"Little Nemo in Slumberland" dated January 13, 1907:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (AUGUST 1, 2020):
A much easier strip to read than the previous one, this one continues the new trend of continuity from week to week. - 1/18
The top tier features Flip, whose face is covered in ink, chasing little Mary. He has seemingly caught on to the fact that she is not who she seems to be and blames her for the ink incident in last week's strip. - 2/18
Tier two is particularly interesting because it calls back to a moment that I questioned when reading the previous strip, but didn't have the room to mention in my thread. - 3/18
Notice how, as they run around the tree, he says "You are a sweet little girl one minute and an old witch the next!" (panel 2) followed by "You can't fool me! I saw you do it" (panel 3). - 4/18
In the previous strip, there is a panel where Flip is pointing the gun at the lion, but Granny Hag hasn't fully finished her transformation into Mary. This marks the first indication we're given that Flip may have noticed the transformation. - 5/18 [INSERT IMAGE]
I actually really like this call-back. Last week, we couldn't have been sure that Flip had noticed anything but the Lion in front of his face; the Hag's transformation could easily have gone unnoticed and many readers (like me) would've probably just let it go. - 6/18
The fact that McCay draws direct reference to it means it wasn't just an accidental moment, but an intentional one. Flip was *meant* to notice Granny Hag mid-transformation there. - 7/18
In fact, it's the moment right before the ink backfires into his face, meaning that that strange mid-transformation might have been the last thing he saw before the ink momentarily blinds him. - 8/18
No wonder he's angry! - 9/18
The tree's transformation into the rhino is another fun moment. It happens much more obviously than some of the previous transformations (the ostrich in particular), and it makes the moment where Flip stops in his tracks very effective. - 10/18
The gestural motion of going around and around the tree happens so clearly that one can almost *feel* them circling as you read… the footprints in the snow add a really impressive detail, as well. - 11/18
So when Flip is taken aback by the rhino's… grunt?… moo?... scream?... I don't know! Apparently rhino's make a lot of different noises… it really feels as though we're coming to a screeching halt! - 12/18
To further emphasize this feeling, the Hag's transformation also happens very abruptly here; she goes from Mary to the Hag with not spectral transformation at all. - 13/18
I also sort of like Nemo and the Princess' narration of this moment… they stand away from the action, watching the events occur and talking amongst themselves about it. - 14/18
The only time either of them really break from their role as observer is when Nemo yells, "Ah! Flip! Let her go! Maybe she didn't do it?", which is almost immediately undercut when Nemo notices the tree's transformation and the Princess says, "The witch is doing that…" - 15/18
Finally, Nemo tells us that he doesn't much care for the witch and that he wishes she'd go away. I humbly agree with Nemo; she is causing much more trouble than she is worth and making Flip's attempts to be better much more difficult. - 16/18
Hopefully, as they begin towards the Ice and Snow Palace, they will leave Granny Hag behind… what purpose can she serve now that she's been found out? It sure doesn't seem like she's getting that youth promised to her by Morpheus… - 17/18
This is my reading of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" #66. What's yours? - 18/18