Legacy thumb|right|alt=Mural of a Little Nemo in Slumberland comic in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio|Mural of a Little Nemo in Slumberland comic in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio Comics historian R. C. Harvey has called McCay "the first original genius of the comic strip medium". Harvey claims that McCay's contemporaries lacked the skill to continue with his innovations, so that they were left for future generations to rediscover and build upon. Cartoonist Robert Crumb called McCay a "genius" and one of his favorite cartoonists. Art Spiegelman's In the Shadow of No Towers (2004) appropriated some of McCay's imagery, and included a page of Little Nemo in its appendix. Federico Fellini read Little Nemo in the children's magazine Il corriere dei piccoli, and the strip was a "powerful influence" on the filmmaker, according to Fellini biographer Peter Bondanella.
legacy thumb|right|alt=mural of a little nemo in slumberland comic in downtown cincinnati ohio|mural of a little nemo in slumberland comic in downtown cincinnati ohio comics historian r c harvey has called mccay "the first original genius of the comic strip medium" harvey claims that mccay's contemporaries lacked the skill to continue with his innovations so that they were left for future generations to rediscover and build upon cartoonist robert crumb called mccay a "genius" and one of his favorite cartoonists art spiegelman's in the shadow of no towers (2004) appropriated some of mccay's imagery and included a page of little nemo in its appendix federico fellini read little nemo in the children's magazine il corriere dei piccoli and the strip was a "powerful influence" on the filmmaker according to fellini biographer peter bondanella