What color can do for comics / "Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland"

"Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland"           
                   . . . Nemo makes it to Slumberland!!

In the second issue of "Little Nemo" the character Nemo makes it to Slumberland; the land of dreams. In this specific issue the choice of the color palette does multiple things for this comic in order to create meaning. In children's comics it is important to have color because children tend to see lack of color as less worthy than something colorful. It is all about the look of the surface with young children if looking to catch their attention. Three specific things I see this palette doing for this comic are setting a stark contrast between reality and Slumberland, distinguishing between royalty and regular citizens of Slumberland, and lastly connecting panels together to create a bigger frame. Color is an important formal element of meaning creation in comics but especially in comics meant for a younger audience. 

The contrast seen between reality and Slumberland can be noticed with the scan of the first page of the issue and the splash page when he reaches Slumberland. 

      

The first is Nemo's bedroom and the second when he arrives in Slumberland. This is the largest contrast made in the issue. The reality in which Nemo lives is exhibited through color use that one is accustomed to and is expecting. For example, the door and bed are brown associating the two with wood. Just like the ball in the first panel can be identified as a soccer ball, the brownish-red tiles in the last panel of the first page can be identified as a roof. Now, in Slumberland our expectations of color are not met and therefore a contrast is created between the two. In Slumberland even the architecture is received as structures of gold. Aside from the colorful dress of the characters the setting itself most of the time plays with our expectations and this reiterates the dream state and allows the reader to understand it as not like reality.

As for showing status in Slumberland, the color palette clearly outlines who is royalty and who is not. 

ROYALTY:  

            

NOT: 

Even though the entire setting and characters are very colorful, and it is almost impossible to find a location in this comic where color is lacking, color has been able to draw a line between royal characters and those who are not royalty. Both the palette for the royalty and 'civilians' can be described as colorful, using both primary and secondary colors in contrast from each other and  using a vivid palette opposed to a faded one. In more detail, the Princess and her father are covered in gold-like accessories while the yellow on the rest of the characters can not be associated with gold but rather candy. The Princess exhibits her royalty through the royal blue peacock dress, while her father exhibits it through earthly brown, green and gold. 

Lastly, the use of color to connect multiple frames. . . . where again the "royalness" of the Princess is shown through the color of her wardrobe in contrast to Nemo's. 

The previously seen royal blue peacock dress on the Princess is now transfered to a garden in Slumberland as a way to symbolize whose land this is. One immediately understands that these are three different panels of the garden through which Nemo and the Princess are passing through; however, if one were to step back it is obvious too that this is one larger frame that is created through the use of color. This specific power of color allows for comics to be looked at through other theories, that is, how frames create meaning. The leaking of color through multiple panels forces the reader to look at the three as a whole. A young reader's perspective of the garden may now change knowing the three panels are a part of one scene. These panels work together to create meaning in the progression of time. Each panel without the presence of the other two would not create a clear understanding of what is happening. In the second panel, one would not  understand the music-creating flowers without the vines in the first panel. In the third panel, one would not fully get the idea of the fountain splashing Nemo, without the presence of the second panel where Nemo drinks from the fountain. 

Overall, this comic would not be able to accomplish what it has without the use of color. Color is very significant to the world of Slumberland and its inhabitants. Next, I wish to look at a black and white comic and to analyze what that style has to do in order to create meaning.