For the Strength of Youth Exercise Routine

I'm going to start referring to scripture study as reps to my teenagers.

Angels Round About You

As a missionary, I used this scripture* to justify all sorts of stupid activity (for example, this scripture and the daily multi-vitamins I took pretty much excused me for having a very unhealthy diet for 22 months (I kid about the food at the MTC, but at least I was exposed to all of the food groups)). I would imagine high school students armed with this scripture could get into a lot of trouble.

That's why it is problematic that this particular gag shows up in the inaugural issue of the For the Strength of Youth magazine. While I'm honored that I'm featured in the first issue of the Church's new youth magazine (the New Era was retired after 50 years!), I do feel a little guilty that I'm exposing the youth of the Church to such a dangerous idea.

*Doctrine and Covenants 84:88.

Non-masters of Modesty

I got to tell you, guys, today's gag was so much fun to draw! Although, if you had told 10-year-old me that I would draw a He Man comic for my blog before I'd get around to drawing a GI Joe comic, I never would have believed you.*

While we're one the subject of He Man, let me get some things off my chest since this will likely be the only chance I'll every get to talk about this small but important part of my childhood.

• While He Man was awesome, Prince Adam was the worst.
• Wait, I take it back. Orko was the worst.
• All three of the major 80s cartoons based on boy toys (GI Joe, He Man, and Transformers) misused their villains. Cobra Commander, Skeletor, and Megatron were whiny idiots in their respective shows--but of the three, Skeletor has the most to complain about. Dude had a skull for a head! He should have been the baddest baddie there ever was, instead he's defeated in the Christmas special when some orphan kid throws a snowball in his face.
• When it came to cartoons, the 80s were a barren wasteland until Duck Tales premiered late in the decade. After that, it was really hard to go back to the likes of Masters of the Universe.**
• The guy to the left of He Man is named Stratos. He can fly because he strapped wings to his arms. And as ridiculous as that sounds, he was one of the more normal He Man action figures. Plus, he rocked a pretty sweet Brigham Young beard.
• Seriously, there were Bee Man, Moss Man, and Skunk Man action figures--it was a messed up toyline.
• Despite the silliness of it all, I loved it so much! The Christmas I got He Man, Skeletor, and Castle Greyskull might have been the best Christmas ever.

*I also would have asked you just what on earth a blog was.

**It was pretty much impossible once Batman: The Animated Series premiered.

Kiss Me I'm Irish

I should point out that For the Strength of Youth does cover situations like this. It's under agency. If you don't want to kiss the guy, don't do it. If you do, eww!