"Little Nemo in Slumberland " dated October 07, 1906:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (JULY 18, 2020):
Keeping in mind my personal reading of strip #50, I like the way that this strip begins! It acts as a passing back the torch; Jumbo had complete centrality in the last strip, but here in panels 1 and 2, he gives that focus back to Nemo and the Princess. - 1/16
Once the pair get back on solid ground, they're immediately sent off on the next "transfer" of the journey, which (in actuality) is a massive rollercoaster with a bit of a wicked leap built it! - 2/16
Nemo is, unsurprisingly, not impressed that this journey is a) taking so long and b) featuring some dangerous modes of transportation. - 3/16
Part of the fun in this strip is that the Princess' bravery is juxtaposed nicely against Nemo's fear. In panel 5 she says,"Oh! I do so love to ride fast, don't you?"… By now, you think she'd know full well the answer to that question. - 4/16
In this same panel, Nemo wants only to know if he can be let off the ride… and this is before the pair take off at the end of the loop ramp… - 5/16
"Isn't this grand", the Princess asks? Nemo doesn't get a chance to respond before he wakes up in his bed being chided by his parents for yelling in his sleep. - 6/16
These "quiet" moments where the Princess and Nemo are alone really do wonderful things to drive their characters, and their relationship, forward in my opinion. I enjoy them immensely! - 7/16
Another fun element to this strip is the moon who consistently appears in all 6 panels (not counting the wake-up panel, of course), in this strip. - 8/16
The gestural facial expressions are the what makes this special and, I feel, as though he is meant to reflect the reader. - 9/16
He is passive for the first 4, simply taking in the scenes without much facial communication… but in panel 5 he's momentarily concerned as the car begins it's loop… finally, he breaks into a broad smile as the pair launch off the track. - 10/16
I can say that my own facial expressions were fairly similar while reading, here. The moon knows full well (as we do) that Nemo will be fine because he can see what we can't beyond the hyperframe. - 11/16
Even though the strip ends before we see how they land, the reader too knows that Nemo will be fine (he wakes up in panel 7, doesn't he?). The fact that both the reader and the moon share this subtle moment is really fun! - 12/16
Formally, this strip doesn't do anything new. It is a regular grid with regular panels and features the beautiful bright single colour backgrounds that we've seen before. - 13/16
That said, it obviously serves as inspiration for this moment in Eric Shanower & @GR_comics' 2015 #ReturnToSlumberland (even the moon makes an appearance…) which is formally brilliant: - 14/16 [insert image]
While it isn't really fair to compare McCay's 1906 technique to Shanower & Rodriguez' dynamic polyptych 109 years later, I have to say this is one of my favourite moments in their story and wanted to give it a minute to shine here! - 15/16
This is my reading of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" #52. What's yours? - 16/16
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