...but I picked up a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #700. (And no, Jay, Im not happy.) Peter Parker isnt dead. 1) The body of Pete is still alive. 2) His memories (and something else...) is still in that brain. 3) Even if he is "dead", he could always come back. I can see someone like Captain America figuring out that Spidey isnt really Spidey, and someone else like Doctor Strange finding some way of bringing Peter back to life.

Whos up for Wally West coming back? He was the Flash I grew up on and grew to love. Bring back Wally!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to one and all this Christmas day! Everyone be safe this holiday!

I've been meaning to mention this for a while now. I was cavorting around my favorite used bookstore one day, raiding the clearance section like usual, and came across a novel. It's Superman! by Tom De Haven. The book describes a different way of how Clark Kent grows up in Smallville and becomes Superman living in Metropolis. Fans of really old school Superman might get a kick out of this book as it takes place in the 1930s. But what really brings the charm to this novel is the bloodiness confined in its pages. Killings are descripted like in a horror novel with blood, bones, and brains all over the place. But it really does bring forth a different canon for the superman mythology. I was a little let down by the ending, but all in all it worked for me. If you get the chance, check it out.

My birthday is on the 8th, but the missus gave me an early present last night. It was by much surprise that she handed over to me a copy of Justice League: The New Frontier. Awesome!

  I was thinking about this the other day. If Vader hadn't have done what he did at the end of Return of the Jedi by killing Emperor Palpatine, could Vader have gone on the be unstoppable? 
  Looking back through all six movies, Vader, or Anakin has lost only twice. Once to Obi-Wan when he was all but decapitated in Episode 3 and again to his own son Luke near the end of Episode 6. 
  But Vader could have easily slain Luke and returned to Palpatine's side to rule over the galaxy. With his killing spree of younglings and other Jedi, combined with his rage and mastery of his dark side powers, Vader could've gone on to be unstoppable. 
  Now this doesn't take into account of other media such as comics and novels, just the movies.  
  Jay says yes. Brad says no. But I want to know what everyone else thinks. Thoughts? Comments? Go!

Dear Jeff and Bil Keane,   
  Where do you get off?  I am seriously upset over the lack of humor in your comic strip Family Circus. A comic strip should be a distraction from the tedium of everyday life and give comedy to those who need it after reading about all the tragedies that occur in the world in any daily newspaper. Sadly, your comic strip provides neither. I will cite instances, if I may: 
      In one strip, P.J. comes into the house from the pouring rain carrying his boots in his hands and says to his mother "You told me not to get my boots wet...", while the carpet in front of the doorway becomes soaked with rainwater that falls off of P.J. 
      Now, Im sorry, but I fail to see the humor in this. Maybe its a gap in generations, but if I, personally, had done this to my mother, in my youth, at her house, she would've "boxed my ears" until I was unconscious, be grounded for a month, and have no dessert for a week. I also would've been the one to clean up such a mess as my mother stayed home all day cleaning the house and slaving over a hot stove. 
      Another example is this: 
      During the entire summer season, P.J. and Billy's only concern was with building sand castles. Exactly how many jokes can be made about sand castles? Not many, and believe me, I asked around. To see that this travesty lasted all the season of summer astonishes me. Does the family have beach-front property? Did they rent a time-share condo in Florida for a three-month vacation? Now I'm not quite sure what the parents do for a living; in fact if I'm right the mother figure stays at home and is unoccupied. How can they afford such a thing? 
      I also think that your comic strip lacks the realism that needs to be apparent if one is to appreciate any kind of comedic effort that you put forth. I, for one, am tire of trying to follow little P.J. and Billy's trails through a town, a forest, or even al front lawn just to see that they ended up back where they started. I know that today's generation simply is not like that and lacks the type of energy needed for a day-time fun romp. It also hurts my eyes to trace a broken line that circles a single tree three times in a row. I dont know of any child who cares enough about a tree to run around it once.  
  In conclusion, I am simply dissappointed in your comic strip. Point in fact is that someone pointed out to me that Family Cicus isn't even is strip form. You portray your characters and events in a circular setting. Are you trying to be different? Is this your way of setting yourself apart from more traditional and more humorous comic strips? In my humble opinion, your strategies do not work. 
  Effective immediately, I will cease perusing your comic strip and am calling for a boycott for the Family Circus. I feel you have not lived up to your jobs of entertaining others and demand that you cease any and all future plans and strips. 
  May whatever god it is that you pray to have mercy on your souls. 
  Have a nice day. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Sincerely, 
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Daniel Garland