This wasn't your typical comic book run. You see, the collection pictured above was actually a christmas present from my Dad and Stepmom. While I hadn't planned on getting my monthly stash until the new year, they got about three weeks worth, plus a $50 gift certificate for my store in Lawrence. Sweet!

Nothing much stood out this week. Nothing exciting to read that is. Things are being messed around with in the DCU.

Aquaman was a nice read this month. Nice to see the writer actually touching on the rest of the DC Universe AND Aquaman's own history.

I like it when they put villians with actual powers in Batman, instead of just mob bosses and the like. This issue had both, fair enough.

Some of the normal "good" books were a bit of a let down. No matter. I can't expect them all to be gold, all of the time.

On Monday, my roommate's brother brought over a new gadget of his: Guitar Hero for the PS2.

I didn't know what to think of it at first, having played guitar and looking at this goofy plastic thing with multicolored buttons on it for chords. But after having played it, I loved it. It was fun.

I'm a big fan of Dance Dance Revolution, that's no secret, but other games of it's type, I've not really bought into (i.e. Frequency). I remember the site Penny-Arcade talking about playing Guitar Hero, and loving it, playing it for hours. This now I can believe.

The game itself has several songs. Good songs. New and old. I was impressed by the track selections, everything from Audioslave to Stevie Ray Vaughan and White Zombie to Boston.

Between taking turns with the brother, we played for hours till I forced myself from it.

Makes me want to pick up my guitar again. Hmm.....

Finally... a day to sleep in... till 10:00. Which is better than nothing. I was just about to watch some TV when my roommates brother had come over with one of his Christmas presents: Guitar Hero for the PS2. (See seperate post)

Goofed off for a while, then at 4:30 I went over to my Dad and Stepmom's house to celebrate Christmas with them. Got all sorts of goodies.

Overall, I would say that I had a good Christmas holiday break. Didn't have to work much, wasn't too obligated or bogged down with anything, and had fun to boot.

Bring on the new year!

Woke up around 7:40. The alarm was set for 8:15. I hate when that happens. I'm so used to waking up at a set time that it's hard to sleep in anymore.

Turned on the lights to the tree, set up a nice playlist of holiday songs on the computer, and proceeded to open gifts with the girlfriend. Got some nice swag. It's pretty easy to buy for a Superman fan I suppose.

My girlfriend's parents came over and we all exchanged gifts. After their visit we left for her extended family's Christmas gathering. I enjoy being around them, they've tried hard to make me feel welcome. I got a gift certificate and ate lots of food. They always cook a lot of good stuff.

Left after a few hours to make the trip into the country where we meet up with my Mom at my Grandparents house. All the family was out there, and repeated what I had done earlier: gifts and food. Spent a lot of time out there, but I don't remember some of it cause I crashed on the couch for a while. I was dead tired.

Came home, Christmas was over. Or was it? I was once again visited by (2 out of the 3) spirits from the night before, and once again had a fun time... playing Trivia Pursuit DVD Pop Culture 2 (one of my gifts to my girlfriend). Have you ever played with four people? Damn that game takes forever for someone to win... like Monopoly.

Good times.

Started off the day by going into work. It wasn't as bad as I originally thought it would have been. Fortunately there were enough employee's there per customer that we had no problems dealing with anybody. Even got to watch the Chiefs play here and there. Nice to see them win a game.

Towards the end of the night, way late, I was paid a visit by three spirits. They in-turn invited my girlfriend and myself to IHOP (the International House of Pancakes to you and me) to bring in Christmas. And so we did. Afterwards they all came over back to the house and watched the Legend of Bagger Vance of all movies? So I didn't get to bed until around 2:30 Christmas day.

I know things have been a tad slow here on my end, however I would like to wish my visitors a Merry Christmas and Happy (and safe) Holidays!

How much of your favorite caffeinated drink would it take to kill you? Take this quick test and find out:

http://www.energyfiend.com/death-by-caffeine

Title: Justice League of America
Starring: N/A (Animation)
Released: 21st March 2006
SRP: $44.98

Further Details:
Warner Home Video has announced the first season of Justice League of America which includes 26 adventures with favorite villains like Lex Luthor, Vandal Savage and sorceress Morgan Le Fey. The four-disc set will be available to own from the 21st March, and should set you back around $44.98. Extras will include commentaries on three episodes by the shows producers, an 'Inside Justice League' private panel discussion between Bruce Timm and his team of creators, a Look of The League featurette on character design, Bruce Timm explains character design of Justice League, another featurette on the storyboarding process, and a "Never Seen Before" promo which helped Justice League leap into action.

Title: Batman Beyond
Starring: N/A (Animation)
Released: 21st March 2006
SRP: $26.99

Further Details:
Warner Home Video has officially announced the first season of animated show Batman Beyond which will be arriving in shops from the 21st March. The two-disc set will include all thirteen episodes of the first season, and should retail at around $26.99. According to our friends at TVShowsOnDVD.com, the set will include commentary tracks on two episodes, a Music of the Knight featurette, an Inside Batman Beyond featurette, eastereggs and trailers. We've attached our first look at the official region one artwork below:

Merry Lexmas, tonights Smallville shows a different side of Lex in a "What if?" story.

From USA Today... read here.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2005-12-06-cinema-ads_x.htm

I'm acquiring a taste for that adhesive that's on the back of envelopes.

So, I just finished up with this years Christmas cards. That was fun.

Sometime after 7:00pm last night the new X-men movie trailer was posted on the official X-men site. I just couldn't seem to view it though. I was able to hear the narration by Patrick Stewart, but I wanted visuals. Thankfully there are stills over at joblo.com. Look forward to seeing it on the silver screen in front of King Kong.

Just a reminder, as posted on his blog, my friend Greg will be having another comic short in the Kansas City Star.

Here's a link to it: http://gregsmallwood.blogspot.com/2005/12/short-cuts-body-snatcher.html

Hey! Lotsa new stuff this week. DVD roll call:

Fantastic 4 comes out today, a fun movie little superhero movie. It wasn't the best, and it had it's flaws, but it was just so fun you can't help but to like it. I can't wait to watch it again actually.

Dukes of Hazzard comes out. It's one of those movies that makes you go "Yea-haw!". Ok, I lied. It's worth watching at least once. Hell, I'll probably watch it again now that it's on DVD. It's just not spectacular. It's a fluff piece, a filler flick during the summer blockbuster season. But hey, Jessica Simpson, it's got that too.

Cinderella Man. Haven't seen it. Do I want to... eh... not really. Someone once told me it was a good film. It could be. It just doesn't click with me, from what I've seen. Then again, I can't remember the last Russell Crowe movie I liked where he wasn't holding a sword.

A small film called Puddle Cruiser comes out today. Never heard of it? Well, neither did I. It's the first film done by those Broken Lizard guys, the ones responsible for Super Troopers. It's about some college kid who falls in love with a fellow student who defends him in university court. He proves his love to her by playing rugby with her ex-boyfriend. I don't know what that all means, but I'll give it a watch. Can't be as bad as Club Dread.

Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica the final season (ha... final season... they broke up) comes out. Full House season two, Roseanne season two, I enjoyed that show, um.. and Gargoyles season two volume one... wait a fucking minute... Gargoyles? Second season? How did I miss that? That cartoon was one of my favorites!

Oh, and speaking of cartoons... Star Wars: Clone Wars volume 2 from Cartoon Network came out. The first volume contained twenty chapters at minutes in length, this second volume has only five chapters at about twelve to fifteen minutes a pop. Good stuff, all leading into the beginning of Revenge of the Sith.

Music time. Korn time. Minus one of their original members this time, guitarist Monkey. I love their single "Twisted Transistor", but other than that, I'm skeptical of their new works. Time now to find out I guess.

Eminem takes time to release a "greatest hits" album. Complete with two new songs. Also, Ja Rule proves to the rap world that he's still around. Good luck Rule... what!?

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. -- A teenage driver faces charges in Colorado after allegedly hitting a cyclist while text messaging behind the wheel.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said the 17-year-old was charged with careless driving causing death. The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison.

The victim, Jim R. Price, 63, was riding his bicycle in a bicycle path Nov. 23 when he was hit by the teen's car. He died two days after the accident.

The accident investigation did not show excessive speed, alcohol or drugs as a factor in the accident, according to Lt. Stanton.

The teen has not been identified because he is a minor. Authorities said he lost control of the car because he was sending text messages on a cell phone.

I pulled this from Comics Continuum.

20th Century Fox is unwrapping its X3 trailer sooner than just about anybody expected.

The trailer will be unveiled on www.apple.com on Monday, more than a week before its theatrical debut before King Kong on Dec. 14, the studio revealed Thursday.

And on Thursday night, The Continuum, along with about a dozen other media members gathered for a set visit in Vancouver, were given a first look at the spot -- by Wolverine himself.

Hugh Jackman, fresh off a scene with Ian McKellen's Magneto on the massive Alcatraz set, asked a group of reporters if they had seen the trailer. When the reply was negative, Jackman, who hadn't seen the trailer yet either, got approval from Fox and he then led the group into a nearby screening room, where he watched the trailer with them.

"Don't tell anyone we're here," Jackman said, laughing.

The top-secret trailer, which had passwords which had to be entered before it could be seen, opens with the 20th Century Fox and Marvel logos. The usual white on red "MARVEL" type then turned silver in X-Men movie style.

Much more a trailer than a teaser, it includes many images that show off the film's many characters and a dramatic voiceover by Patrick Stewart.

Highlights include:

* The X-Men walking down the Cerebro hallway, including Wolverine, Colossus, Kitty Pryde and Storm.

* Several good looks at Kelsey Grammer as the Beast.

* The first look at Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut. His costume is very faithful to the comics, including the color scheme and helmet.

* The main hook of the film -- a cure for mutancy -- was revealed as Magneto rallied mutant troops to fight it, including Juggernaut, Pyro and what looked like -- although unconfirmed -- Madrox and Callisto.

* Ben Foster's Angel, in what appeared to be the Worthington laboratory, popping out his wings from his shirtless body.

* A funeral scene.

* Wolverine in Magneto's magnetic clutches.

* A quick action scene of Mystique.

* Magneto flipping an oncoming vehicle.

* Storm flying and spinning to create a tornado.

* Jean Grey, getting up from the infirmary, and blowing away the door.

* The Golden Gate Bridge being ripped apart.

* A student flying paper airplanes with his powers.

* Wolverine and Cyclops at Alkali Lake; Cyclops, looking skyward, screams "Nooooo!"

The trailer was shown a second time, and Jackman, who had left briefly, came back to watch it again as well.

Associate producer David Gorder said that Stewart's voiceover was recorded over the Thanksgiving weekend from London. Stewart had wrapped his work on the film quite some time ago.

New York Attorney General is making threatening noises over Sony's rootkit DRM. There are still CDs infected with the malicious software in his jurisdiction and a spokesperson for his office says that he is "looking into" a lawsuit against Sony. The Texas AG has already announced a lawsuit under his state's anti-spyware law, seeking $100K per CD.

Spitzer's office dispatched investigators who, disguised as customers, were able to purchase affected CDs in New York music retail outlets -- and to do so more than a week after Sony BMG recalled the disks. The investigators bought CDs at stores including Wal-Mart (WMT), BestBuy (BBY), Sam Goody, Circuit City (CC), FYE, and Virgin Megastore, according to a Nov. 23 statement from Spitzer's office...

"It is unacceptable that more than three weeks after this serious vulnerability was revealed, these same CDs are still on shelves, during the busiest shopping days of the year," Spitzer said in a written statement. "I strongly urge all retailers to heed the warnings issued about these products, pull them from distribution immediately, and ship them back to Sony."