count, max and merge two tables(sql query?)

[bugmenot1]

hi, i do not know if my table structure is true. i have an article table like below:

ARTICLES
article_id (primary)
author
content
date
parent_article_id

ARTICLE_DETAIL
article_id
viewing_count

sample data

ARTICLES
id____author_____________________content________________date_______parent_article_id

1_____'test@test.com'_________'this is content'_________11.03.2010_____NULL_____        
2_____'comment1@test.com'_____'this is last comment'____01.03.2010_____1_____        
3_____'comment2@test.com'_____'this is first comment'___11.02.2010_____1_____       


ARTICLE_DETAIL
id___viewing_count
1_____555

i want to get articles and date and name of last commentator. and viewing count also.

DESTINATION TABLE
id___________author_______article_content_______article_date___last_commentator_email_____last_commentator_date____viewing_count

1_____'test@test.com'_____'this is content'_____11.03.2010_____comment1@test.com___________01.03.2010_______________555

what should the "sql query" be?
my db is access.

my query is below but not working:

SELECT
articles1.id,
articles1.author,
articles1.content,
articles1.date,
COUNT(articles2.id) AS answer_count,
MAX(articles2.date) AS last_message_date,
article_detail.viewing_count 
FROM article article1 
LEFT OUTER JOIN article article2 ON article1.id = article2.parent_article_id
LEFT OUTER JOIN article_detail ON article1.id = article_detail.id 
WHERE articles.parent_article_id IS NULL
GROUP BY
articles1.id,
articles1.author,
articles1.content,
articles1.date,
article_detail.viewing_count

regards.

[HiTechCoach]

I would try using a sub query to get the last comment info.