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Day #458: Little Nemo and the Jumping Easter Eggs

"Little Nemo in Slumberland" dated April 12, 1925:



Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (OCTOBER 02, 1925):


This is the first time in a very long time that I recall such an explicitly Easter-themed holiday strip! It is very reminiscent of the 1905-1911 Herald run, throughout which we saw many strips themed in this way. - 1/13

I actually quite enjoyed this one; it's light and fun and there isn't any real danger or harm caused to anyone. - 2/13

The "trick", which is really one of Flip's less troublesome, would've been a really good one (and caused quite the surprise) had it gone off as expected. - 3/13

Sadly, either Flip constructed the egg shells too thick or the Slumberlandians applied too much glue (both are offered as explanations, though Flip does ultimately take responsibility) causing the shells not to break open easily. - 4/13

The choice to put the eggs at the top of the stairs logically makes no sense, but it gives McCay the perfect device for hatching the boys. - 5/13

I quite enjoyed panels 5 through 9 as the eggs bounce down the stairs and pop open one by one, revealing the fellas. - 6/13

Even though the Slumberlandians in panel 2 acknowledge Flip's plan as being "queer," they seem to be eager to implement it saying that it will certainly surprise the Princess! - 7/13

Doctor Pill, on the other hand, doesn't seem impressed. In panel 7, he says "It's hard to believe any thing one sees here anymore." - 8/13

I found this probably the most interesting comment in the entire strip… mainly because it encourages a reader to remember that they're reading a comic. It's self-referential without being direct. - 9/13

The strip ends with a glorious penultimate panel featuring the gang in an eggshell chariot pulled by rabbits. Again, we've seen this sort of this before (pre-NY American), so it isn't new, but it is welcome. - 10/13

As Flip sits, he tells the group that he meant no harm, but that he's glad he got out because he was running out of air inside! - 11/13

This adds a potentially dark twist to the comic by relating what COULD have happened had they not been able to shatter the eggs… McCay doesn't dwell on it, so neither does the reader really, but it was enough to get me thinking how dangerous Flip's "fun" plan might have been. - 12/13

This is my reading of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" #458. What's yours? - 13/13

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