COMICS: FIRST ISSUE

Tales from the Crypt

Tales from the Crypt, The Haunt of Fear and The Vault of Horror—the three horror comic books published by Bill Gaines of EC Comics in the 1950s—brought the US comics industry under government scanner, and nearly to a standstill, because of their perceived negative impact on children. The government's interference that included a Congressional hearing resulted in the imposition of the Comics Code, a law termed draconian by comic book publishers, especially of the horror variety. The cover is that of the first issue of Tales from the Crypt. So if you have any, even reprints, hold on to them—however scary they might be!

Adventures of World War II

Two wartime books, The Angry Hills by Leon Uris (1955) and Storm Warning (1976) by Jack Higgins, have only one thing in common: they are both about WWII. The stories are markedly different but contain high-voltage suspense and adventure from cover to cover. 

The Angry Hills, set in Nazi-occupied Greece, is about a low-key American writer caught between Hitler's invading forces out to kill him and a daring Greek resistance force trying to rescue him. For at stake is the secret information he hides and which he must deliver to allied forces in London, at the cost of his own life. The innocent, albeit desperate, American's hellish journey to freedom forms the crux of this gripping story.     

Jack Higgins is yet to write a novel that does not entertain. Storm Warning does in great measure; in fact, as well as The Eagle Has Landed. Twenty-two men and five nuns embark on a dangerous journey from Brazil to Germany across the vast and turbulent Atlantic, and are shipwrecked. In a narrative reminiscent of stories featuring in Commando comics, friends and foes, British and Germans, come together in a brave and desperate attempt to save the passengers.

Recommended for a lazy Sunday afternoon or as a travel companion.

Thor: The not so mighty warrior

Chris Hemsworth as Thor in the movie

I am biased towards superhero movies so I can’t say I didn’t enjoy watching Thor with my teenage son in the opening week.

I liked the movie because of three reasons: one, the bias factor—it was based on Marvel’s fictional superhero; two, terrific special effects—it was like watching a Thor comic book come alive; and three, spellbinding background score—it put you in the mood no sooner the credits started rolling.

What I didn’t like about the film was the mighty Thor’s appearance and a predictable storyline.

Let’s look at the what-I-didn’t-like part.

Thor in Marvel comics

I thought lead actor Chris Hemsworth, for all his charm and chutzpah in the film, wasn’t convincing as the powerful hammer-wielding God of Thunder and future king of Asgard, the heavenly abode of the Norse gods. To put it mildly, Hemsworth (of Star Trek and A Perfect Getaway fame) looked far too boyish in the role. The Mighty Thor of Marvel comic book is anything but “cute” as one woman in the theatre observed. The 6.6-feet bearded Thor is as rugged as he’s handsome, as valiant as he’s virtuous, and as humble as he’s arrogant.

If you read Thor comics, you’ll know what I mean.

The weak storyline, typically, has an arrogant Thor stripped off his magical powers by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins), the supreme god of war and ruler of Asgard, and banished to earth where he must redeem himself by defending a handful of mortals, including the girl in his life, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), in a small and nondescript desert town. The lesson in humility pays off. The story still doesn’t.

Something else was missing in Thor the movie: the Norse god’s horned-and-feathered helmet. In the comics you rarely find Thor without his headgear. Like Spider-Man without his mask.

The absence of the helmet was, however, more than compensated for by the mighty Thor’s weapon of mass destruction—the hammer—both in deafening sounds and blinding visuals.

In short, you will enjoy Thor the movie, with all its intergalactic colour and action, only if you are a fan of Thor the comic book.

Stan Lee, the creator of Thor at Marvel Comics, once spoke of his dilemma over the genesis of this superhero: “How do you make someone stronger than the strongest person? It finally came to me: Don't make him human—make him a god. I decided readers were already pretty familiar with the Greek and Roman gods. It might be fun to delve into the old Norse legends… Besides, I pictured Norse gods looking like Vikings of old, with the flowing beards, horned helmets, and battle clubs. …Journey into Mystery (first appearance: August 1962) needed a shot in the arm, so I picked Thor…”

Meanwhile, Chris Hemsworth is slated to reappear as Thor in Marvel’s The Avengers of which he is the founding and longest serving member. The multi-star film, directed by Joss Whedon, will be released in 2012. Keeping fingers crossed.

MUSIC

50 Greatest Love Songs of all Time

Here is Side A of 50 definitive love or romantic songs in no particular order. Listen to them once, and you’ll listen to them over and over again. Side B to come soon.

1. I Want to Know What Love is by Foreigner

2. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Jefferson Starship

3. Nights in White Satin by Moody Blues

4. Love Story by Andy Williams

5. Almost Paradise by Mike Reno & Ann Wilson

6. I Swear by John Michael Montgomery

7. Broken Wings by Mr. Mister

8. You Had a Bad Day by Daniel Powter

9. Shattered Dreams by Johnny Hates Jazz

10. You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban

11. Show Me the Way by Peter Frampton

12. The Time of My Life by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes

13. Can't Help Falling in Love with You by Elvis Presley

14. The Last Waltz by Engelbert Humperdinck

15. Unchained Melody by Righteous Brothers

16. The Winner Takes it All by Abba

17. How Deep is Your Love by Bee Gees

18. It's All Coming Back to Me Now by Celine Dion

19. Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond

20. I Can't Stop Loving You by Ray Charles

21. I do it for You by Bryan Adams

22. The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra

23. You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling by Hall & Oates

24. You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul by Modern Talking

25. Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson

26. Sacrifice by Elton John

27. Oh Carol by Neil Sedaka

28. April Love by Pat Boone

29. Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You by George Benson

30. Every Time You Go Away by Paul Young

31. Careless Whisper by George Michael

32. Hello by Lionel Richie

33. I Want to Break Free by Queen

34. The One I Love by R.E.M.

35. Still Loving You by Scorpions

36. I Just Called to Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder

37. Every Breath You Take by Police

38. The Power of Love by Jennifer Rush

39. Head Over Heels by Tears For Fears

40. Hold Me Now by Thompson Twins

41. Always by Jon Bon Jovi

42. It Must Have Been Love by Roxette

43. Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel

44. Killing Me Softly by The Fugees

45. Unbreak My Heart by Toni Braxton

46. Love is All Around Me by Wet Wet Wet

47. I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston

48. More Than I Can Say by Leo Sayer

49. Borderline by Madonna

50. Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx

COMICS: FIRST ISSUE

War stories in pictures

Walk - Or Die! the first ever Commando: War Stories in Pictures (left) published by D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd of Dundee, Scotland, in July 1961, was republished as No.2523 and the name changed to Commando for Action and Adventure. Commando Comics are still in print and have crossed the 4,000 mark. D.C. Thomson is also the publisher of Beano and Dandy comics. Their official websites are www.dcthomson.co.uk and www.commandocomics.com

MUSIC

20 songs that will make you happy

The internet is flush with listings of all-time greatest hits. In most cases, the Top of the Charts, whose numbers run into 10s, 50s, 100s and 500s, are predictable. Here’s a list of 20 out-of-the-ordinary songs that you’ll enjoy listening to. Check out the ones marked in black. They are not in any particular order but you are free to put them in one, and even suggest your own favourite songs that don't make the mainstream grade.

   1. Truth be told: Honesty by Billy Joel, the third single from his album 52nd Street (1979), will make you sit up and listen—and listen hard.

  2. If there's one song you'll replay in your mind, it's Strangers in the Night by Frank Sinatra from the namesake album released in 1966. Somethin' Stupid by Frank and daughter Nancy Sinatra is not far behind.

  3. You Raise Me Up by American singer-songwriter Josh Groban will make you wish you could sing like him at the age of 30, or any age.

  4. Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera sung by Sarah Brightman, the English soprano, and Michael Crawford, English actor and singer, will leave you in complete awe. How can anyone on this planet make such devastatingly beautiful music?

  5. The Brothers Four, the American folk singing group, are better known for their 1960 hit song Greenfields but I prefer the old-world charm of 500 Miles from the album Big Folk Hits.

  6. Unforgettable (1951) by American musician Nat King Cole is just that—utterly unforgettable.

  7. I Made it Through the Rain by Barry Manilow from the self-titled album Barry was an instant hit when it was released in 1980.

  8. Summer Wine (1967) was the first of many successful duets Lee "baritone" Hazlewood sang with Nancy Sinatra—the perfect soundtrack to a Hollywood western film. Unfortunately, it never became one.

  9. Richard Marx's ballad Right Here Waiting from his second album Repeat Offender is immensely popular to this day.

10. Long before Bryan Adams and Jon Bon Jovi, there was Kim Carnes, the two-time Grammy Award winner who sang Bette Davis Eyes in 1981. Find out why.

11. Abba are famous for dozens of numbers and The Visitors, their eighth and final studio album released in 1981, isn't really one of them. It is for me, though.

12. Ditto for Somewhere in the world by Boney M from their album Ten Thousand Lightyears (1984).

13. Welsh singer Tom Jones drove women mad with his hit single Delilah from the album Delilah (1968).

14. Woman in Love by Barbra Streisand from the album Guilty, produced by Barry Gibb in 1980, remains the single greatest hit by the American diva.

15. Agadoo, the party song by British pop group Black Lace, is one song you will continue to hum long out of school, college or wherever.

16. Bad Day ("You Had a Bad Day") by Canadian singer Daniel Powter became the most successful single of 2006.

17. As movie soundtracks go, Way Back into Love sung by Hugh Grant and Haley Bennett from the romantic comedy Music and Lyrics (2007) scores big on love themes.

18. In 2005, British singer James Blunt recorded You're Beautiful for his debut album Back to Bedlam (2004).

19. Nightshift won The Commodores their first Grammy Award in 1985.

20. Nancy Sinatra had These Boots Are Made for Walkin' from the album Boots (1966) on everyone's lips. No prizes for guessing who wrote it—Lee Hazlewood, of course.

Play chess the Bobby Fischer way

If you played chess in the 1970s, you wanted to play like Bobby Fischer.

The king of 64 squares became United States chess champion at age 14 and eleventh world chess champion at age 29. In 1972, he defeated reigning world champion Boris Spassky of the USSR in Reykjavík, Iceland, in what was arguably the most controversial tournament in the history of the game. The 20-game match, which was played in the shadow of the Cold War between Washington and Moscow, attracted worldwide interest.

The eccentric and reclusive American chess legend did not defend his title in 1975, though he sparred with Spassky in an unofficial rematch in the former Yugoslavia, in 1992, and won.

If Fischer was brilliant at playing chess, he was no less so in writing about it. In 1966, he wrote Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess which helps you play chess the Bobby Fischer way.

"When you finish this book, you will not be able to beat the greatest chess player the world has ever known, but you will be a much better chess player than you were," the introduction assures you.

Chess players, beginners and veterans alike, will find the common mating positions and combinations throughout the book both delightful and challenging. As Fischer notes, "Since checkmating is the object of the game, I think it is the most basic thing to learn. The checkmate is the "knockout" of chess."

You can open any page and figure out the end game, either by yourself or by playing with a worthy opponent. The going gets tough as the one-move mates gradually turn into mates of two, three, or four moves.

Help is at hand, though. Fischer gives the answer and a brief explanation to each chess conundrum on the next page. But turn the page only if you can't find the right mating move or moves.

Life magazine described Bobby Fischer, who died in 2008, as "The profoundest student of chess who ever lived!" This book proves that he was.