Early Morning Seminary

Here's a comic that appeared in this month's New Era. Prior to submitting it, I did a YouTube search for "early morning seminary", I wanted to make sure that the gag was at least truthful. Especially, after I submitted another gag earlier only to find out that that what I thought was an exaggeration was, in fact, exactly what was happening.

More Sci Fi Geekiness

Last week's strip touched on Star Wars, this week's covers both Star Wars and Star Trek. When I created my alter-ego Elder Van Dyke, I removed from him any of my embarrassing geekiness. He doesn't collect comic books, he doesn't know a Klingon from a Cardassian, he doesn't even follow Star Wars. Still, my geeky side can't help but sneak into some of my work from time to time.

Boy Scout Colors

Yep, it's another Boy Scout joke.

The Gospel According to Lucas

When I was in the MTC, about the only piece of instruction I remember from my Branch Presidency was that they would not tolerate any Sacrament Meeting talks referring to Star Wars.

Of course, this was before the prequels or even the special editions of the original trilogy; so no one at the time had heard about Jar Jar Binks, Han Solo still shot first, and constructing a lesson centered around the teachings of Yoda was a lot more appealing.

A Swing and a Miss

I realized after reading some of the comments from last week's post that I might have come off a little cocky comparing myself to Sting. That wasn't my intent (I'd also remind everyone that Sting hasn't always been as good as he was with "Every Breath You Take"--anyone remember that song he did for the utterly forgettable Three Musketeers movie?).

Rather I wanted to point out that sometimes whether your writing songs for the masses or a gag for a handful of editors in the Church Office Building, sometimes you just know you've done your job.

And sometimes you're wrong. Sometimes you write "All for Love" and sometimes you submit the following gag:
I still like it, though.

Missionary Photos and Some Housekeeping

Here's another strip that probably doesn't accurately capture the experience of missionaries today. I mean, now days missionaries probably just email any pictures they take to their family. Boy, I'm so old. Now onto a hale of bullets that have nothing to do with today's strip.

• Now That I Am Baptized is now available to purchase online or in LDS bookstores. So now you don't have any excuse to delay your children's baptisms.
• We were on the Friend's website yesterday where we go to give our kids Sunday appropriate computer activities and stumbled upon a missionary game based on a piece I drew for that publications several years ago. Now you can see what my stuff would look like animated, check it out here.
• And finally, the folks at Sugar Doodle have put together an awesome General Conference packet for primary children with some of my art. It is probably the best General Conference packet I've ever seen (and that has very little to do with my contribution), you'll want to print it out for any children (and easily distracted adults) in your home for April's upcoming General Conference.
  

The Quintessential New Era Gag

I remember reading an interview with the musician Sting years ago where he talked about his craft. In the article he observed that at around the time The Police released Synchronicity and he was at the pinnacle of his song writing powers, he knew that "Every Breath You Take" was going to be the biggest song in the world.

Today's gag is my "Every Breath You Take" in that when I drew it, I knew as much as I've known anything that The New Era was going to buy it and publish it. I don't think I've ever done anything that better captures the feel of the Extra Smile page in that magazine.