The Thirteenth Hat

Hats off to the Mad Hatter. The mesmerising Jervis Tetch (David Wayne) has been released from prison and wants Batman for revenge.

It was the caped crusader's testimony that put the helmet pincher behind bars. For now the Mad Hatter is settling for the jurors and their headgear as he takes them away.

His mind is set on taking away the Batman's cowl. Thereby exposing him to the world and the Mad Hatter has another trophy for his collection.

Batman is right on the Hatter's tail as he searches for clues. The Mad Hatter makes sure that the Batman is plastered.

This was the first introduction to the series of this Alice in Wonderland inspired baddie. He seems to share some villainy with the Penguin in a colourful way. Also those eyes under his hat that emit the mesmerising ray.

"The Thirteenth Hat" casts David Wayne as Jervis Tetsch, better known as arch criminal The Mad Hatter, obviously inspired by 'Alice in Wonderland,' recently released from prison, vowing to get even with the 12 jurors that convicted him, and especially Batman ("few men die of threats, Robin"). To this end, and by his own obsession, he endeavors to steal the hats off the heads of all 12 jurors, as well as the people underneath, using the hypnotic mesmerizer in his top hat, to be held for a ransom of presidential hats worth millions. Of course, the crowning glory of his career would be Batman's cowl, which would also reveal his secret identity, the ultimate revenge for putting him behind bars in the first place. Seemingly one step behind every move made by The Mad Hatter, the Dynamic Duo are unaware that Madame Magda's abduction was orchestrated by her own employee Lisa (Diane McBain), secretly in league with Tetsch, who delights in showing off his dastardly hat factory in hopes of luring the Caped Crusader to certain doom under its cutting machinery. The climax has Batman agreeing to pose for sculptor Octave Marbot (Alberto Morin), but not until after The Mad Hatter has stashed him away and taken his place (complete with Van Dyke beard), capturing Robin and bathing Batman in a shower of plaster to provide an airtight tomb.