Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay

     Unlike most comic books we read today, Winsor McCay's works were following a certain form and norm. Little Sammy Sneeze, Dream of the Rarebit Fiend, and Little Nemo in Slumberland all started the story differently but end with the similar ending (earlier Little Nemo comic even started off with the same beginning). Winsor McCay told the same story over and over again, but just differently. What really impressed me is his ability to fit so much imagination and information into such simple form of storytelling. He created a world way beyond our imagination on single pages of weekly comic newspapers.

     Not only does Winsor McCay's story follow a particular norm, his drawings did the same thing as well. The stories are drawn on a steady pace, one follow another, more like an animatic storyboard. We spend about the same time on each panel, even the dialogues between the characters tend to be balanced throughout the panels. The panels are pretty much the same size throughout, except for couple that contains more action and characters. McCay expanded the size of the panele rather than shrinking the characters. There are no close-up or medium shots, the characters are always the same size, drawn from head to toe. It almost look like the characters are walking through the panels as we are reading. Most of the feelings are expressed through body languages, the characters had barely any expression on their faces. Due to the fact because they are always put into a wide shot, their faces are so small that we only can see two dots for the eyes and a line for the mouth.

(steady pace)

(barely any facial expression)

     It is quite obvious that McCay didn't pay too much attention into expressing the feelings of the characters, rather, he focused heavily on the other objective elements such as the backgrounds, which are essential to form the world he created. McCay wants to express the "Slumberland" more than little Nemo himself.