QUICKGASM >> 9.05.08

Because time isn't always kind: economic reviews in a world full of waste! Elizabeth Peters' latest may not star her regular heroine Amelia Peabody, but THE LAUGHTER OF KINGS remains rife with Egyptology. Returning to the Vicky Bliss series, Peters kicks off this light suspenser with the theft of King Tut. Curator Vicky's cad-like boyfriend has several theories as to whodunit, and sets off to find which holds water, if only to prove that he didn't do it, despite what his criminal record fencing antiquities suggests. These two travel, drink and eat extravagantly more than they sleuth, leading to amusing scenes of witty, Nick-and-Nora-style style banter that proves to be the author's forte. Even with well-placed twists, the delightfully old-fashioned mystery works best when its leads bicker adoringly. No less an espionage fiction master than Graham Greene assembled THE SPY'S BEDSIDE BOOK, with his brother Hugh. Originally published in 1957, the now-back-in-print anthology culls stories (both real and made-up) and poetry (yes, poetry) on all things secret agentish. With a buttoned-up veneer and contributions from the esteemed likes of W.H. Auden and D.H. Lawrence, the compendium is charmingly both quaint and antiquated, covering everything from purposely poisoned laundry pins to butterfly hunting. More of a curio than a classic, it's an occasionally illustrated, of-its-time oddity recommended for those whose tastes run more toward John le Carré than James Bond (although Ian Fleming is present). Imagine how awesome a book like this would be if it went the all-pulp route. Marvel Comics' horror-esque antihero series TERROR INC. gets an adult-oriented revival by writer David Lapham and artist Patrick Zircher. Its unlikely star is a centuries-old immortal with a skull face who today is a well-armed, big-muscled freelance hitman — in other words, kind of like The Punisher, minus an epidermis. He has the ability to interchange his body parts with others', so he's somewhat of a master of disguise, taken to utter extremes. In this five-issue arc, Terror's in search of his old arm. At least I think that's the deal, but I found it extremely muddled, which is odd for Lapham (whose SILVERFISH graphic novel is terrific), and Zircher's often ugly art makes it even more of a mess. I have no problem with blood, gore and nudity, but there's so much of it here that it feels like shock for shock's sake. MASTERS OF AMERICAN COMICS allows you to take home the recent exhibit of L.A.'s Hammer Museum and The Museum of Contemporary Art. Edited by John Carlin, Paul Karasik and Brian Walker, this huge, heavy book pays tribute to Sunday funnies greats, comic book superstars and underground pioneers, with a 150-page history of the entire medium. Then individual chapters salute giants like Winsor McCay, E.C. Segar, Chester Gould, Milton Caniff, Charles M. Schulz, Will Eisner, Jack Kirby, Harvey Kurtzman, R. Crumb, Art Spiegelman and Chris Ware, with loads and loads of examples of their art, both unfinished and printed. —Rod Lott Buy them at Amazon.