"Little Nemo in Slumberland" dated November 02, 1924:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (AUGUST 31, 2021):
I'm not overly impressed with this strip… while I generally enjoy the conceit of mostly empty panels becoming crowded as the strip progresses, this one's theme didn't do it for me. - 1/12
I recognize the sentiment: In an attempt to encourage voting (I guess for the adult readers), McCay likens the desire to vote to the impulse to fight for ones country. - 2/12
However, it's just a bit too… well… on the nose? McCay's editorial elements are usually far better hidden within the #LittleNemo narrative than this… it's boldness is what turns me off. - 3/12
McCay does do some interesting things here… for instance, ensuring that we don't know the real cause of the "battle" until panel 6 or (more explicitly in) panel 7 permits children a sense of uncertainty and build-up the intensity of the moment. - 4/12
But, adult readers (for whom this strip is undeniably written), if they've been following the strip, should have a pretty easy time figuring out that Flip is the firestarter here… - 5/12
And of course it is Flip. The quasi-American Slumberlandian wants to vote in the American election… but… why should he? He is Slumberlandian… - 6/12
Flip's pro-American fervor leads to a red hot reaction when he is turned away from voting, leading to ambulance, police, and eventually the military, to be called in to quell the chaos! - 7/12
This entire strip reinforces how grounded #LittleNemo has become over the years and how the lines between Slumberland and (Dre)America have slowly begun to blend together. - 8/12
Again, I wonder if this is simply reflective of Nemo's slow-developing maturity… as we age, we all begin to lose the whimsy that once featured in our dreams and see it replaced by more realistic, day-to-day concerns. - 9/12
I suppose that the only part that truly surprised me in this strip was the fact that Dr. Pill bandages Flip head… although, he also bandages Impies… was Impie trying to vote, as well? - 10/12
I'll also note that it features some very impressive detailing from McCay and that the colouring of the strip is, as usual with the Herald Tribune, quite excellent. - 11/12
This is my reading of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" #435. What's yours? - 12/12