Q: As a relatively new viewer of "General Hospital," I am confused by all the back-from-the-dead characters. The latest "who is it" for me is Frank Smith. Who is he? — Arden of Mesa, Ariz.

A: You are so right about the "General Hospital" list of "they are alive" plot points. Duke, Scorpio, Faison, and Robin are just a few of the show's characters who were not as dead as you thought they were. To be fair, every soap does it. That's for another column. As for Frank Smith, with a tip of the hat to Soap Central, here is all you need to know about him.

Organized crime boss Frank Smith hired Luke Spencer to manage the Campus Disco, the business through which Frank laundered money. The disco is famous for being the site where Luke raped Laura. Frank was impressed with Luke and hoped to integrate him into the family business. However, Luke faltered when ordered to carry out a hit on Senator Mitch Williams. Frank was also displeased with Luke's romantic interest in Laura Webber, especially after Laura overheard privileged information. Frank ordered Luke to marry his daughter Jennifer and he complied but the marriage was annulled. Luke and Laura stole Frank's black book of mob contacts and hoped to use the information against Frank.

Frank knew that Luke and Laura had incriminating information and he ordered his henchmen to kill them. The couple took off on the run followed closely by Frank's men. Meanwhile, Frank was sent to prison but continued to run his organization.

Several years later, Frank's men located Luke and Laura at a diner they ran in Canada. He instructed his associates to bomb a truck outside the diner. This prompted Luke, Laura and their son Lucky to hide back in Port Charles. Frank hired Sonny Corinthos to help him run his organization. Frank's son Damian was also residing in Port Charles and he coerced Luke into working with him after Frank's men had mistaken Luke's cousin Bill Eckert for Luke and killed him. Luke helped Frank break out of prison and Frank anticipated that Luke would try to kill him. Frank grabbed a very pregnant Laura and used her as a human shield to escape. Luke eventually tracked Frank down in Puerto Rico and shot him. He was presumed deceased and Sonny took over the organization.

Over 20 years later, Luke's sons Lucky and Ethan were kidnapped and Luke and Laura were lured to Canada, where Luke shot Frank. This time Frank took his last breath. I was hoping he would reveal what illegal activities he and Sonny were involved in. We know what they were not involved in: drugs, prostitution and gambling. What is left, cock fights?

Often back-from-the-dead stories are for shock value. Frank was a good choice for resurrection. He was involved in so many plots in the "General Hospital" past that this "I'm not dead" moment was a good one.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.