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Little Nemo in Slumberland (3 Points)

 I was trying very hard to piece together what this comic was about, but I think I finally understand what's happening. It's pretty much a comic about a little boy named Nemo who has fantastical dreams with recurring (albeit racist caricatures) characters that explore their whimsical, and experimental comic-wise, surroundings. 

I though these comics were particularly interesting since I was finding it hard to understand the purpose of them. Maybe that is because modern comics always have a set theme or genre they fall into that can let the reader know, "Hey, this is what this book will be about." But I think the entire point is just following these characters on weekly adventures in Nemo's dreams. McCay seems to know about the common dreams most people have that signify something, i.e. drowning or getting lost amongst an oddly distorted Mc Escher hallway. 

I think the defining features of this comic are it's style and structure. I will say, besides the blatant racism, I think the art style is fun and engaging. It feels like it's audience might be younger due to how old Nemo is presumably or by how colorful it is in tone. It's structure also reminds me of the formulas they used on old cartoons and tv shows like Tom and Jerry always fighting, Adam West's Batman and Robin always finding themselves in danger but beating up the bad guys, or everyone ragging on Charlie Brown. The comics always end with Little Nemo waking up in his bed from his dreams and saying a witty line, his parents usually telling him to go to sleep.

This strip was interesting to me because it's not really like anything I've seen before in comics. While I've definitely seen comics that lacked a 'plot' or were formulaic, I don't think I've read anything that felt so... Innocent before? At least intended to be innocent despite the racism, but there sure were a lot of them back then. I definitely understand the childish whimsy Windsor McCay intended to bring to the viewer while reading this series.

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