"In the Land of Wonderful Dreams" dated September 08, 1912:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (JUNE 4, 2021):
Now, this is a strip that I remember very well from having read many, many times out of context. It is most probably the strip that defines how *I* understand Flip, as a character, the most. - 1/16
Placing them right within the "Jack and the Beanstalk" fairy tale (and continuing directly from the first of the two September 01 strips), Nemo and Flip climb Jack's beanstalk to meet the Giant. - 2/16
If nothing else, this strip proves that Flip's bravado gets results! His confidence is all it takes to convince the Giant that he is a "Giantkiller". There's not beat down (yet) or any fighting; the giant is instantly scared of Flip. - 3/16
It works out for the pair because he takes them to the Princess at the palace. Much easier than walking all that way landing post-parachute outside Slumberland's walls. - 4/16
Interestingly, we learn a bit about Doctor Pill's character here in this strip… he doesn't like Giants. He dismisses both Nemo and the Princess' attempts to get him to reconsider… - 5/16
Which ultimately doesn’t matter because the Giant misunderstands Flip's order and lifts the entire carriage up into the air! - 6/16
The penultimate panel is really something… the horses dangling like a set of keys (looking completely shocked with their outstretched legs and blinders on) as Flip punches the Giant in the eye! - 7/16
This demonstrates that not only is Flip willing to "talk the talk" but he is also willing to "walk the walk"… he threatens the Giant many times throughout the strip, but you're not entirely sure that anything will come of it until the end. - 8/16
I've always understood Flip's character to be confident and persistent, full of swagger, boldness, and bombastic bravado. Much of that comes from the way he carries himself in this strip. - 9/16
It's really nice to come to a strip that I know well and have read many times before out of context, because it gives me a moment to reflect on how I've been reading his character throughout the life of the project. - 10/16
I'd argue that it is one of the more recognizable of the series, so I'm sure that I am not alone in that. - 11/16
I don't have much else to say, but I do want to compliment the tall two tiered panel layout today. We've been seeing such rigid spatial organization that I feel very spoiled over the last couple strips… I really hope it continues. - 12/16
Finally, Impie's absence in this strip really pisses me off… more than usual. - 13/16
We know that he landed with the Princess and Doctor Pill in the parachute episode. His exclusion here is a very conscious choice. - 14/16
Again, we have an example where his absence speaks (screams) volumes about the oppressive nature of American life in the early 1900s for people of colour. 15/16
This is my reading of "In the Land of Wonderful Dreams" #354. What's yours? - 16/16