The Dream Continues in Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland #2

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The story picks up right where the 1st issue left off – in Nemo’s bedroom. The time, however, Nemo isn’t so skeptical about going to Slumberland; in fact, he’s excited! Nemo – real name: Jimmy – is welcomed with open arms, and King Morpheus has even arranged for a parade! But before he can finally meet up with the Princess and become her “official” playmate, he must get a health check, a new outfit, and so on. It’s all a bit much for Nemo, though, cause he really just wanted to see Slumberland; not have tea with some Princess. But when Flip, the Nephew of the Dawn Guard, shows up, it looks like he might get his wish.

Writer Eric Shanower keeps the Little Nemo story going with a lighthearted plot, but including seriously funny and interesting details. Every original Little Nemo in Slumberland comic strip (for those unfamiliar with Little Nemo, this comic is a reimagining of a comic strip done in the early 1900s by a brilliant artist named Winsor McCay) would begin and end with Nemo in bed, pre and post dreamstate. It’s interesting, especially as a big fan of the original, to see how Eric borrows from McCay but also how he makes it his own. I liked how already in issue #2 he decided to not make each issue exactly how it was in the strip version, and have Nemo remain in Slumberland at the end of the issue. As a person who is fascinated by dreaming, it’s always a blast to see how different people interpret the dream world. Somewhat like Inception, there are things about dreams we can relate to in Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland. Like, when the sun comes out, you awake from your dream world. And Shanower’s interpretation of “the sun” here in issue two is really great. Gabriel Rodriguez’s artwork continues to amaze and is nothing sort of beautiful. Lavish colors and landscapes, imaginative layout designs and distinct expression and movement in the characters; they all nearly jump off the page.

While I don’t believe it’s necessary to read Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland #1 in order to understand what is happening in Issue #2, I would highly recommend it, as it sets up the world very well and, hey, it’s just a great comic book.

Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland #2 is out October 28th from IDW Publishing.

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