"In the Land of Wonderful Dreams" dated October 29, 2021:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (APRIL 20, 2021):
Coming into this strip, I was pretty ready for a particular conversation that I've been wanting to have for a while now about Nemo and the Princess' behaviour. - 1/25
I mean… if this is a reboot, then we've not yet been given a reason during their time at the NY American why they are running away from Flip so passionately. We get the sense that he is a bit intrusive, but that's only because he wants to be included. - 2/25
If this *is* continuing from the strips at the Herald (which I'm personally more inclined to read them as) then I think that after everything they've been through, Flip deserves some answers about the seemingly unprompted return to avoiding him. - 3/25
These friends have been through a lot previously, and their relationship developed well in the old strips, so "what gives?", I wondered… I think this strip might answer it. - 4/25
In panel 10, McCay depicts a very intimate moment between Nemo and the Princess. Yes, Nemo talks about how nice it is that Flip isn't there, but within the context of it being "the first time [they've] been together so long" alone. - 5/25
The Princess even goes on to defend Flip; clearly, the two of them aren't avoiding him because they don't like him. - 6/25
I'm starting to wonder if Nemo isn't developing some romantic feelings for his little dream girl. We've talked about this before, but it's never really *felt* right… the last time they had a moment that I would consider similarly intimate was way back in 1906: - 7/25
With this reading in mind, it becomes a little easier to forgive the pair (couple?)… certainly, they could be handling the situation differently if they wanted some alone time, but it makes sense that having Flip around at every moment would be tough if they wanted to spend some time with each other. - 8/25
Now, that doesn’t really excuse Dr. Pill's behaviour, who has cranked his hate for Flip up to about a 9 outta 10 in this strip. - 9/25
I think it's the most obvious outward display of disdain for Flip that DP has ever expressed. It isn't surprising; we know he doesn't like him. But his openness with the Slumberlandians about it took me by surprise a bit. - 10/25
Intentionally sending Flip up in an "old rattle trap of a flying machine" is pretty harsh… hoping that he sustains an injury no lesser than breaking every bone in his body is *really* harsh… - 11/25
Maybe this carelessness on DP's part stems from the fact that he knows Flip can't be killed? If he were to fall from the flying machine back to Slumberland… what would happen? - 12/25
This is a dream, remember, and not even Flip's dream… so maybe his callousness is offset because he knows the thanatological principles of Slumberland in a way that we don’t? - 13/25
Either that, or he's just an ass. - 14/25
Really love panel 3 where the Princess begins driving the flying machine! How cool is that?! I sure hope there were some little girl readers who got a kick outta that moment back in 1911! - 15/25
Now someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that women were ever barred from driving automobiles, so this isn't commentary to that effect. I think it was just a moment for McCay to show off just how strong, capable, and independent his Princess really was. - 16/25
As many of you know, I'm actually quite fond of the Princess as a character so seeing her take charge here was great and reminiscent of past strips, as well (we talked about the Princess' role as a leader many moons ago in older strips). - 17/25
A few formal things of note for me, to end off with here. First, I find the colour job in this strip to be atrocious (you mileage may vary). - 18/25
I think it's mainly because I find the clash between warm tones (the red, oranges, yellows, etc.) and the cool tones (blues, greens, etc.) very unproductive. - 19/25
The Slumberlandians have also been reduced to single tone representations… blue skin and cyan clothing… are these meant to be a *new* kind of Slumberlandian that we've never met? - 20/25
Another quibble, the detailing of the buildings in the distance are uncharacteristically undetailed. This is a very small thing because I'm not saying that they don't look good, or even that there is *no* detail… I've just come to expect more from McCay in this regard. - 21/25
When you've been spoiled for so long, right? That said, the detailing of the airship and all of the foregrounded airships are pretty great. - 22/25
Finally, I am enjoying the return to more connected "wake up" gags that blur the lines between the dreaming and the waking world. - 23/25
In this instance, as Flip tips the airship over and Nemo comes tumbling out of his seat, he also tumbles out of bed. Very productive and nuanced; I like when McCay utilizes elements like this. - 24/25
This is my reading of "In the Land of Wonderful Dreams" #311. What's yours? - 25/25
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