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Day #242: Little Nemo is Rescued!

"Little Nemo in Slumberland" dated May 29, 1910:


Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (FEBRUARY 06, 2021):


Well, that kidnapping did not last long… Just as Nemo predicted last strip, he is immediately rescued by the military might of Mr. Gosh… - 1/15

I like some of the motion going on here… the first strip seems to indicate an upward motion (even as we read downward) and panel 3 strongly thrusts the actions down to the bottom tier (even though there is fourth panel still to be read). - 2/15

The downward feeling only really stops when Pirate Pete is confronted in panel 7. It isn't perfect, but it works for me… side note: this would make for a really cool infinite canvas comic! - 3/15

The airship Captain who has followed the boys on this adventure does seem to be filling the void left by the Professor, as he continues to comment on his desire to go home/have never come here. - 4/15

All of this in interesting, but the real fascinating parts are found in panel 6 and 7. Let's start with Pirate Pete's comments to Nemo in 6. - 5/15

According to Pete, he is a pirate because of the greedy Mr. Gosh, who robbed all of Mars' previous stock holders, turning them (and, in Pete's case, their family) into Pirates fighting for survival. - 6/15

This is a really interesting moment of character depth. Pete is able, in his comment, to simultaneously expand our understanding of McCay's Martian world, but also criticize the unthinking and uncaring greed of capitalists, as well. - 7/15

Then again… I'm assuming that readers are all hoping for Nemo's safe return, which sort of implicates us in Gosh's actions, doesn't it? It is his military force that is recusing him… we are, unwittingly, being drawn into this cycle. - 8/15

"Money is the root of all evil", right? - 9/15

Pete is also nowhere near as ethnically coded in this strip, either. The red hat from last strip is gone and resembles our hose, the Secretary, much more closely. - 10/15

Furthermore (especially in panel 7), the other characteristics that I noted last week are toned down immensely… he looks like just another Martian in panel 7. - 11/15

This side-by-side of last week's panel 11 and this week's panel 7, really emphasize this… They barely look like the same character: - 12/15 [INSERT IMAGES]

Had this depiction (panel 7) been a consistent one throughout his short tenue, the connections that I drew towards ethnic caricature would certainly not have come up. - 13/15

What are we to make of such a drastic difference in depiction? There could be many explanations, surely, but I'm interested to hear what you all have to say. - 14/15

This is my reading of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" #242. What's yours? - 15/15

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