In the imaginary future world of THE MAN-IN-THE-HAT the fist and the gun rule the sun-bleached streets of Bay City. Enter fedora and trench coat wearing Alphonse, a 31-year-old self-styled private investigator hired by the beautiful and mysterious Lola to retrieve her lost pet from the city pound. Alphonse knows he's a tough guy, but is he tough enough for this job?

Turns out some very nasty people are also interested in Lola’s cat, which Alphonse learns at the end of a black-gloved fist. Seems the cat belongs to Lola’s boyfriend Master thief Niklas Janacek. Janacek is after a highly valuable stolen shipment. The cops are after Janacek, and so are the brutal STATZI (State Port Security Police).

Now Alphonse must stay one step ahead of the law, track down the elusive Janacek and rescue Lola, all while trying to find out exactly what this cat knows.