Elder Loki

Yesterday I argued that the superhero genre is in danger of losing its spot as the biggest moneymaker in Hollywood. Want proof? Consider the timing of these posts. Usually, I'll post my summer movie preview* the first weekend of May to correspond to Star Wars day (May the Fourth) and Free Comic Book Day. That's a good week to post the summer preview because there is always some big geeky movie coming out that weekend to kick of the summer movie schedule. This year that weekend was dominated by The Devil Wears Prada 2. 

So superhero movies are in trouble. What's next, you might ask? My guess, video game movies. Super Mario is doing gangbusters. Minecraft was a huge hit. This despite the fact that none of those movies were particularly good (although it was fun to watch Minecraft in a theater with a bunch of prepubescents losing their minds).

Yep, I'm calling it now. Video game movies are going to dominate Hollywood for the next decade...either that or fashion magazine movies.

(Today's gag comes from faithful reader Abby V. who probably wants to remind you that one of Loki's powers is the ability to create the illusion of duplicates of himself.)

*Where I guarantee not to actually preview any summer movies.

Wakanda Golden City Mission

This is a critical year for superhero movies. Last summer, Marvel premiered two quality shows that didn't connect with the general public: Thunderbolts* and Fantastic Four. This year the company is releasing the latest entries in their two biggest franchises. First another Spider-man comes out later this summer, then the latest Avengers comes out at the end of the year. If either of these movies or (heaven forbid) both of them fail to perform, it could spell the beginning of the end for superhero movies as the center of Hollywood blockbusters.

Tomorrow, we'll consider what type of movie might replace superhero movies as the next big Hollywood genre.

*Not a footnote, but part of the movie's title. Still if this were a footnote, this would be the place where I'd tell you that today's gag comes from faithful reader Spencer V.

Downside of Deseret

Bees in barges, what could go wrong?

Today's clever gag comes from faithful reader Elder V. (Although, technically, he's not reading the blog for the next 16 months--how does one get his website approved for missionaries anyway?)

Gingerbread Baptism

Snacks would be provided at this baptism.

Today's gag is from the fruitful mind of faithful reader Spencer V.

Eternal Meetings

I've been there.

So has faithful reader Spencer V. (who lived to tell the tale after one of those meetings and submitted this gag).

Hansel's Sacrament Bread

Poor Hansel and Gretel. Surviving their stepmother, the woods, and the wicked witch would be the first of their troubles. There is a lifetime of therapy ahead of those two.

Today's very funny gag comes from faithful reader Spencer V.

Prayer Practice

Today's gag comes from faithful readers Spencer V. and Joe B. 

Captain Moroni's Coat

Today's very funny gag comes from faithful reader Spencer V.

Surf's Up

Mountain waves--the phrase used in the Book of Ether to describe the means of propelling the Jaredites to the promised lands--almost sounds like a surfing term, doesn't it? At least that's what faithful reader Karlo Z. must have thought when he came up with today's gag.

Full of Light

Today's Valentine's-themed gag is from faithful reader Sister V. (Lucky for her, she doesn't have to worry about any of these type of things while serving a mission.)

Pioneer Uber

The timing works, I did the math.

Today's gag is the brainchild of faithful reader Robyn L.

Captain Moroni's Sandcastle

That Captain Moroni was always building fortresses, wasn't he? Given the fact that he was entrusted over the whole of the Nephite armies at 25, he was probably always an overachiever.

Today's gag comes from faithful reader Spencer V.

Buddy the Elf!

Sure, Buddy the Elf went to New York to find out about his father, but if he wanted to learn about his mother, he could have simply visited FamilySearch.org.

Today's gag comes courtesy of an idea from Sister V.

Helaman's Deacons

Just how old were the Book of Mormon stripling warriors? Fifteen years before they volunteered to fight, their parents entered into a covenant never to take up weapons again. That covenant likely included their children deemed old enough to covenant for themselves. Was it possible the covenant included all their children? So the oldest of the stripling warriors would have been anywhere between the ages of 23 and 15.

The youngest of the stripling warriors was probably quite a bit younger than that. Keep in mind, the Nephites later had no problem appointing a 15-year-old Mormon chief captain over their armies. With that fact in mind, I doubt Helaman would have made as much a big deal of the age of his troops if they were all a bunch of 15-year-olds.

Consider this definition from the 1828 edition of Webster's dictionary: "STRIPLING, noun [from strip, stripe; primarily a tall slender youth, one that shoots up suddenly.] A youth in the state of adolescence, or passing from boyhood to manhood; a lad."

Given that definition, I doubt very much there were any 23-year-olds following Helaman. Given that definition, I suspect Helaman led hundreds of deacon-aged youth. So the deacons advisor in today's gag should suck it up--Helaman had it worse.

Today's clever gag came from faithful reader Spencer V.

Law of Consecration

The idea of the united order actually came during Brigham Young's time, making this particular gag an anachronism. If you've got a problem with that, take it up with Eric V., Ava V., and Jena L. (they're the faithful readers that came up with this particular gag). Personally, I thought it was funny enough that I let it slide.

Eternal Punishment

Today's gag comes from Connor and Parker V. who in their duties as Aaronic Priesthood holders have already done plenty of setting up and taking down folding chairs.

For Those About to Worship, We Salute You!

With this guy leading the music, participation with singing the hymns is bound to go up! Today's gag comes from the fruitful mind of Parker V.

Decrepit Women

Today's gag comes from recent graduate of Young Women's to Relief Society Abby V. (She's handling the transition much better than the girl in the comic.)

The Oldest Joke in the Area Book

I could see how this could get extremely old extremely fast.

Today's gag comes from the fertile mind of faithful reader Parker V.

Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables

See, kids, this is why you eat your fruits and vegetables! It's a good thing the tree of life wasn't the broccoli plant of life--I doubt Lehi could have convinced even Nephi to take a bite.

Today's clever gag comes from E. Hawkins.