FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
www.muleythemule.com
Contact:
Kevin L. Williams
POB 770397
Memphis, TN 38177-0397
Muleytmule@hotmail.com
MULEY THE MULE GOES PEA-NUTS AT THE SCHULZ MUSEUM
Memphis, TN: March 21, 2008 - In a new trip to California, Kevin L. Williams, creator of Muley’s Comix and Stories, will be appearing at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, CA, on Saturday, April 12, 2008, 1 pm - 3 pm. Muley the Mule was directly inspired by the work of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strips.
The visitation came about when Kevin met members of the CMS Museum at San Diego Comic Con in July 2007. After a discussion how Charles Schulz influenced him his whole life and that he planned to come out to Santa Rosa a few days in 2008 to visit the museum, Kevin was invited out to speak as Cartoonist in Residence.
“Muley’s Comix and Stories can be considered an amalgamation of Peanuts and The Muppets,” says Kevin. “The point of it all is that all these zany characters who are having a good time being mischievous or solemn, with something or nothing to say. It’s all about fun and being happy--that’s why I do it, and that’s what I want folks to feel when they read the comic strips or stories.”
Muley’s Comix have appeared in all forms of media, from newspapers to magazines to international journals, traveling internationally on the world wide web, along with videos of the characters brought to life.
“With the puppets you can see the Jim Henson influence,” Kevin said, “but there is always the underlying tone you get reading Peanuts that shines in the Muley puppet videos.”
Some comic stories are, like Schulz’s strips, biographical while others are inspired by other people’s stories. “The Schulz Museum’s website [www.charlesmschulzmuseum.org] has one of my favorite comic strips where Muley and Hector are looking at a fish in a bowl. Muley asks, ‘What kind of fish is this?’ Hector answers, ‘Beta.” After a pause, Muley asks, “Does it come in VHS?’ This was the exact dialogue I had in a conversation with a friend.” Kevin remembers another one that is directly influenced by Schulz, “Lucy is reading a book and puts it down saying, ‘Good story, but too many characters to follow.’ It was the dictionary! It inspired a book where Muley reads, and the text is over his head, ‘See Tom? See Tom run? Run, Tom, run!’ and Muley gets more and more concerned as the story develops and shouts, “Get outta there, Tom!”
This trip is indeed an honor for Kevin and a chance to carry the message of the Mid-South Cartoonists Association across the country. As President of the MSCA, Kevin says, “Our focus as a group is to reinforce that cartoon is art, and membership is open to professionals, amateurs, and folks who just like comics!” The MSCA is a group of the Southeastern Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society.
“I’m excited to be a part of a program at the Charles Schulz Museum,” stated Kevin. “I hope that whatever presentation I make leaves people feeling happy, energized, and inspired. I want people to go out into the world and do something positive to influence others to do good things and continue the inspiration Schulz gave me.”
Kevin L. Williams is founder of Kevin L. Williams Productions and creator of Muley the Mule and Friends (comics and puppets). He has served since 2000 as President of the Mid-South Cartoonists Association, a subchapter of the National Cartoonists’ Society’s Southeastern Chapter, co-chairing events and art shows on behalf of the MSCA as well as other groups and associations. He has had comics published in local and international publications, been seen in print and video around the world on the internet, appeared on radio and national television, and auditioned with the Jim Henson Company, Sesame Workshop and the Walt Disney Company. Since 1995, he has been editor of MAW Productions’ Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa, and has contributed to works and shows of other friends.
Muleton Mule, Jr. (Muley the Mule), has been published and viewed in nearly all forms of media: print, radio, television, stage, and radio. Muley has served as the Official SpokesMule of the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis since 2003 and co-hosted many of the events with radio stations and television stations. Most recently, he was seen nationwide on the TV Guide Channel, veoh.com, and in the first issue re-launch of Muley’s Comix and Stories, a book described as “When The Muppets meet Peanuts.”
Both have appeared at numerous conventions, on stage, and performed for many audiences as well as conducted workshops and puppetry classes.
More information can be found at www.muleythemule.com.
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But, first, here are some publicity photos:
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Back during San Diego Comic Con, I met with the nice folks (several times) at the Charles M. Schulz Museum booth (it's Schulz, I couldn't stay away).
I kept telling how much I love Peanuts and how Sparky inspired me, and that I planned to come visit Santa Rosa and the Museum and more. I was invited then to be a Cartoonist in Residence while there.
On Saturday, April 12, 2008, I will be attending the museum as Cartoonist in Residence and giving a 2-hour discussion of cartooning, most likely in the usual zaniness folks have come to expect when any of the Memphis Crew of the Mid-South Cartoonists Association appear at conventions or elsewhere.
And, of course, Muley will be in tow. Apologies in advance. :)
You can find more information about the Charles M. Schulz Complex at www.flyingace.net , and information will appear at www.charlesmschulzmuseum.org soon.
Below is information that I wrote answering a few questions they sent me for their website (I always say more than I should, so some of this will be edited out, I'm sure--if I was someone else, I would edit me down. I tend to ramble--like now).
I began drawing too early to remember. I can remember that I was already telling stories with my drawings as early as preschool. It has been a serious ambition my whole life to do cartooning full-time. Where I grew up in Holly Springs, MS, there was no formal art training at all, so I learned what I could about cartooning by studying Sparky’s work, and hanging on everything I could read that he said about cartooning because he was my hero and I love his art style.
As a kid, the Peanuts comic strip (obviously) was something I always kept my face attached to, along with Dennis the Menace. There were a few others I enjoyed regularly. It was in my adulthood that I stepped back from my drawing table a while and tried to find out what I liked or disliked about comic strips and did a self-analysis on my own work based on that new study. I think that I have been better at my own work having done that, and striving to do the very best I can. I wasn’t a huge comic book collector as a kid, but I read the Disney titles, Archie, and similar titles.
My influences today are my friends. Everyone has such a grand talent and different techniques that just hanging out with them is inspirational. Of course, I work on their titles as well, so that helps! We all teach each other constantly, and I think that friendship and working relationship with each of them keeps me on my toes. Sparky and Hank Ketcham still influence me, and my humor is also still influenced by Jim Henson’s Muppets.
My day job and art is easily balanced. I’m a designer for www.westmemorials.com so I get to do artwork there. It’s balancing my after-day-job life with the art that makes it hardest because there’s so much to do and I don’t want to ever look back and say I missed out on doing something, but at the same time I don’t want to look back and say I missed any chances—so, I’m working constantly on something.
Presently (November 2007) I’m just unpacking after moving into my first house! It’s taking up a LOT of time, but I’m still taking notes and doodling ideas for comic strips. I just finished the first issue of Muley’s Comix and Stories, a re-launch of my characters and am going to make it available through my website soon as part of a collector’s set. Usually, I try to work based on a schedule so I can balance the day job, life’s fun, responsibilities, art, and puppetry. Plus, I edit one of my friends’ book (Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa) and am currently writing a one-shot title for my friends (Territorial Rangers), and a Muley Comix story will appear in issue 3 of “Bushi Tales.” In the works besides all that, I’m gearing up to complete “Muley’s Comix and Stories: A Mule for All Seasons,” which includes holiday themed Muley strips, and MC&S Issue 2.
It’s a fun connection between cartooning and puppetry, and how each reflects exactly the same feeling as the other. Taking something out of nonexistence and making it a reality, whether in real-life or on paper, is both satisfying and fun, especially when the reaped results is seen in the smiles of a family!
