"In the Land of Wonderful Dreams" dated June 15, 1913:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (JULY 9, 2021):
I thought that McCAy's handling of the continuity from last week was well done here. Rather than begin the strip back in the volcano right where we left off, we begin with the Lilliputian royalty and Pill as they arrive at the volcano. - 1/16
We don't have to wait long to realize that the gang was successful in saving the Princess though, as she and Nemo exit the cave safely by panel 2. - 2/16
Now, I really like the spatial organization of the page for this strip. The vertical panels work really well to both represent enormity of the volcano, but also allow for (somewhat) clear examinations of the personal interactions happening at it's base. - 3/16
I also enjoy the way that the panel size is staggered slightly in the bottom tier, exchanging the 5 thin vertical panels with 3 larger ones (the penultimate being the largest, oversized panel). - 4/16
I think that the format really ensures the eruptions of the volcano is a spectacular centrepiece of the strip. The top tier emphasizes the smoke while the second focuses on the brilliant boom. - 5/16
Panel 6 sees the volcano expel the lava, Flip, and the Lilliputian Brigands (somehow completely unburnt… dreams lol), the second prioritizes the ash as it fills the sky and the final panel integrates both of these elements. - 6/16
I think the eruption are, if not realistic (I mean… c'mon… a cigar?!), a beautiful inclusion in this strip and it makes for a really nice looking comic. - 7/16
Now, I'm puzzled by the inclusion of the Native American Lilliputians here… We spoke about the stereotypical depiction of the guide yesterday and that is, of course, still present here in their small cameo. - 8/16
But I just can't quite grasp what the purpose of including them in this moment was… I mean, are we supposed to recognize that the volcano eruption endangers their home at the base of the volcano? - 9/16
Alternatively, maybe McCay is simple trying to bring them in as a bridge to the next strip? Maybe they will feature again? I'm not sure… - 10/16
I think though that the most likely reading connects to the final panel… given all of the craziness that has happened in this strip, including a volcano eruption, the brigands being captured, etc. when Nemo wakes up, he's screaming about the Native arrival. - 11/16
I'm not sure how others read the moment, but between the Princess' "we're surrounded!" and Nemo's wake-up declaration I read this moment as fear… like they were afraid having been surprised by them? - 12/16
Even Nemo's mother comforts him saying that there are not any Native Americans around and he should go back to sleep… was the entire purpose of this simply to depict white fear of Native Americans? - 13/16
This is a bit confusing (and I'm not arguing that it is the correct/only reading), b/c even though McCay has depicted Native Americans in stereotypical ways before (Jan. 7, 1906), the one that we met last strip was kind and didn't elicit any fear. - 14/16
Maybe I'm stretching this too much, but I couldn't help but read fear in that moment and it felt incredibly strange… I'm eager to hear what everyone else saw in this moment. - 15/16
This is my reading of "In the Land of Wonderful Dreams" #388. What’s yours? - 16/16
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