books

By MARK BROWN
Scripps Howard News Service
Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Among Phil Spector's craziest actions, as told by Mick Brown in "Tearing Down the Wall of Sound: The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector":

1968: Spector and wife Ronnie adopt a child, but Spector insists on pretending it's a natural birth.

By KAREN MacPHERSON
Scripps Howard News Service
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

This Father's Day, give dad the perfect gift: a great picture book and some time to read it with his favorite child:

Author/artist Remy Charlip provides a lyrical, colorful template for day a fun between father and child in "The Perfect Day" (HarperCollins, $16.99).

By ANDREW A. SMITH
Scripps Howard News Service
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

One of the oldest, most famous and most-copied properties in comic books makes its return in June: Sheena, Queen of the Jungle!

Many are unaware that Sheena was originally a comic-book character -- she hasn't had a regular title since 1953, after all.

By KAREN MacPHERSON
Scripps Howard News Service
Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Just in time for summer reading, there's a great group of new mysteries for kids:

-- Her name is Enola Holmes and she is the much-younger sister of the celebrated fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and his brilliant older brother Mycroft.

By ANDREW A. SMITH
Scripps Howard News Service
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

"Hulk smash puny humans!"

That was the Gamma-Spawned Gargantuan's tag line for years, but currently Marvel Comics is taking it to a new level.

By BLAIR ANTHONY ROBERTSON
Sacramento Bee
Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Larry Berman, a political science professor at the University of California-Davis, is in the middle of a hectic publicity schedule for the launch of his new book, "Perfect Spy: The Incredible Double Life of Pham Xuan An."

An, who died in 2006, was a longtime spy for the Communist Party in Vietnam and is credited with playing a major role in Vietnam's victory over the United States. A gifted conversationalist, An worked for Time magazine in Vietnam, befriending many of the era's leading journalists. But before that, he went to college in California and had a brief internship at The Sacramento Bee where, among other stories, he wrote a first- person account of his purported crusade against Communist propaganda. The piece made him a local celebrity and solidified his cover for years to come.

Berman, 56, sat down recently to talk about the book.

Q: How did Pham Xuan An become so successful as a spy?

A: He spent a lot of time developing his cover. All the people I interviewed for the book said they liked him because he could fit in. He could joke with people. He spoke English. He liked to joke. He really went to school studying the Americans. He studied how the CIA interacted with people, how college coeds interacted in Orange County.

Q: He came to California to go to college in the late 1950s on assignment? He was developing as a spy?

A: He had no choice. He did not want to go, but his party ordered him to do it. This is what is the most interesting thing to me historically about his whole life, the foresight of the Communist Vietnamese. In 1955, to recognize that the United States was slowly but surely coming -- even thought the French had been defeated, even though the Japanese had been defeated -- the Vietnamese would not be allowed to determine their future. They didn't anticipate 550,000 American ground troops in their country, but they certainly anticipated having to fight the Americans. An's mission was to go to the United States. His occupation was chosen for him as journalism by the Communist Party. It would allow him access to explore and give him freedom to talk to as many people as he wanted to.

Q: What brought An to Sacramento and an internship at The Bee in 1959?

A: You couldn't even make up this story. An completed his studies at Orange Coast College, where he graduated with a degree in journalism. The school and the Asia Foundation secured an internship at The Sacramento Bee. He became very close friends with Eleanor McClatchy (the late president of McClatchy Newspapers). She just took a liking to him, like everybody did. She personally took him to the Sacramento Airport to greet the Soviet Friendship Delegation.

After his article came out, he became a local celebrity. Everybody wanted to meet this great anti-Communist journalist.

Q: It sounds like one his talents was making friends.

A: As he told me, he developed a conscious strategy to only make friends with people who did not have Communist sympathies. That's why he hung out with so many CIA people. He became friends with William Colby, who would become the CIA director. One of the things he found during his time with Americans was that Americans were great people. It was a new way of thinking. They were spontaneous. They were creative. They had a free press. He fell in love with that -- the idea of asking questions, having multiple sources. He thought this is what Vietnam should do.

Q: Were you captivated by him as well?

A: I liked him. I kept wondering if he was spinning me like he spun everyone else for 30 years.

Q: He had all this charm and likeability, but he also provided information that got Americans killed.

A: An was promoted to hero and to the rank of general for his contributions to the Vietnamese victory over the Americans.

Q: Over time, was he unable to distinguish who he really was vs. the person he was portraying as a spy?

A: I've thought about this one a lot. He told me that it took extraordinary self-discipline. He always knew what his mission was. He never forgot he was a spy and he never forgot his cover was journalism. He always said he tried to be the best journalist he could. He never tried to give misinformation to Time magazine, because he knew that if he got caught he could be killed.

Q: Where does An rank as a spy?

A: I consider him to be one of the great spies of the 20th century. He didn't spy for money or glory. He spied just for his country. Whether he was an enemy or not, I consider that a noble thing.

Blair Anthony Robertson can be reached at brobertson(at)sacbee.com. For more stories or to comment visit scrippsnews.com.

By ANDREW A. SMITH
Scripps Howard News Service
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Since "Spider-Man 3" topped $151 million in its first weekend and $223 million in 10 days ($622 million worldwide), I presume most of you reading this have seen it. So let's hit the highlights:

-- Sandman: This is reportedly the most expensive movie ever made, costing somewhere between a quarter-billion and $300 million to make, with marketing and other costs pushing the total to around $500 million. If that's what it took to get those dazzling special effects for Sandman, it was money well spent. I was riveted, and my wife and sidekick, the Video Vixen, talked about Sandman all the way home.

As to his characterization, director Sam Raimi had a lot of latitude, as the comics version of the character is all over the map. So the movie actually improved the character, by giving him motivation (his little girl's sick) and playing into the movie's theme of redemption.

On the other hand, some fans, myself included, are a little annoyed that the classic Spider-Man origin (the best in comics) was altered to include Flint Marko. I didn't much care for it when they included The Joker in the Dark Knight's origin in 1989's "Batman," and I don't much care for it here. It alters the dynamic of a character when his origin changes. What next -- Lex Luthor blows up Krypton?

On the other hand, I don't agree with fans who say this removes Peter Parker's need to put on the union suit. He'll still feel guilty enough to do his web-swinging thing, but whatever element of vengeance was in his motivation has been removed, which actually makes him more likeable. (Although I do think Sandman should have turned himself in.)

-- Venom: All image, no substance. Never liked him.

Interestingly, I find a generation gap with Venom -- under-30s tend to love him, over-30s tend to dislike him, and I'm finding that in movie audiences as well.

Raimi announced at the Comics-Con International in San Diego last year (and in many interviews since) that he included Venom at producer Avi Arad's insistence. He wanted to make a smaller movie, and I think his instincts were on the mark -- with the clumsy addition of Venom (black space goo, indeed!), "Spider-Man 3" invites one element that killed the first Batman franchise -- Too Many Villains Syndrome. Speaking of which:

-- Green Goblin II: I didn't mind Harry Osborn as an "extra" villain. Not only did he redeem himself in the end -- and gave us our first cinematic superhero team-up -- but his story was integral to the themes of both this movie and the series overall. His character arc needed closure.

-- The Lizard: For the third straight movie we've seen Dr. Curt Connors, the alter ego of the reptilian Lizard. But, once again, he didn't turn green and scaly. That's a gun on the mantelpiece that's eventually going to have to be fired.

-- Bruce Campbell: Vurrry French. Monty Python smiles.

-- Gwen Stacy: As all comics fans know, Gwen was Pete's first true romance, ending with her murder at the hands of the Green Goblin. But Gwen didn't have much to do here except look pretty, as originally she was going to be an anonymous classmate of Peter's. According to scifi.com, producer Laura Ziskin suggested naming this minor character Gwen as a nod to older fans. Despite the truncated screen time, though, Bryce Dallas Howard still managed to make her decent and likeable.

-- Mary Jane: Actress Kirsten Dunst has hinted this is her last Spider-movie, and she appeared to be phoning it in. I'll give her points, though, for being brave enough to sing badly as a plot element.

-- Peter Parker: It was uncomfortable to watch lovable Petey act "bad" under the influence of the space goo. It was also reassuring, though, because he was so terrible at it. Once a nerd, always a nerd.

So the Captain's official reaction: Three spiders out of four. Points off for the musical-comedy bits.

What's next? Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal promised more Spider-movies, telling Daily Variety, "As many stories as Peter Parker has to tell, we'll do sequels." Although the chances of principals like Raimi, Tobey Maguire and Dunst returning appear slim.

But with Spidey's rogues' gallery still largely untapped -- think Lizard, Mysterio, Kraven, Vulture, Kingpin -- there will be plenty of opportunity for Spidey to do whatever a spider can.

(Contact Andrew Smith of the Memphis Commercial Appeal at capncomics(at)aol.com or visit www.captaincomics.us)

By KAREN MACPHERSON
Scripps Howard News Service
Wednesday, May 09, 2007

This May marks the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown, the British colony in Virginia. Two new children's books offer fascinating insights into both the British colonists and the Indians on whose lands they settled:

-- Her real name was Matoaka, but she's known by her nickname -- Pocahontas. When the British arrived in Jamestown in 1607, she was approximately 11 years old, the lively, dancing daughter of the powerful Chief Powhatan who ruled 30 tribes in eastern Virginia. By the time she died in 1617, Pocahontas had won international fame as the person who acted as a peacemaker between the Indians and the British settlers.

In her intriguing picture-book biography, "Pocahontas: Princess of the New World" (Walker, $16.95), author Kathleen Krull combs the latest scholarship to show readers the true story of Pocahontas. It's quite different from the highly romanticized 1995 Disney movie, yet Pocahontas' life really was filled with adventure, tragedy and romance.

As Krull points out, however, there's one major problem in writing about Pocahontas: the only information about her comes from English sources, and there is nothing from Pocahontas' perspective. Despite this difficulty, Krull has managed to craft a biography that reads like a novel, bringing alive the story of Pocahontas for a new generation. While the outline of the story may be familiar to many, Krull imbues it with details that help readers identify with this girl who was brave enough to apparently stop her father from killing colonist John Smith.

From that moment on, Pocahontas' life was inextricably entwined with those of the British who were trying -- with great difficulty -- to create an English outpost in the New World. Krull notes that Smith praised Pocahontas' "wit and spirit," and that she saved his life a second time when she warned him that her father was planning to attack the Jamestown settlement.

But Smith, for reasons unknown, failed to say goodbye to Pocahontas when he left Jamestown; she was told he was dead. Her visits to the English settlers ceased, and the peace that had reigned when she and Smith were friends evaporated. A few years later, however, the British kidnapped Pocahontas, believing that her father would do anything to get her back. Instead, Chief Powhatan merely urged the British to treat her with respect.

Angry with her father, Pocahontas ended up marrying John Rolfe, whose abilities as a tobacco farmer helped save the Jamestown settlement. Their marriage sparked another "Pocahontas Peace" between the settlers and the Indians. Pocahontas became Anglicized, wearing British-style dresses, converting to Christianity and even sailing to England to meet the king and queen. But it all proved too much, and Pocahontas died in England in 1617.

Krull's riveting story is well-matched by the luminous art of Caldecott Medalist David Diaz. Using mixed media, Diaz has created illustrations that sparkle with color, evoking Pocahontas and her world for today's readers. Overall, "Pocahontas" is further proof that Diaz and Krull, who last collaborated on the wonderful "Wilma Unlimited," are a stellar picture-book-biography team. (Ages 5-8.)

-- Thirteen years ago, archaeologists made an astounding discovery: they uncovered the fort built in 1607 by the British who first settled in Jamestown. Experts thought the fort had disappeared into the James River in the 18th century.

Since then, more than 1 million artifacts have been excavated from the site, providing important evidence that has forced historians to rethink the story of Jamestown. In "1607: A New Look At Jamestown" (National Geographic, $17.95), author Karen Lange ably pulls together the newly unearthed information into a well-written narrative that easily moves back and forth between past and present.

As Lange shows, the recent discoveries at Jamestown have included the fact that the first settlers faced a severe, years-long drought. In addition, the new evidence indicates that the settlers had a flourishing copper trade with the Indians and that some Indian women married settlers and lived at the fort. Lange works these facts into her story of Jamestown's first years, spotlighting the arduous, often-deadly conditions faced by the settlers.

Lange also looks at how the Indians were living when the settlers first arrived, helping young readers to see what a disruption the British caused when they arrived in Jamestown. And Lange points out that the settlement of Jamestown marked the beginning of the end of the Indians' way of life, and that, for Virginia Indians, this year's 400th anniversary isn't a celebration.

Ira Block's crisp color photographs of men and women in period dress re-enacting the Jamestown story fill in further details and add extra interest for young readers. Lange also provides a helpful chronology, bibliography and index. (Ages 8-12.)

(Karen MacPherson, the children's/teen librarian at the Takoma Park, Md., Library, can be reached at Kam.macpherson(at)gmail.com.)

By ANDREW A. SMITH
Scripps Howard News Service
Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Happy 65th anniversary, Archie Andrews! Well, sort of.

Archie Comics is celebrating the longevity of America's oldest teenager this summer, but you have to squint just right for the math to work. Archie (and Betty and Jughead) actually debuted in "Pep Comics" No. 22, cover dated December 1941 _ which makes the ol' redhead 66 years old. He did get his own self-titled comic book in the winter of '42 _ but this is only May, so we ain't there yet. You can't even say Archie Comics Inc. is 65, because the company was founded (as MLJ Comics) in 1939.

But let's not spoil the party with a Miss Grundy math quiz. Especially with such interesting stuff coming out of Riverdale.

Kicking off the show are Archie's longtime gal pals, who enjoy a temporary "makeover" in "Betty & Veronica Double Digest" No. 151 (shipping May 9). The four-issue story "Bad Boy Trouble" features the girls drawn in a more realistic fashion, courtesy of superhero artist Steven Butler ("Sonic the Hedgehog," "The Badger," "Web of Spider-Man"). The story is a bit edgier than the usual Archie fare, too, with Veronica falling for the motorcycle-riding, leather-jacket-wearing, wrong-side-of-the-tracks Nick St. Clair, whom she is convinced is a rough-hewn Romeo, but her friends think is just a plain old thug. Will this drive a permanent wedge between B&V? Yikes!

Later in the month is "Archie & Friends" No. 110, in which fashion model Katy Keene _ who has always been drawn in a relatively realistic style _ appears at a major California comics convention (read: Comic-Con International: San Diego) to promote the movie "The Web Returns" (read: "Spider-Man 3"), in which she plays the hero's actress/model love interest (read: Mary Jane Watson).

And sure, it's a play on this summer's big movie. But what's ironic is that The Web is an actual superhero who appeared 20 years before Peter Parker's 1962 debut, back when Archie Comics was MLJ. And Katy Keene first appeared as a model/actress in 1945, decades before Spidey's red-haired heartthrob showed up in "Amazing Spider-Man." The Web never achieved much sales success, and Katy dropped off the radar for the most part from 1961 until her re-introduction in a 2005 Free Comic Book Day special (which landed her a semi-regular berth in "Archie & Friends"). But you have to admit, despite their relative obscurity, Web and Katy were doing their thing long before Peter and MJ hit the big time.

But we're not done yet! The 96-page "Archie Digest" No. 236 ships in early July, which brings the party to a climax. Chuckle at the reprints of Archie's first adventures from "Pep Comics" No. 22 and "Archie Comics" No. 1, stories clearly patterned on the screwball comedies of the time (and when Archie preferred to be called "Chick" Andrews). Cock your head curiously at the reprints of the original "funny animal" supporting features, like Squoimy the Woim, Cubby the Bear and Bumbie the Bee-tective. And marvel at the bizarre "When Archie Meets Archie," a new story wherein today's modern, post-ironic teenager meets his goofy '40s counterpart _ along with vintage versions of Betty and Jughead. Truly, a crisis of infinite Archies!

And just when you thought these parodies couldn't go further over the top, "Tales of Riverdale Digest" No. 22 (late July) tackles Marvel's mega-epic "Civil War"! (You know, the story that led to Captain America's death.) "Civil Chores Part One" tears Riverdale apart, when Archie goes on strike for a bigger allowance and fewer chores. This action draws many supporters _ but not Forsythe P. "Jughead" Jones, who realizes that more money for Archie means more dates for Archie, and therefore less time for Archie to hang out with him. So he takes the opposite course, aligning himself with Reggie and Veronica, who want to maintain their status as the town's richest teens. It's Ragnarok for Riverdale!

Now, we can guess which side Betty will take. But it's less easy to predict the loyalties of the rest of the gang down at the Choklit Shoppe. What about Chuck? Dilton? Ethel? God help us, what about Big Moose? I guess we'll find out in "Civil Chores Part Two," in the August "Tales of Riverdale Digest."

So, despite 65 (or 66, or 68) years, the folks who brought us "Archie Meets The Punisher" (1994) can still surprise us. Even if they can't do math.

(Contact Andrew Smith of the Memphis Commercial Appeal at capncomics(at)aol.com or visit www.captaincomics.us/)