"Little Nemo in Slumberland" dated February 03, 1907:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (AUGUST 4, 2020):
Well, to say that nothing of importance happens in this strip wouldn't be entirely true… but it'd be close… - 1/12
I don't personally see much to talk about here; it's a strip that is entirely dependent on the gag (Flip's slip) and the calamity that ensues. This isn't a criticism (I enjoyed reading it), but from our perspective it's a bit underwhelming. - 2/12
One thing to note is that the Princess has completely done an about-face in this strip and is 100% on Team Flip. Panels 4, 5, and 6 all feature dialogue from her declaring something to the effect of "we can't leave him behind". - 3/12
Whether she has just given up completely on the idea of getting rid of him, or is terrified of the potential deadly implications of a massive ice palace melting from the sun, she spends the majority of this strip advocating for Flip. - 4/12
Tier 3 sets up the end gag with a bit of wonderful gestural communication. As Flip runs towards the group (dressed warmly in winter clothes), he slips on the ice and begins sliding towards his destination… - 5/12
As our eye reads the tier, we almost propel him ourselves towards Mr. Sleet. Panel 9 becomes a brilliant moment of "calm before the storm"… We know that Flip is headed for a collision course with the large Mr. Sleet and we witness the occurrence in panel 10. - 6/12
Panel 11 features a terrifying moment as the entire palace comes crashing down around the group, resulting from Mr. Sleet's tremendous landing… That Nemo wakes up immediately as a result of it (realized in the waking world as his falling out of bed) is a relief… - 7/12
…but it makes us wonder about how the rest of our friends fare under the grave circumstances? - 8/12
I enjoy the fun McCay has with the reader as a result of this ending… we begin the strip fearful (as the Princess is) that Flip will melt the palace (maybe causing them all to drown?) and we end the strip fearing that the collapse of the palace might be a worse fate… - 9/12
Of course, *we* know that our friends will all be safe the following week (there are many, many more strips to discuss…), but the young readers of 1907 might not have been so sure… - 10/12
It strikes me then that this is a really early cliff-hanger moment… One that might make it irresistible for a youngster to pick up the NY Herald next week to see how (or if…) the group's journey continues! - 11/12
This is my reading of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" #69. What's yours? - 12/12
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