X-Treme X-Men #1 Cover

Yes, this is just an excuse to show some Salvador Larroca art.

Salvador Larroca Covers X-TREME X-MEN #1!

Marvel is proud to present your first look at superstar artist Salvador Larroca’s variant cover to X-Treme X-Men #1, an all-new ongoing series spinning directly out of the pages of Astonishing X-Men! Follow the team of Captain Howlett, Emmeline Frost, Kid Nightcrawler, and Dazzler as they embark on an epic journey saving the multiverse! But with one of the X-Men lost between dimensions and no guaranteed way home, will the adventure be over before it begins? New York Times Best Selling author Greg Pak and red-hot artist Stephen Segovia bring you the answers in X-Treme X-Men #1, coming to comic shops everywhere, the Marvel Comics app and the Marvel Digital Comics Shop this July.

X-TREME X-MEN #1 (MAY120705)

X-TREME X-MEN #1 LARROCA VARIANT (MAY120706)

Written by GREG PAK

Penciled by STEPHEN SEGOVIA

Cover by JULIAN TEDESCO

Variant Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA

FOC – 7/2/2012, On Sale – 7/25/2012

June 26, 2012
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics? . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Changing Ways Volume 2 Review

At Broken Frontier is my review of Justin Randall’s sequel to his Changing Ways OGN.

June 23, 2012
Categories: Reviews . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

The Massive #1 Review

At Broken Frontier you can catch my review of Dark Horse’s new series The Massive from Brian Wood and Kristian Donaldson. It’s a great read. The comic, not my review.

June 17, 2012
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Spider-Men #3 Preview

Text-free preview below of July’s ish of this daring Spidey x-over.

Your First Look at SPIDER-MEN #3!

Marvel is proud to present your first look at Spider-Men #3, as the blockbuster creative team of best-selling writer Brian Bendis and red hot artist Sara Pichelli bring you the next chapter in the ultimate Spider-Man event of the year! Now that Peter Parker and Miles Morales have met, can they both work together to defeat their foes – or will they require the help of Nick Fury and his Ultimates?

Fans and critics agree, Spider-Men is a hit!

“With well-judged pace and tone, it’s everything a Spider-Man fan could want.”  – ComicBookResources.com

“A fine comic book that is spilling with the same charm that we get from Ultimate Comics Spider-Man each and every month.”  – IGN.com

“…there isn’t a single panel that feels static.” – AintItCoolNews.com

“A purely enjoyable comic book, and three cheers if that continues through to the end.” – Comicsbeat.com

The most amazing team-up of the summer continues in Spider-Men #3, slinging into comic shops everywhere, the Marvel Comics appand the Marvel Digital Comics Shop this July.

SPIDER-MEN #3 (MAY120671)

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Penciled by SARA PICHELLI

Cover by JIM CHEUNG

Variant Covers by SARA PICHELLI & TERRY DODSON

FOC – 6/18/2012, On Sale – 7/11/2012

 

June 17, 2012
Categories: Comic Art, Comics . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Zombie Cities Review

Zombie Cities is exactly as it sounds – it’s zombies in cities. It’s much more exciting than it sounds however, with more epic action and exotic locales than a James Bond film. There are seven stories within this 104 page fast paced fiction of flesh eaters, and unlike most anthologies which are filled with hits and misses, the quality leans much more on the “hit” side here.

The first tale is very Australian, like the publisher Silver Fox Comics, and sees zombies rampaging across Sydney including landmarks such as Luna Park, and the Harbour Bridge. The pace is relentless as we are introduced to a cast of colourful characters including a weather girl attempting to interview a zombie, some teenagers on a disastrous night out, and a grizzled father who uses a cricket bat as a mean weapon. The second story is creatively titled Yes We Can Kill Zombies and is centred on President Obama and his struggles to lead his country post-zombification. It has a slower pace, but a greater emphasis on dialogue and character, with Obama taking some clear, and surprising, action in a desperate effort to unite his nation.

Blood at Bondi is concerned with the return of a long missing lifesaver on Bondi Beach, and Horror at Hirajuku is madcap fun, with three teenage girls in Japan mingled with generational family issues, whacky fashion, and George Clooney spruiking an eyeball food outlet. God Save The Queen is a deliciously thrilling drama focused on the ghastly secrets of the royal family. The New York set If I Ca Kill ‘Em Here, I Can Kill ‘Em Anywhere follows the aftermath of the assassination of the NY mayor who instituted a radical law to rid the city of zombies, namely that for every zombie you kill, if there are no living relatives, you are allowed to claim their assets. Finally Voodoo Zombie Racer focuses on a reanimated racing driver in Rio de Janeiro.

Sorab del Rio is the sole writer on all the offerings here, except Horror at Harajuku, which is ably co-written by Mladen Luketin.

There’s a sense of madcap fun running throughout every story here with a great mix of drama, action and dark comedy and with only a few pages to set up unique characters and situations, it’s impressive that each story can stand on its own as a memorable take on this increasingly popular sub-genre.

The art is, as to be expected from any anthology, a diverse offering, but the highlights are Mauro Barbieri’s slightly cartoony, exaggerated approach in God Save The Queen, and the work of Netho Diaz who gives Obama a superb likeness, and also brings detail and realism to the New York story.

As a piece of design, Zombie Cities’ streamlined approach works a charm, from the hard to resist cover, to the simple, and appropriate diagrams used as chapter breaks.

Rounding out this collection are some amazing pin-ups reflecting the stories in the preceding pages, and a few answers posted on Silver Fox’s Facebook page about why zombies are just so darn appealing. Some may expect that there are simply no more stories to be told regarding the undead but Zombie Cities proves in an entertaining fashion that thankfully just isn’t true.

Zombie Cities is a full colour original graphic novel and will be available at the Supanova convention in Sydney, and at Kings Comics.

June 14, 2012
Categories: Comic Art, Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

The Strain TPB

This last year, Dark Horse have been putting out some great new horror comics, including The Strain, which is being collected in November. It’s gruesome and thrilling, and recommended, as my Broken Frontier quote says below.

DARK HORSE COMICS COLLECTS

GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S THE STRAIN!

Acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and novelist Chuck Hogan bring their New York Times best-selling series of novels, the Strain Trilogy, to Dark Horse Comics with an ongoing adventure that takes a terrifying spin on the vampire genre. 

Renowned comics creator David Lapham (Stray Bullets, Silverfish) and artist Mike Huddleston (The Coffin, Butcher Baker) join forces in this comic book adaptation unlike any other—bringing del Toro and Hogan’s vision to life in a story that casts a deadly plague over the whole of humanity. The StrainVolume 1, collecting issues #1–#6 of this ongoing series, is a horror story unlike any other!

When a Boeing 777 lands at JFK International Airport and goes dark on the runway, the Centers for Disease Control, fearing a terrorist attack, calls in Dr. Ephraim Goodweather and his team of expert biological-threat first responders. Only an elderly pawnbroker from Spanish Harlem suspects a darker purpose behind the event—an ancient threat intent on covering mankind in darkness.

Praise for Guillermo del Toro’s The Strain:

“[The Strain] is one of the scariest comics on the stands, as genuine surprises await the reader at every turn of the page. Usually, such big reveals are left to the final moment, but with The Strain there’s almost a cliffhanger every few pages and that makes this series a truly surprising, and enjoyable, read.”—Broken Frontier

“One of the year’s best books. If I were to give you one bit of advice while reading this book, don’t read it in the dark.”—Comic Buzz 

The Strain Volume 1 is on sale November 14 in comic shops everywhere!

June 12, 2012
Categories: Comics, New To Comics? . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

DC Digital, and Films

Lots of interesting DC Comics news lately. Here we go. First up is the new Batman digital exclusive comics which has now launched, and with Scott, templesmith, and Taylor, taht’s three Aussie creator involved! Official info, and Ethan van Sciver cover, below.

We announced back in April that an all-new Batman digital comic book would be coming soon.  Today, we’re excited to reveal that the first chapter from LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT will be released tomorrow, followed by new chapters out every Thursday. Taking place outside of DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 continuity, the new series features several stand-alone stories by various creators that chronicle different cases handled by The Dark Knight.

Kicking off the first chapter is the all-star line-up of LOST scribe Damon Lindelof with artwork by the critically acclaimed Jeff Lemire.  The line-up for the first six chapters of LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT is as follows:

June 7 – “The Butler Did It” written by Damon Lindelof with artwork by Jeff Lemire

June 14 – “All of the Above” written by Jonathan Larsen with artwork by JG Jones

June 21– “The Crime Never Committed” written by Tom Taylor with artwork by Nicola Scott and Wayne Faucher

June 28 – “Crisis of Identity” Part 1 written by B. Clay Moore with artwork by Ben Templesmith

July 5 – “Crisis of Identity” Part 2 written by B. Clay Moore with artwork by Ben Templesmith

July 12 – “Crisis of Identity” Part 3 written by B. Clay Moore with artwork by Ben Templesmith

Mark your calendars – Thursdays are officially all about The Dark Knight and you can get your weekly fill here for $.99 each.

If, unlike me, you’re fully into DC’s New 52, then these new #0 issues, and four new series will intrigue you. More info here.

Timed to the one year anniversary of the launch of the historic DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 initiative, DC Comics will introduce 0 month.

In September 2012, DC Comics will release 0 issues—and we don’t mean we aren’t publishing any titles—but what we will be doing is numbering every DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 title #0.

#0s will be stand-alone stories. “Some issues will tell the origins of a character or a team, or in some case where an origin has already been told, they will fill in the blanks in terms of questions readers may have about the New 52 DC Universe,” said Bob Harras, DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief. “Each of these issues promises to reveal something surprising.”

And debuting at #0 are four new comic book series:

TALON – Co-Writers: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV. Artist: Guillem March.

Meet Calvin Rose, the only Talon to ever escape the grasp of the Court of Owls. This former assassin of the Court is trying to live a normal life … but that’s impossible when he’s being hunted by his former masters!

SWORD OF SORCERY – Writer: Christy Marx. Artist: Aaron Lopresti.
Featuring the return of Amethyst, Amy Winston leads a strange life on the road with her mother and resents it. She’s about to learn it’s all been necessary when she discovers she’s the lost princess of Gemworld—and she’s being hunted by her murderous aunt. With a back-up story written by Tony Bedard with art by Jesus Saiz, set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the monstrous warrior Beowulf is charged with finding and defeating the evil Grendel.

THE PHANTOM STRANGER – Writer: Dan DiDio. Artist: Brent Anderson.

Spinning out of his recent appearances in JUSTICE LEAGUE and DC’s Free Comic Book Day story, learn more about the true origin of The Phantom Stranger and his connection to the mysterious Pandora.

TEAM SEVEN – Writer: Justin Jordan. Artist: Jesus Merino.
Set in the early days of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, threads of the entire DC Universe collide. As Superman emerges, so does the world’s counter measures against him and his kind. Team 7 is comprised of Dinah Lance, Amanda Waller, Steve Trevor, John Lynch, Alex Fairchild, Cole Cash and Slade Wilson — and their story will change everything you know about DC COMICS-THE NEW 52.

The four new series will follow with issue #1s in October and other series will resume their numbering.

Finally, here you can find info on a host of (hopefully awesome) DC films including Justice League, Aquaman and Shazam in the next few years. Here’s a snippet.

This week, the studio revealed it tapped “Gangster Squad” scribe Will Beall to revive “Justice League,” which WB unplugged in 2008, and hired Michael Goldenberg (one of the many writers of “Green Lantern”) to pen “Wonder Woman.”

Those projects now join in development films based on the Flash, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Lobo, the Suicide Squad and Shazam. DC and WB are also facing a decision on how to reboot Batman once “The Dark Knight Rises” completes Christopher Nolan’s take on the caped crusader, featuring Christian Bale in the cowl.

June 9, 2012
Categories: Comic Art, DC Comics, Movies, New To Comics?, News . . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Superman vs The Elite Pictures

Arriving on June 12 is Superman vs The Elite from Warner Bros, the next animated film based on classic DC Comics’ characters and comics. Here’s some new screenshots featuring Superman, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, baddies Atomic Skull, Manchester Black and Coldcast, and here’s an interview with actor Pauley Perrette, who voices Lois, and below is a clip. I’m not as excited about this film as I have been with the last few films, particularly Justice League: Doom, and Batman: Year One. This is based on one of my fave comics ever, but the character models seem too…kiddy. It should be more Akira and less SuperFriends. We’ll see.

In SUPERMAN VS. THE ELITE, Superman’s effectiveness as a super hero comes into question when a new group of super powerful crusaders, known as “The Elite,” appear on the scene.  As super heroes, the Elite know no bounds, and are more than willing to kill, even on a massive
scale, to stop villainy — putting them on a collision course with the ever-ethical, yet preferably non-lethal Man of Steel.

The all-new, PG-13 rated film is scripted by award-winning comics writer Joe Kelly and the story is adapted from his original 2001 DC Comics release, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?” The single-issue comic, Action Comics #775, was lauded by Wizard Magazine as the “Greatest Superman Story of All Time,” and ranked the epic tale at No. 21 on its list of the “Top 100 Comics of the last 30 years.”

George Newbern (Father of the Bride) reprises his Justice League animated television role as Superman, and primetime television star Pauley Perrette (NCIS) provides the voice of Lois Lane. Downes steps in as Manchester Black, leader of The Elite. David Kaufman (Justice League: Doom) also reprises his Justice League TV series role as Jimmy Olsen.

The film is directed by Michael Chang (Batman: Brave and the Bold). Bruce Timm (Batman: Year One) is executive producer, and Alan Burnett (Green Lantern: Emerald Knights) is producer.

June 8, 2012
Categories: DC Comics, Movies . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Defenders #8 Preview

I’ve posted a lot of Marvel previews lately, haven’t I? Here’s another one.

Your First Look at Defenders #8!

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Defenders #8 as red-hot artist Jamie McKelvie joins superstar writer Matt Fraction for a story like no other!  After traveling to Wakanda, the Defenders must journey into the forbidden land of Z’Gambo to face off against the evil John Aman, Prince of Orphans! What sort of secrets is he protecting, and can the Defenders find out before it’s too late? But they’re not the only ones after his secret, as the Black Cat makes her own bid to steal it away! It’s a race against the clock in Defenders #8, which hits comic shops everywhere, the Marvel Comics appand the Marvel Digital Comics Shop this July.

DEFENDERS #8 (MAY120697)

Written by MATT FRACTION

Penciled by JAMIE MCKELVIE

Cover by TERRY DODSON

FOC – 6/18/12, On-Sale – 7/11/12

 

June 8, 2012
Categories: Comic Art . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Man-Thing and Captain Marvel

No, not a team-up, but just an excuse to share some great art featuring two very different Marvel characters, including an unusual style for Kevin Nowlan, and a variant cover for the new female Captain Marvel by Adi Granov.

Your First Look at INFERNAL MAN-THING #1!

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Infernal Man-Thing #1, coming this July! From legendary creators Kevin Nowlan and the late, great Steve Gerber comes the highly-anticipated supernatural epic that’s 20 years in the making! When the Man-Thing resurfaces, it must solve the mystery of the “Screenplay of the Living Dead Man” – and it’s the only thing that can! It’s the story fans have been clamoring for and this July,Infernal Man-Thing #1 hits comic shops everywhere, the Marvel Comics app and the Marvel Digital Comics Shop!

INFERNAL MAN-THING #1 (APR120649)

Written by STEVE GERBER

Penciled by KEVIN NOWLAN

Cover by ART ADAMS

Variant Covers by GIL KANE & KEVIN NOWLAN

FOC – 6/11/12, On-Sale – 7/4/12

Adi Granov Takes Flight With CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 GRANOV VARIANT!

Marvel is proud to present your first look at fan favorite artist Adi Granov’s variant cover to the premiere issue of the all-new ongoing series, Captain Marvel #1! The “mightiest” of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is back with a new name, a new mission – and enough power to make her life a living hell! But if anyone can handle stakes that high, it’s ace pilot and legendary Avenger, Carol Danvers! Captain America & Spider-Man guest star in Kelly DeConnick and Dexter Soy’s explosive Captain Marvel #1, which flies into comic shops everywhere, the Marvel Comics app and theMarvel Digital Comics Shop this July.

CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 (MAY120693)

CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 GRANOV VARIANT (MAY120694)

Written by KELLY SUE DeCONNICK

Penciled by DEXTER SOY

Cover by ED MCGUINNESS

Variant Cover by ADI GRANOV

FOC – 6/25/12, On-Sale – 7/18/12

 

 

June 7, 2012
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

DC’s For Kids

Two new all-ages comics arrived this week from DC Comics.

Superman Family Adventures is for those who loved the awesome and entertaining Tiny Titans comic, by Art Baltazar and Franco. Sadly, that series has ended, but happily, the same creative team are now giving us this monthly series focused on The Last Son of Krypton and his various S shield wearing heroes. Like Tiny Titans, it features in-jokes for the grown up fanboy but is also accessible enough for the young fanboy-to-be. The simple, cartoony and colourful visual style is a treat, as is the crude yet appealing lettering. Superman and Supergirl are sporting their  New 52 costumes, and Superboy and Krypto show up too when Lex Luthor sends three robots to destroy Metropolis. Perry, Jimmy and Lois (and Clark) show up as well. It’s a simple, yet great story, with Lex’s pride being his undoing as he accidentally gets the powers of Krypto rather than Superman. There’s also a fan art page, a maze and a few pages advertising the characters of Young Justice, including new members Beast Boy, and Blue Beetle! It’s great to see comics like this and it’s great to see that there’s an audience for it.

DC Nation Super Spectacular is a 64 page, full colour magazine that’s based on the new block of programming that features short animated features, claymation and behind the scenes segments all about DC Comics. Like the series above, it’s another good idea to familiarise, and hopefully hook, new readers. The three comics in these pages are all reprints, but at least they’re new ones, showing Young Justice fighting Psycho Pirate, a Green Lantern story by Baltazar and Franco in a style that more closely resembles the new GL cartoon, and a Teen Titans story in which Beast Boy reveals his origin around a campfire. They’re all fine stories and introductions to the characters though.

Also included is a GL poster, a 2 pager on the Aardman Animation claymation DC Nation shorts, a find the words puzzle, a few pages on the goodies and baddies of the GL toon, plus one on Plastic Man and his villains, another 2 pager on the Super Best Friends Forever (Batgirl, Supergirl and Wonder Girl), and that’s about it. It’s not exactly filled with enough content to keep the kids busy all afternoon, but it does get me curious about DC Nation, and I hope it gets shown here in Australia, as there’s enough fun shorts for everyone, and a focus on minor characters like Plastic Man, and Animal Man. I hope future issues of this mag will see original comics though, but overall this is a good entry point into the wider DC pantheon.

June 2, 2012
Categories: Comic Art, DC Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Spider-Men #2 Preview

Text-free preview of the June ish of the Spider-Man cross-over mini-series below.

Your First Look at SPIDER-MEN #2!

Marvel is proud to present your first look at Spider-Men #2, by the chart-topping creative team of writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli! When Peter Parker is thrown into Miles Morales’ world, the duo begin a journey that will not only answer questions about their own identities, but also reveal the truth about a major character in the world of Spider-Man! Kick off Spider-Man’s 50th anniversary in style with double the web-slinging action in Spider-Men #2, hitting comic shops, the Marvel Comics app and the Marvel Digital Comics Shop this June.

SPIDER-MEN #2 (APR120606)

SPIDER-MEN #2 MARTIN VARIANT (APR120607)

SPIDER-MEN #2 PICHELLI VARIANT (APR120608)

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Penciled by SARA PICHELLI

Cover by JIM CHEUNG

Variant Covers by MARCOS MARTIN & SARA PICHELLI

FOC – 6/4/12, On-Sale – 6/27/12

SPIDER-MEN #1 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (APR128107)

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Penciled by SARA PICHELLI

Cover by JIM CHEUNG

FOC – 6/4/12, On-Sale – 6/20/12

June 2, 2012
Categories: Comic Art . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Injustice: Gods Among Us Trailer

Made by NetherRealm is this upcoming fighter game based on the DC Comics characters. Well, some of them, and their New 52 looks too, judging by the armour on display.

The tagline is, “What if our greatest heroes became our greatest threat?” although they don’t use the question mark. Man, that annoys me. I picked up Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and they even spelled destabilising wrong in a cut scene. Anyway, I’m not a huge fan of fighters, apart from a nostalgic haze over Street Fighter II, but this trailer looks cool.

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES

Injustice: Gods Among Us

New Fighting Game Franchise from the Makers of Award-Winning Mortal Kombat Franchise Revealed

What if our greatest heroes became our greatest threat? Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced Injustice: Gods Among Us, an all-new game in development by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, creators of the definitive fighting game franchise Mortal Kombat. The game is scheduled for release in 2013 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Wii U™ system from Nintendo.

Injustice: Gods Among Us debuts as a bold new fighting game franchise that introduces a deep, original story featuring a large cast of favorite DC Comics icons such as Batman, Harley Quinn, Solomon Grundy, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman and many others. Set in a world where the lines between good and evil are blurred, players will experience heroes and villains engaging in epic battles on a massive scale.

“With Injustice: Gods Among Us, we are creating an all-new franchise with incredible battles set in the DC Comics Universe,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “NetherRealm Studios is the extremely talented team behind the latest Mortal Kombat hit and it is developing a game unlike any other in the fighting genre.”

“We can’t wait to reveal Injustice: Gods Among Us because it will give our fans and gamers an epic experience as they battle like gods as their favorite DC Comics villains and heroes,” said Ed Boon, Creative Director, NetherRealm Studios. “Our team is excited to make a fighting game that is filled with fast-paced action, incredible story-telling and iconic DC Comics characters.”

For more information, visit www.injustice.com

June 1, 2012
Categories: Games, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Premium Rush and Bourne Legacy

Opening in August and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (soon to be seen in The Dark Knight Rises, and the intriguing time travel actioner, Looper) and Michael Shannon (the evil General Zod in next year’s Superman reboot) is Premium Rush, which looks like a hectic Run Lola Run type film. I’m keen to see it.

Also just released is the newest trailer for the next Bourne film. You know, the one without Bourne in it. Ever eager for a safe, or sfaer, bet on familiarity Hollywood surprised everyone with news of this Matt Damon-free film. Starring Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye in The Avengers) it looks firmly set in the same world though, and has a similar aesthetic. Plus it’s written and directed by Tony Gilroy, who wrote all three previous Bourne outings. It also opens in August.

June 1, 2012
Categories: Movies . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

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