“Little Nemo in Slumberland” by Winsor McCay is one of the first well known weekly comic strips of the time. It tells of the adventures of a little boy named Nemo embarking on grand adventures in his dreams. The comic always begins with Nemo in his bed where he meets a character from one of his dreams. That character then whisks him away in some magical form. After his grand adventure, he ends up back in his bed. After this adventure, he fell out of bed at the end of the strip.
This speaks to the psyche of the child and how they fall back to their imaginations; especially during times of distress or change. The comic was created and ran before, during and after WW1. This was a time where instability reigned over the world and everyone was unsure of the future. Many people turned to comics and art during this time which provided a sense of escape for those affected. This goes for Nemo as well. He escapes into the world of dreams to avoid the reality that is all around him.
The overall feel of the comic is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz. Both of which came into being during times of conflict and instability. People needed a little fantasy in their lives and these creators took advantage of this.
The art style is very colorful and well drawn. The style is distinct enough to set it apart from other comic works of the time.
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