Memphis Comics and Fantasy Convention 2012 Photos

You can click the image below to see more images from the convention.



Tom Kenny (Spongebob), SuperMule and Kevin.

 

Memphis Comics & Fantasy Convention - Nov. 2012

 

Guess who's flying in to the Memphis Comics and Fantasy Convention to save us all? 

Yep, we're in trouble...

Click here to see the full schedule of events.

It's crunch time, folks!  You don't want to miss this great event!  Entry is extremely reasonable.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Pre-sales are barely extended, but get your tickets now!

Saturday evening at 6pm, catch Muley the Mule and Friends as they reprise their roles in "SuperMule and the Cookie Caper" at this year's Memphis Comics and Fantasy Convention which is fast approaching on November 9 - 11, 2012, at the Memphis Hilton hotel.  See all the guests by clicking here.

Also in attendance will be Martheus and Janet Wade of MAW Productions' "Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa" graphic novel series, also helping-hands in the "SuperMule" show, along with fine artist and fashion designer DaMarco Randle.

Martheus Wade will also be participating with the 'Geek 101' classes teaching a great cartooning class.  What will it be?  Get involved to find out!  (Don't forget the MAW Productions' course "The Comic Studio" coming soon!)  Wish you could go to Geek 101 and learn about creating from Martheus Wade?  Well, he's making the information avaialble at the MAW Productions' booth!  Come by and visit, learn, and see the new great swag.  Here's what he said:
November 9 - 11, MAW Productions will attending the Memphis Comics and Fantasy Convention at the Hilton! Stop by our both in artist alley and see me explain my process for creation. The same process that I will be sharing with the students of the Comic Studio! We will also have TONS of new art for sale as well as our first print promoting our new web series Kunoichi Hime!!

As an added bonus, I will be taking place in the GEEK 101 classes! Teachers, don't miss your opportunity to sign your class up for the coolest field trip in the Mid South. "GEEK 101"! I will be holding special courses on Friday showing you how to create your very own comic book character while demonstrating the collaborative effort needed for the comic book industry!

Hope to see you guys there!!

Don't forget to arrive early for a Friday night, 8pm, viewing of "The Red Mullet" documentary, produced by Andrew Chandler, chronicling the life of an unsung superhero.  After the viewing you can meet The Red Mullet at a panel discussion featuring SuperMule (who has a cameo in the movie), and maybe a few other surprises!

You can also meet our friends in the Artists' Alley, find great pickings in the Dealer Room, and meet one of our favorite voice actors: Tom Kenny! That's right, the voice behind Spongebob Squarepants will be in attendance!

This is the third year for the convention, and each year it only gets better and better, so this promises to be a great weekend of fun and hilarity.

Haven't made your reservations yet?  Well, now you can!  Click here.
Get your tickets by clicking here.

Other Muley news that's kicking up:
Muley and Kevin attended the Southeastern Chapter of the National Cartoonists' Society's fall meeting.  It was a TON of fun!  You can see photos of the event by clicking here.

Muley's NEXT kids' message at First Congo will be November 25th!  Come out and see what all the hooplah is about. 

10 21 2012 - Muley's Kids Message at Church

As you know, Muley gets to address the kids (as well as the whole congregation) once in a while at church and share his thoughts on things.  Biblical things, of course.  It's usually pretty fun, and funny, while getting a point across.

The most recent newsletter shows last Sunday's sermon being taught by the Mule, so check out the newsletter here for more information, but certainly here to see the photo.

Keep your eye on the site here and at Muley's Facebook page for upcoming appearances at church:
www.firstcongo.com

Hmm...now that the thought comes up:  Did you know that the first appearance of SuperMule was at this church before we ever attended it?  Let us know if we should share that story.  Comment below or visit facebook.

###  Transcript of the Kids' Message ###

(First, a reading from the bible that leads to the kids' message)

Matthew 10.7 – 14

(Jesus said), “As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 

Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food.  Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.  As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.”

(Then, Muley says...)

So, ever hear that old saying that nothing is free?  I have. You know who says it all the time?  Old folks.  But, it’s true!  I mean, when you’re our age grown-ups take good care of us and give us food, shelter, clothes…but, they have to pay for it!  When you’re our age, you get stuff free, but they don’t.  That’s why they always say ‘nothing is free.’

But, there are SOME things that ARE free, and that’s what the reading was today.  Yeah, it was Jesus talking to his disciples early on in their career as…disciples.  But, Jesus gave them his blessings and his power… for FREE! …  It SORT of came with a price, though.

Let’s think about this a second.  Okay, let’s say your mom and dad put you in clothes and give you a book of knowledge.  They send you out into the world and tell you, “You can only ever have these clothes and this book of knowledge and you can share the information in this book, but you can never accept money or clothes for the knowledge you share.  All you may have are these clothes and this knowledge. You will share it for free because I give you these things now for free.”

Well, I don’t know that I’d much like hearing that. I like my toys and my clothes … when I wear them… and other stuff I have; but, I do like sharing and always share with my friends.  Jesus told his disciples you can only wear the stuff you have and share the blessings I give you to share for free, and take no money because you got it for free. 

You know what? Have you ever stopped to think?  Let’s do this now, stop and think for a second.  Okay, that’s enough.  This little mule has to stop and think about things once in a while, and I just thunk a thought.  Did you guys realize that we DO get something for free?  Every DAY we get something for free, yeah!  What do you think it is?  Anybody in the peanut gallery want to make a guess?

Every day, we receive blessings in what food we have or what clothes we have or what shelter we have, and in the way of beautiful weather, sunshine, trees and grass, friends and family!  Also, every day, we get an even greater freebie in the love that Jesus has for us.  That’s something we can count on, and something we can share with others…for free!

So, when you are out in the world at school or play, remember to share Jesus’ love.  Oh, and remember, Muley loves ya!  See you real soon!  Bye now.

Thumbs Up for Lane - A Legacy Continues...

You may remember our story a few weeks about about "Thumbs Up fo Lane" Goodwin who was suffering from cancer, but a neat bandwagon started with everyone posting 'thumbs up' images to honor his own thumbs up.  After all, you have to love a kid whose quoted as saying, "NO low does chemo, I'm not going down without a fight!  Tell them to bring out the Big Guns because we are not going to shoot it, we are gonna NUKE it!" 

Sadly, news broke recently of his passing.  It's been a long fight for him since 2010, which doesn't seem that long a time but can be forever when you're dealing with cancer.  However, he faced it like a trooper and, along the way, inspired us all.

But, his story isn't ending as a foundation has recently begun being set up by his family to continue the fight against childhood cancer.  Click below to read more (on facebook).  The page shows how you can begin donating to the Lane Goodwin Foundation.

And, of course, this lends us to our own pet charity with The Ronald McDonald House of Memphis where 51 kids and their families stay (for free, I might add) while being treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Those Cold Days...

You'll recall that we like doing the quick "Muley-Mini" strips, just a fast doodle of the day in the life of Muley and pals.  Today, we consider the weather and how to make it wonderful...

 

2012 Leland, MS, Frog Fest was a SUCCESS!!

There is one undeniable fact:  We all love the Frog.  Kermit the Frog that is.  We made the trek down the Blues Highway to Leland, MS, and enjoyed our time on Deer Creek celebrating Jim Henson and his famous frog on the banks of where he once played as a boy has been just fantastic fun.  Yessir, it was the Leland Frog Festival!

We performed "SuperMule and the Cookie Caper" and helped draw names for the door prizes in the art show and the Jim Henson Delta Boyhood Museum.

Here are a few images, but you can find more on the Muley the Mule Facebook page.

 

Here, we pose in front of the historical marker on The Rainbow Connection Bridge.

 

Here, we are with DaMarco Randle, Kevin L. Williams, Martheus Wade and Janet Wade.

 

Again on the bridge.

 

Entrance to the indoor activities including story tellers and our puppet performances.

 

That part of Deer Creek where Jim Henson actually played as a boy.

 

On the banks of the Rainbow Connection Bridge.

On the way home, we stopped off for dinner at a great Italian restaurant called Vince's.  The service (thanks Debra) was great, and the food incomparable!  Thanks for a great dinner.  Want to know where to go?  207 N Main Street, Leland, MS  662-686-2112.  Thursday - Sunday 5:30 - 10 pm.

Thanks to Ashley Zepponi and all our Leland friends for letting us come down and visit and play.

Muley at 2012 Leland, MS, Frog Festival!

So, what are you doing the last weekend in September? 

YOU'RE MISSING OUT if you don't attend the Leland, MS, Frog Fest celebrating the boyhood home of Muppets creator Jim Henson, and the Birthplace of the Frog!

At the helm of the event is the Jim Henson Delta Boyhood Museum. 

This event will take place all day on September 29, 2012, at the Rainbow Connection Bridge (the dedication of said bridge which we visited last year).  Also in attendance last year was Sesame Street's own Muppeteer, Fran Brill.

Photo by Lin Workman

You can stay tuned here for more information as we get closer, or just follow the Frog Fest on Facebook!

Muley and hsi pals will be performing TWO shows at the event this year (you can see them below).  The supporting members of the show will be Martheus Wade and Janet Wade of MAW Productions and artist DaMarco Randle.

The events list, so far, is here:

Special performances by Muley the Mule and Friends

MULEY'S TALENT(LESS) REVUE
Muley the Mule and his pals have found some of the most odd ball acts from around the world and
collected them for one talent show; but, when Missy Muley challenges Muley and his friends to a
girls vs. boys showdown WHO WILL WIN??

 

SUPERMULE AND THE COOKIE CAPER
When the city's cookie supply comes up missing, there's only one mule who can save the day...or, can he?

-Mississippi Professional storyteller, Doris Jones will be spinning Frog Tales at the Methodist CDC building

· Hands on Arts activities for all ages at the Big Tent

· Festival food and fun music at The Rainbow Connection Bridge

· Arts vendors on Deer Creek

· Shuttle rides to the museums and downtown stores

· Inflatables for the children

· Highway 61 Blues Festival beginning at 11 am – Buster Morlino Community Center

· Store sales and really great restaurant fare

Kermit the Frog - (c) Muppets Studio 2012 - All rights reserved

 

Thumbs Up for our buddy LANE!!

We're helping honor a cool kid, Lane Goodwin!  We're posting this to urge other artists, puppeteers, actors and actresses on small screens, big screens, theater, and anybody else out there to post your image with two thumbs up!

Lane has Rhabdomyosarcoma. Last Week, Lane just got out of the hospital from his scans. So, they took Lane to eat crab legs and in the middle of Dinner he had a seizure! He was rushed back to the ER, still seizing and unresponsive! Later, he was put on a Vent to help him breathe, in which he was not breathing on his own. The seizures didn't stop, so they were going to put him in a medical coma. When, the meds arrived he stopped seizing. So, he was on 5 seizure meds at once, they took Lane for a MRI! The scan came back and the reason for the seizures was the Rhabdomyosarcoma has invaded his brain. Please pray for his comfort and peace, he doesn't have long left! So, as you may have seen most of his photos in which he is always smiling and has a thumb up. So in honor of Lane, this event is to get everyone on Facebook to take a photo of yourselves holding a thumbs up for Lane. For cancer families, I want to see your warriors with their thumbs up! Please attend, share and pray for awesome Lane! Forever Team Lane ♥

Lane Goodwin's story can be found on Facebook by clicking here.

 

 

We Remember, Do You?

I was driving in to work that September morning and tuned the radio in to Rock 103's Wake-Up Crew.  Usually, there was a lot of hilarity and hijinks ensuing as you listened to those three zany people, but this morning was somber as I listened to Tim Spencer's first words from my radio that morning:

"...and apparently a passenger plane has flown off course and crashed into one of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York..."

And, there was a feeling of unease coursing through my system.  I felt nervous and scared and no knowledge of why I felt that way; but, I knew something was wrong.  I listened intently as the conversation continued and my fears were realized.  "It wasn't a passenger plane, but a passenger jet!"

I was flying in to work by that time, whipped in my parking space, and ran inside to the TV in the break room where I found my co-worker already watching television wide-eyed and open-mouthed.  "Have you heard..?"   Yes, I confirmed.  The radio show already was filling me in.

The last time I felt so horrible watching something unfold on television was back when our class got together in the library to watch the first woman into outer space and the shuttle exploded.  Similarly, but more deadly, these horribly violent and heartless terrorists were taking thousands of lives as they crashed into these towers.  I can't remember now from the shock of it all, but I saw the tower fall on TV, and saw the second plane crash.

Horror.  Sickness.  Fear.  Anger.

All those emotions that those terrorists wanted us to feel, and I succumed to it.  I gave in to every emotion I had.

Sadness struck and tears flowed from this grown man's eyes.

You know, those terrorists are heartless scum.  They destroy lives and don't even think about what they're doing because, really, if you serve a god whose lesson is destruction and murder then you're an idiot for doing it.  I wish those who've died in the course of carrying out their schemes would be able to speak back from the fiery pits of hell where they are and could inform the others that doing what they do is bad--it's arrogant, ignorant, and isn't helping any cause.  It is evil.  Pure bred evil bent on the destruction of innocents who could be there to help others through sickness, financial distress, a cure for cancer could have died that day.  Whatever curse there could possibly be for those involved couldn't be bad enough, but whatever it is I wish it on them.  I wish it on them and their families.

And what good does that do?  Nothing.  It doesn't even make me feel better to say it.  But, I wish it and I won't take it back even though it makes me a hypocrite of my own religion.

And to contradict myself and those bad wishes against bad people:
My intentions in my life is to do what I can to make life better--not just for me, but for those around me.  To bring happiness, joy, influence through positive measures.  I do this because my belief is in a God who loves and cares, who wants there to be peace and happiness, acceptance, cooperation, love, and appreciation in the world. 

Imagine this: what if all the money, effort, and planning that those idiot terrorists put forth was used in greater ways?  Suppose they used that money to fund cancer research and could help find a cure?  Suppose they used all that man-power to help raise homes for the homeless, food for the hungry, and what possibilities for humanity could be effected IF ONLY they weren't so bent on evil?

It's a shame in the course of humanity that such evil exists; but, could we appreciate the good in humanity otherwise?  Could we appreciate our own lives without the many whose lives are lost (not just from that horrible day, but in battle since)?  Could we appreciate what we have in life without days like that happening? 

I wish we could, but we don't.  I've been working with headstone design for a good while now, and in discussions about the designs I have heard regrets, sadness, resentment, and more from folks who've lost loved ones to murder, disease, accidents--the reality of the simple, very thin thread by which all our lives hang in the balance has slapped me in the face more times than I care to count but it reminds me daily to appreciate my friends who I love dearly, my family who has my heart, people I haven't even met yet.  It reminds me to appreciate things like watching the grass wiggle around in the breeze, the warmth of the sun on my skin, the beautiful stars at night; to appreciate the lightning and thunder and rain, the green of the trees, the scent of a flower, the chirping of birds, the feel of a hug or handshake, and the fuzziness of a smile, the sound of laughter...

So many things to get us down, but so many more things to bring us cheer!!

I have a hope for humanity.  I hope that the good that I expect every person to have in them will shine in big ways, happy ways, positive ways...in ways that will inspire other people to behave and continue that influence, bringing everyone closer together, just as everyone was on 9/12 of that year. 

We worked together that day in honoring those who had fallen and those who were alive and working, we donated to charities, we as a country stood together and said, "You will not do this to us, we will not be held asunder!"  And we didn't.

In honor of that day after, when we all were one people and came together, let's try harder for that.  Let's try to stand proud of our country, make a new friend, be inspirational and pass along a positive influence to others.  I think maybe if we do that then the lives lost will not have been in vain, and neither will what this great country stands for.

Your challenge?  Make this world a better place.  Be the positive influence you are meant to be, and make others happy, inspire them to be better for themselves and the world.  Love your fellow human, love the planet, love the animals--we all need each other.  Be the best YOU that you can be, and always keep your head high, smile in the face of trouble, and know that you are loved.
 

It's Them Sharks (that scare me out of the water)

In light of recent news of Great White Sharks closing beaches in Cape Cod, we decided to share this oldie but goodie...