"In the Land of Wonderful Dreams" dated September 03, 1911:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (APRIL 12, 2021):
Today marks the very first day of #LittleNemo's life at Hearst's "New York American" newspaper. We've known it was coming, and here it is. - 1/23
I was initially pretty disappointed in this strip. It feels almost like a huge step back in so many ways… it lacks formal sophistication and feels like it belongs (narratively) about 200 strips back in the series! - 2/23
But, after I let my initial reaction cool a bit, I realized that much of this was probably necessary from the perspective of changing newspapers. - 3/23
There is no guarantee that the readers of the "NY American" were also readers of the "NY Herald". And, though #LittleNemo had certainly entered popular consciousness in a very real way by now… - 4/23
…It is entirely possible that some of Hearst's readers had never actually *read* a #LittleNemo comic. - 5/23
So, though this strip retreads some of the relationship building that was long established in #LittleNemoinSlumberland, it might have been deemed editorially necessary. - 6/23
But, when you can get passed that, there is actually a lot to like here! It's a return to the absolute best of what this series has to offer. - 7/23
Much of narrative is about re-establishing the groundwork that made Nemo so successful in the past. Particularly the more fundamental elements of his relationship with his friends. - 8/23
He and the Princess are co-conspirators again, trying to keep him from laying eyes on Flip; an act that will, like it did so many hundreds of strips ago, cause him to instantly wake up. - 9/23
Reinscribing this particular trope would certainly assist new readers to become better acquainted with the relationship that exists between the three of them, but does it squash the evolution we witness previously? - 10/23
I don't think so. The Princess has always, at best, tolerated Flip and this strip doesn't present nearly the sort of antagonistic relationship that they originally had, so I think it works. - 11/23
Flip also doesn't even really know that they’re trying to avoid him… he thinks the whole thing is a big mistake. Given their recent adventures together that would make sense. - 12/23
In fact, Flip pretty much blames the entire endeavour on the bearded guard and thinks that "the Princess would cry her eyes out if she knew this." So the evolution of their friendship still remains. - 13/23
As mentioned earlier, I find the layout of this strip to be formally simplistic, but I do like the motion line built into panel 9. It's simplistic, but effective. - 14/23
That said, the stylistic beauty of McCay's architectural rendering of the Slumberland palace (panel 9) and the detailed extravagance of the bejewlled automobile (panel 11) is back in all it's glory. - 15/23
Also, COLOUR! It's back and even if it isn't done through the advanced process of the Herald, McCay utilizes what he has to extraordinary effect. - 16/23
All this said, I have two major complaints. - 17/23
The first is Impie's absence, which I am extremely disappointed with. - 18/23
The second is that Nemo is very passive in this strip. This is, of course, largely because Flip takes on the most active role, but it's somewhat confusing why his most important character wasn't foregrounded in the first strip at the new paper. - 19/23
Unless… the tables are turning and Flip is becoming more central than even Nemo? - 20/23
A final note: You'll notice that McCay began titling his strips upon his arrival at the American. For that reason, my previously punny and creative titles for each daily post will revert to McCay's chosen one from now on. - 21/23
I know, I know. You're all very disappointed that my creativity has been stiffled by McCay's, but what can you do… - 22/23
This is my reading of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" #303. What's yours? - 23/23
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