            Alyss Heart is the young Princess of Wonderland, and her mother is the White Queen of Wonderland who rules with white Magic and a kind heart, with her husband by her side. The other suit families live prosperous lives in her court, and black Magic is outlawed. The head of the security team is Hatter Madigan and the Generals Doppel and Ganger. The Queen’s archenemy is her sister, Redd, who practices black Magic and once ruled the land before she was overthrown. The Looking Glass Wars erupt when Redd returns to take back her thrown and punish all those who opposed her. She makes her way into the castle when her cat, with the grin, comes into the possession of Alyss and is brought before Queen Genevieve, The cat quickly growls into an assassin and allows Redd’s followers into the castle. In the ensuing battle, the Queen sends Alyss away into the Lake of Tears with Hatter Madigan to protect her. The two become separated and Hatter’s search begins. Hatter M is the story of that search.

            I loved the novelization of this story. The story is so well plotted out, and like Lord Of The Rings, there has been a whole new world crafted and created for the reader. The characters from Alice in Wonderland are all accounted for and have their place in this real life Magic version of the classic tale. In some cases, this makes as much senses if not more than the original. The book is hard to put down and I can’t wait to read the second book. The comic book on the other hand falls short. The artwork is good, and Templesmith’s messy although minimal style lends itself to a story focused on imagination and a guy lost in another world with no friends except a lost girl. The problem lies fully in the adaptation. There is so much amazing stuff in the book that is lost, un-addressed, or just not explained well enough, that the reader at times is clueless as to what is going on. For example, the scene with the caterpillars, in the original book, Alice encounters a caterpillar smoking a hookah. In the novel, you find out that they are set among Wonderland lore as Oracles, and the white forces seek their help. It is an extremely important part of the novel, but entirely ignored here.  It is one of many plot lines removed from the story. Basically, the comic was cut like a film would be because it is impossible to include everything or a film would be 18 hours long. But with a comic, you can just make it more issues, you have the ability to include it, this was just hastily butchered from the original.

            So, this is how it goes. Get the novel “The Looking Glass Wars” it is a stunning and creative novel about a timeless classic that is fun and well conceived. The comic of the same book falls short and is confusing, but has great art. So unless you are Templesmith completionist, I would pass on this.