“Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland”
Authors: Eric Shanower (writer), Gabriel Rodriguez (artist)
Publisher: IDW Publishing
ISBN-10: 1-6314-0059-2
ISBN-13: 978-1-6314-0059-9
Disclosure: A free copy of this book was furnished by the publisher for review, but providing a copy did not guarantee a review. This information is provided per the regulations of the Federal Trade Commission.
The classic American newspaper cartoon “Little Nemo in Slumberland” by Winsor McCay (off and on from 1905 to 1926) needs no introduction. It became a classic for its fantastic artwork, but everyone acknowledged its weak storyline, which was just an excuse for McCay’s weekly visual extravaganza.
IDW Publishing wisely gave multiple award-winning American writer-artist Eric Shanower and multiple award-nominated Chilean writer-artist Gabriel Rodriguez the freedom to update McCay’s work in this 2014-2015 sequel, originally published as a four-issue limited-series comic book. As in the original, the 10- or 11-year-old Princess of Slumberland is looking for a new playmate; a boy her age to be brought to Slumberland in his dreams. Her new choice is James Nemo Summerton, chosen for his unusual middle name that reminds her of her long-ago playmate. But while the 2014 youth finds Slumberland interesting, he doesn’t want to spend every night playing with a girl in tea parties; and he doesn’t like to be called “Nemo” instead of Jimmy.
Shanower and Rodriguez (with fellow Chilean artist Nelson Dániel) have cleverly updated McCay’s century-old art pages. The new Nemo looks nothing like the boy in the “sissy” 1905 nightgown. Aspects of the original cartoon that would be culturally incorrect today are gone. Jimmy can’t stand the smell of Flip’s cigar, so Flip (still green but no longer Irish) chews a peppermint stick instead, and the grotesque African cannibal-boy Impie is not even mentioned. The 1905 Nemo did not have a pet (did he and his parents live in a NYC tenement?); the 2014 Jimmy gains a turquoise-furred doglike frunkus during his travels. The Princess turns out to be more adventurous than McCay’s sedate tea-party hostess. Shanower & Rodriguez slip some visual tributes to another noted 20th-century visual fantasist, M. C. Escher, into their work.
The four issues of “Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland” have been collected into this lavish, full-colored 120-page hardcover ($21.99; Kindle 99¢). The cover says that it is a comic-book industry Eisner Award nominee. This book must have been published before the July 2015 Comic-Con International where the winners were announced; “Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland” was the 2015 Eisner Award winner in the Best Limited Series category (making Rodriguez the first Chilean artist to win an Eisner).
Still, while “Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland” contains the complete four-issue limited series, it ends with Jimmy-Nemo staying in Slumberland and setting out with the Princess, Flip, and the frunkus on a new adventure. It’s impossible to believe that the story will stop here.
“Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland” is an excellent resumption of McCay’s cartoon series. Rodriguez’s illustration is the equal of McCay’s in technique and imagination, and Shanower brings a stronger story line to it. Recommended to all collectors of “Little Nemo in Slumberland”.
