Comic Strip/ Little Nemo, Calvin and Hobbs, Peanuts

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I really enjoyed Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo because of its use of fantastical imagery and color. Seeing the class examples in the original size and format was also really cool, and I could really see how well Winsor made use of the space with details, negative space, and number/shape of panels. I also noticed how he uses patterns to help excite and lead the eye. Often there will be a costume or environmental element that persists through the whole page, giving a common element to the reader to follow. Some of these are dots against black, thick stripes, or even creature such as a lion or elephant. The use of these animals as fantastical also dates the piece because of how differently it would have affected readers. Now days these animals are much more common place thanks to the internet, film, and zoos. Most people have seen them, where as earlier unless one lived in a city with a zoo the only other opportunity would have been a traveling circus. The panel lay out also felt very unique compared to other strips, and I can now recognize how he has influenced other artist because of this element. An example that comes to mind are the dream sequences of Calvin in Calvin and Hobbes, commonly space themed with aliens. The Saturday issues of Watterson’s comic always had a playful feel to the layout, using different geometry and combinations. I always especially enjoyed when his color palette was very concise, those ones always felt more powerful and calming when I was young. After reading Little Nemo, I could really see the influence it left, and in the bigger picture the trickle down effect that seems to have happened through the life of comic development. Comparing Peanuts to Little Nemo almost feels like comparing apples to oranges because of how different the approaches are. Where Winsor relies more on the use of imagery and wacky drawings to transport a reader, Schultz is more grounded reality and word driven with simple characters and drawings. Physical comedy that is show is typically slapstick, like Lucy pulling the football out from Charlie. Despite these stark differences both strips have their own unique appeal and contributions to comic history.

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