You thought Peeps just sit around in Easter baskets, patiently waiting to be ingested. No, no, no, my friend. These little chicks are hatching all kinds of plots.

We learned a lot when the Peeps world was bitten wide open by the Great Peep-o-rama of 2008.

Turns out there's an entire Peeps-centric universe operating right under our noses. There are Peeps running for president; hanging out at the Peepza joint; reading "Harry Peeper and the Deathly Mallows"; and pirate Peeps fighting bloody battles, then getting away on Peepcific Ocean Cruiselines.

They know their dreams are "Somewhere Over the Peepbow" and they have high-minded goals such as "Let there be Peeps on Earth, and let it begin with Peep."

More than 40 Peeps creations hopped in through our doors, and we haven't stopped giggling yet. Our hearts melted like a Peep in a microwave as we looked out over the bounty of spongy goodness.

(For a slide show of entries from the Great Peep-o-rama of 2008, click here.)

But two miniature Peeps worlds stood above the rest: Madame Peepsaud's' Wax Museum of Music Legends" and "CSI: Peepville."

It was a titanic battle between crafty veteran Sharon "The Peep Lady" Austin (the winner of The Great Peep-o-rama of 2007[CQ]) and newcomers Ron and Jean Bruns.

The Peep Lady offered a giant diorama filled with the likes of the Village Peeple, The Peetles, Elvis Peepsley and Dolly Peepton, clothed in perfect handmade outfits and bathed in battery-powered spotlights.

The Peepville challengers offered a compelling story line, a clever sense of humor, and awesome details such as a (string) laser tracing a bullet's trajectory and accurate autopsy incisions on a deceased Peep.

We brought in a panel of five experts at The Gazette: three artists, the art critic and the photo editor. After much groaning and gnashing of teeth, they decided by a 3-2 vote that "Madame Peepsaud's" was the most Peepalicious. Both entries will receive prizes from Just Born, the maker of Peeps.

And after two wins in a row from The Peep Lady, the challenge is out to steal her crown when the Great Peep-o-rama of 2009 rolls around.

WINNERS AND JUDGES' COMMENTS

FIRST PRIZE: Madame Peepsaud's Wax Museum of Music Legends

"Others take Peeps and put them in a scene, while this one is taking Peeps and moving them beyond."

"Admittedly, it strays pretty far from the purity of Peeps, but the lavishness of the imagination . . . This is really someone with too much time on their hands."
"I can even tell which one is Ringo!"
"Nobody else had lighting."
"I like Dolly Peepton." "Woh, me too."
"Intricate beyond belief."
"The most extravagant by far! The Peetles' hair looks real - so do Dolly's . . . shoes."

SECOND PRIZE: CSI: Peepville

"It's clever, but it's also well done. There are a lot of intricate details."

"I like the theme and the background story, but most of all I like the tiny details such as the books ("Crime Solving for Dumb Bunnies"), the mini crime scene tape, laser, tiny bullets."
"This is obviously someone who excelled at staying inside the lines in kindergarten."
"Rather disturbing - Peeps killing Peeps - but I like it!"
"Love the ‘Y' incision on the autopsied Peep. And the tiny bullets and cigarette butts as evidence. Awesomely creepy."
"The bloodstain is a nice touch."

THIRD PRIZE: Young Peepenstein

"It made me laugh out loud."
"Nice chain action! The multi-colored FrankenPeep does look freaky."

BEST CHILD ENTRY: Peep Field

This re-creation of Coors Field during the World Series by Devyn Lynch, 8, and Nathan Lynch, 5, is massively delicious, with a polka-dotted Dinger-Peep, a Peepdog stand, and green and brown Peeps making up the field. (Although the field of Peeps did cause existential angst for one judge who screamed "it's a field of corpses!" until sedated.)

BEST PRODUCT PLACEMENT: Peeps in the Park on a Picnic

These lovable Peeps just happen to be reading a miniature Gazette. Way to butter up the judges.

BEST POLITICAL STATEMENT: Government by the Peeple

This diorama of the Colorado Legislature features the esteemed Douglas Bruce as an articulated Peep who can move forward to attack a helpless photographer Peep. And his desk is littered with bills with "No!" scrawled on them.

BEST PUNNING: Peep into Literature

Mary Peepins, Harry Peeper, Gone With the Peeps, Little Bo Peep . . . for word geeks this Peep into literature was very punny.

BEST POP CULTURE REFERENCES: Peepover

There's an iPep in their ears, TeenPeeple magazine, "Ordinary Peeple" on the TV, facepeep.com on the computer screen, and Hannah Peeptana and Johnny Peep posters on the wall. As one judge said, "Johnny Peep (aka Depp) looks hot in any universe."

BEST ACTION: The Great Peeprate Battle

This pirate battle has it all, with cocktail swords, bloody Peeps, and chocolate frosting for the ship mast that makes it good enough to eat. One judge was deeply inspired, vowing, "I would follow that red Peep with the swords into battle anywhere."

BEST HISTORY LESSON: Boston Peep Party

With revolutionary Peeps lowering tea bags into the Boston Harbor, this history goes down sweet.

BEST MOVING PARTS: Peeps Mall

The moving escalator totally rocks.