Swing and a miss.

 Although the new, neon orange prophylactics were a huge success with adolescent test groups, they are being met with staunch criticism from members of the public health community. "The new NERF condoms are a slap in the face to all of the hard work and strides that we have made in the prevention of STDs and teen pregnancy", explains bored community activist Rick Jackson. "First of all, after several rounds of clinical tests, the NERF condoms, or NERF-ees as they are calling them, have proven to be only about 9% effective in the prevention of pregnancy and STD transmission. "

"Secondly, their unabashed targeted marketing of the nation's youth is an abomination. We haven't seen this type of disregard since Joe Camel was featured in a varsity letterman's sweater puffing on a smoke in a mock-principal's office."

"The NERF-ees spokesman, Johnny Trueblood, is much worse. In the latest ad, he is depicted standing in front of a chalkboard writing "I shouldn't be allowed to be so sexy" several times as if he had been given detention for being so desirable, while the whole time, a NERF-ee is sticking out of his back pocket as an attractive female teacher looks on. Is this the message we want to be sending to our kids?"

Despite the criticisms and poor clinical test results, the new NERF-ees are becoming a breakaway hit with the many kids across the country, and Johnny Trueblood has already earned a spot in the pages of MAD Magazine, the definitive moment when a commercial character changes from spokesman to cultural icon.