Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL! PLUS: Your chance to win a PS3!

I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I adore those lists they hand out to college professors telling them things they should know about the matriculating freshman class.

You know, the ones with bullet points like: They have never lived in a world where Madonna is not famous.

When I think about The Cartoon Network, it amazes me to think that it’s only been around since 1992 – but there are people in college who don’t know a world without a 24 hour cartoon channel. Hey kids, we used to have to walk to school, uphill, both ways, and wait for SATURDAY mornings to watch back to back cartoons! As far as I’m concerned, the show that put them on the map for cutting edge stuff was Space Ghost Coast to Coast. It’s been years, but I still think about that show. Sometimes I hear the voice of Zorak in my head saying “The life of a rodeo clown is a sad and lonely life. I know. For I am a rodeo clown.” (I’m not at liberty to say WHY that goes through my head, or what triggers it, so just leave it be.) And I don’t want to brag, but I have an autographed headshot of Brak. Okay, I totally couldn’t WAIT to tell you that.

And then in 1998, along came The Powerpuff Girls. Buttercup, Blossom and Bubbles. I loved them so hard. And apparently I wasn’t the only one. Creator Craig McCracken said, “I thought it would get on Cartoon Network and college kids would watch it and there would be a few random T-shirts out there in the rave scene or in record shops. But I had no idea that it would take off to this extent.”

Buttercup, Blossom & Bubbles are getting ready to celebrate their 10 year anniversary. (Good grief! I think I still have things on my to-do list from 10 years ago that I haven’t ticked off yet! Where does the time go?) and I recently found out that they’re featured in the new game Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL along with characters from other iconic series such as Samurai Jack, Dexter’s Laboratory, and Johnny Bravo. I even saw some artwork from Foster’s Home for Imaginary Children in the promotional video.

You’ll be able to play it on X-Box, PS3 and the Wii. I haven’t had a chance to get my hands on this game, but I love fighters – so when I do, I can guarantee you the following things:

1) If I can choose a Powerpuff girl, I am going to be Bubbles.

2) I will be REALLY GOOD at this game. I’ve always been really good at brawlers like this. My husband says it’s because I’ve got smaller fingers and can mash the buttons faster, but I’m going to go with it’s my mad skillz. I think someone is just a little tired of getting their ass handed to them in the Dead or Alive franchise.

While I wait for my review copy, I’ve been given the go-ahead by the PR agency to do an AMAZING giveaway here on GeekMom! All you have to do to qualify is leave a comment and tell us which cartoon characters you miss the most and would like to see back in action. We’ll do a drawing and the winner will receive:

• A Lithograph of the Powerpuff Girls
• A PS3 console
• A copy of Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL for the PS3

IMPORTANT: Make sure to put the email address you check the most often in the “mail” section of the comment form (it won’t be displayed publicly) so we can contact you, and you can tell us where to send your booty!

Um, can you say AMAZEBALLS? So get to it!