But what gladdened me the most that day was the sheer amount of young crime-fighters who took a genuine interest in what I do. Obviously, no one could possibly replace Robin as my sidekick. However, I do have an eye for able heroes, and I told the children that if they stayed in school and ate their vegetables, they could one day be on the quest for justice as I am now. What proceeded throughout that Sunday was a large amount of high fives from several worthy citizens. It sounds quite silly, but I think of a high five as a sort of secured alliance, so I took the common gesture very much to heart.

Some children were a little on the shy side, I admit… I believe it is because some know me as the DARK Knight. This is an alias not of my creation, and I would just like to announce that I am rather sensitive and kind as opposed to dark and mysterious. The Dark Knight moniker is obviously a name made by The Joker to give me negative publicity. I shall avenge my moral being upon my return to Gotham.

Besides that, my day was bat-tastic! A clown of which I was never properly introduced to blew a very good-looking balloon in my honor – it was me. So unnamed clown, I thank you for that. I was even offered to be part of a commercial for a peculiar roofing and siding company. I had to decline the offer, of course. I could not risk having my enemies know of my whereabouts. Lastly, I would like to thank the wonderful Princesses Jasmine, Cinderella, and Tiana for keeping good company as well. It’s amazing who you run into on a simple trip to Atlantic City.

This is Batman signing out… with love.

When I arrived, I introduced myself to Ariel, a mermaid who had swum all the way out of the ocean to join in on the festivities. She was a simply lovely girl, and she had red hair, just like mine (although I must admit that mine is much more voluminous!). Together, she and I said hello to quite a few children who had come to get their faces painted. I was very interested to see all of the fantastic designs that they chose, and all of them seemed just delighted with how they turned out.

Later on, Ariel had to return to her home under the sea, but Batman and Princess Jasmine arrived to take her place, and I had ever so much fun meeting them! While Princess Jasmine and I were speaking to a group of children, I had the opportunity to tell a most fabulous riddle to everyone present: “If there is one train leaving from Timbuktu at 45 miles per hour, and another train leaving from Czechoslovakia at 16 miles per hour, at the exact moment that they cross paths, what colour are my eyes?” Do you know that not a single person knew the answer, and Princess Jasmine said that she would have to ask her royal riddler back at her palace to try at figure it out for her? I apparently have a great talent for riddles!

I was having such a grand time that it seemed as though only a moment had gone by before I was called back to Wonderland. When I returned and told the March Hare about all the wonderful new people that I’d met, he said that it all sounded quite unbelievable and that I must have imagined it all! I do think he’s just envious that he doesn’t get to make trips out of Wonderland to see the sights.

Yours truly,
The Mad Hatter

View photos from the event