"Little Nemo in Slumberland" dated November 20, 1910:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (MARCH 4, 2021):
Well, there isn't a ton of action in this strip today… a lot of slow progression, obligatory mentions of Thanksgiving, and the occasional gag tossed in. - 1/15
Presumably, it's the US Customs Inspectors from last strip who are commenting about Nemo's travel plans in the top tier. - 2/15
Did Nemo and the group fill them in on their plans off page? How else would they be able to spout exposition like this? - 3/15
Now, I haven't read the entire Sightseeing Series before, but I know that some of the cities listed are, in fact, ones that we will visit. That said, I do wonder if McCay will stay true to this itinerary. - 4/15
In panel 3, we get our first gag. I'll admit that I had *no idea* what McCay was referencing here… but a little Googling solved that pretty quickly. - 5/15
Flip's "Vocalist or Warble Tower" is a joking reference to "Singer Tower", which, for a year from 1908-1909, was the tallest building in the world! - 6/15
Now, I'm pretty sure that his "Ironing Board" or "Pig Iron" Building is a reference to the "Flat Iron Building"… a piece of New York architecture that I think most people are familiar with. - 7/15
Of course, none of these sights are as spectacular as that of Herald Square, which was home to the New York Herald Newspaper (where Nemo was being published at the time). - 8/15
It's interesting to read this strip knowing that, in less than a year, McCay's boiling frustration with the Herald would lead to his departure for Heart's New York American, and the rebranding of this very strip… - 9/15
Here, however, Herald Square is presented with much pomp and circumstance, ending with the group heading into the New York Herald Building, itself. - 10/15
There is a fun meta-moment where one of the Customs officials explains the importance of the Herald by calling Nemo a "Newspaper Kid" (panel 4). - 11/15
On one hand, Nemo's entire existence as a cartoon depends on the success or failure of the Newspaper industry, so it makes sense. - 12/15
On the other, Nemo has begun to take on many paratextual lives by this point; he's been an operetta, he's been merchandise, and soon he will even be animated! - 13/15
Obviously, there is an affinity about his existence as a comics character being represented here, but the moment caused me to remember how far Nemo has come in the last five years since 1905. - 14/15
This is my reading of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" #267. What's yours? - 15/15
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