Free Pokemon X-Y Pocket Comics for Halloween ComicFest 2016

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES SPECIAL FREE POKÉMON X•Y POCKET COMICS MANGA SAMPLER FOR HALLOWEEN COMICFEST 2016

Support Local Comics Retailers With A Visit On October 29th And Receive A FREE Sampler Of POKÉMON X•Y POCKET COMICS Featuring Comics, Puzzles And Quizzes Based On The Popular POKÉMON X•Y Video Games!

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing announces its support for Halloween ComicFest 2016 with a special FREE POKÉMON X•Y POCKET COMICS sampler that will be available to readers at their local participating comics retailer.

Held annually, Halloween ComicFest will be celebrated on Saturday, October 29th, 2016 at scores of comic shops and retailers nationwide on Halloween or the Saturday just before Halloween. On this day, participating shops offer fans and visitors FREE Halloween ComicFest samplers filled with previews of exciting upcoming titles. For additional information and a list of participating retailers, please visit: www.HalloweenComicFest.com.

The POKÉMON X•Y POCKET COMICS sampler features an array of stories, puzzles and trivia based on the popular Pokémon X and Pokémon Y video games. Readers can quiz themselves and their friends on various Pokémon Abilities, moves, types, Mega Evolution and lots more! The full POKÉMON X•Y POCKET COMICS (rated ‘A’ for All Ages) features story and artwork by Santa Harukaze and will be released by VIZ Media in December.

POKÉMON is one of the most successful international entertainment franchises of all time. More than 279 million POKÉMON video games and over 21.5 billion Pokémon Trading Cards have been sold in more than 74 countries in addition to substantial publishing and merchandise sales. VIZ Media is the official North American distributor for a wide variety of POKÉMON home media releases including animated series and films and also publishes a variety of POKÉMON manga graphic novel series including Pokémon Adventures, Pokémon Adventures: FireRed & LeafGreen, Pokémon Adventures: Emerald, Pokémon Adventures: Diamond & Pearl/PLATINUM, Pokémon Adventures: HeartGold & SoulSilver, Pokémon Adventures: Black & White and POKÉMON X•Y.

For additional information on POKÉMON titles as well as other anime and manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at www.VIZ.com.

About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.

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VIZ Media Offers "Tomie" Sampler for Halloween 2016

VIZ MEDIA SUPPORTS HALLOWEEN COMICFEST 2016 WITH MANGA SAMPLER FEATURING AN EXCERPT FROM HORROR MASTER JUNJI ITO’S TOMIE

Visit And Support Local Comics Retailers On October 29th For A FREE Sampler Of Upcoming VIZ Media Deluxe Release Of Junji Ito’s Long Out-Of-Print Debut Series

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, gives readers a special treat for its participation in Halloween ComicFest 2016 as it offers a FREE sampler that features an excerpt from manga horror master Junji Ito’s spine-tingling thriller about an immortal femme fatale, TOMIE.

Held annually, Halloween ComicFest will be celebrated on Saturday, October 29th, 2016 at scores of comic shops and retailers nationwide on Halloween or the Saturday just before Halloween. On this day, participating shops offer fans and visitors FREE Halloween ComicFest samplers filled with previews of exciting upcoming titles. For additional information and a list of participating retailers, please visit: www.HalloweenComicFest.com.

Tomie Kawakami is a femme fatale with long black hair and a beauty mark just under her left eye. She can seduce nearly any man, and drive them to murder as well, even though the victim is often Tomie herself. While one lover seeks to keep her for himself, another grows terrified of the immortal succubus. But soon they realize that no matter how many times they kill her, the world will never be free of Tomie.

TOMIE is scheduled to debut on December 20th, 2016 as a hardcover Complete Deluxe Edition published under the VIZ Signature imprint.

Manga creator Junji Ito made his professional debut in 1987 and has gone on to be recognized as one of the greatest contemporary artists working in the horror genre. His critically acclaimed titles include TOMIE and UZUMAKI, which were adapted into critically praised live-action films, as well as GYO, which was adapted into an animated feature film. UZUMAKI, GYO and Ito’s celebrated manga short story anthology, FRAGMENTS OF HORROR, are published in English by VIZ Media in deluxe hardcover editions available under the VIZ Signature imprint. Ito’s influences include classic horror manga artists Kazuo Umezu and Hideshi Hino, as well as authors such as Yasutaka Tsutsui and H.P. Lovecraft.

For more information on TOMIE and other Junji Ito manga titles available from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at www.VIZ.com.

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2016 Austin Film Festival Announces Film and Screenplay Winners

Austin Film Festival (AFF) Announces Winners of 2016 Film and Screenplay Competitions, Hiscox Insurance Audience and Courage Awards

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AFF, the premier Festival to recognize the writer’s contribution to film, announces its 2016 Jury Award winners, Hiscox Audience and Courage Award Winners.

The following film Jury Award winners were selected by category:

Narrative Feature presented by Seed&Spark: Boys in the Trees, written by Nicholas Verso

Documentary Feature presented by POV: Santoalla, directed by Andrew Becker and Daniel Mehrer

Comedy Vanguard Feature: Hot Air, written by Jeremy M. Goldstein and Derek Sieg

Dark Matters Feature: The Cliff, written by Natxo Lopez, Andres Martorell, Helena Taberna

Narrative Short: Lucy in My Eyes, written by Megan Park

Narrative Student Short: The Art of Not Appearing, written by Pernille Rivedal Hellevik

Documentary Short presented by IDA: Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405, directed by Frank Stiefel

Animated Short: Hugo Bumfeldt, written by Eva Katinka Bognaar

Scripted Digital Series presented by New Form Digital: Guest Appearances, created by Elizabeth Guest

The Hiscox Audience Award winners are:

Narrative Feature: Blood Stripe, written by Remy Auberjonois and Kate Nowlin

Documentary Feature: Berlin Rebel High School, directed by Alexander Kleider

Dark Matters Feature: Found Footage 3D, written by Steven DeGennaro

Comedy Vanguard Feature: Brave New Jersey, written by Michael Dowling and Jody Lambert

Narrative Short: Killing Thyme, written by Natalie Malla

Documentary Short: Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405, directed by Frank Stiefel

Animated Short: Moon of a Sleepless Night, written by Takeshi Yashiro

Narrative Student Short: Red Apples, written by Ophelia Harutyunyan

Scripted Digital Series: The Listening Box, written by Westin Ray

Heart of Film: American Wrestler: The Wizard, written by Brian Rudnick

Stories From Abroad: My Mother’s Wound, written by Ozan Aciktan, Ozan Guven, Fethi Kantarci, Uygar Sirin, Mehmet Turgut, Funda Cetin

Texas Independent: Homestate, written by David Hickey and Blaise Miller

Marquee Feature: Lion, written by Luke Davies

One film was selected to receive the Hiscox Courage Award. Voted on by the audience, the Hiscox Courage Award is presented to the film that best embodies the virtue of courage and to the filmmaker who embraced the risk to share the story. The 2016 Courage Award went to Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405.

The following Screenplay Competition winners are:

Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East: Static by Henry Jones

Comedy Screenplay Award presented by Sony Pictures Animation: Dinner with Friends by Geeta Malik

Sci-Fi Screenplay Award: Static by Henry Jones

Enderby Entertainment Award: Static by Henry Jones

Vertigo Entertainment Horror Award: Rock Point Draw by Jeremy David Lee

AMC One-Hour Pilot Award: The Devil and the Deep by Kyle Bugg

Sitcom Pilot Award: Losing It by Louise Rozett

Short Screenplay Award: Futurehealth by Sarah Polhaus

Scripted Digital Series Award presented by New Form Digital: Main Stream by JC Conklin

One-Hour Spec Award: Fargo: The Hunt for the Cobra King by Sarah Beckett

Sitcom Spec Award: Broad City: Short Term Effort by Greg Wayne


ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL:
Widely known as “The Writers Festival,” Austin Film Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft, and business of filmmakers and screenwriters. AFF is funded and supported in part by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Austin Economic Growth & Redevelopment Services Office/Cultural Arts Division believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin’s future.

ABOUT HISCOX IN THE US
Hiscox, the international specialist insurer, is headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: HSX). There are three main underwriting parts of the Group -- Hiscox London Market, Hiscox UK and Europe and Hiscox International. Hiscox International includes operations in Bermuda, Guernsey and the USA. Hiscox Syndicates Ltd is authorized by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. The ability of syndicates at Lloyd's to do business in the USA and its territories is restricted as they are not US-based insurers. The publication and delivery of this information are not intended to be a solicitation by Lloyd's for the purchase of insurance on any US risk. Hiscox Underwriting Limited and Hiscox ASM Limited are authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Hiscox Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered in New York, d/b/a Hiscox Insurance Agency in CA, is a licensed insurance intermediary for admitted and surplus lines business. Hiscox Inc. underwrites on behalf of, and places business with, Hiscox Insurance Company Inc., other domestic insurers, and syndicates at Lloyd's (www.lloyds.com). Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. is a Chicago, IL domiciled insurer which is admitted or licensed to do business in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

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Image Comics Announces "Curse Words"

CURSE WORDS CASTS ITS SPELL

New series from Soule and Browne set to launch in January 2017

Bestselling writer Charles Soule (Daredevil, Death of Wolverine, Star Wars) and artist Ryan Browne (GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS) team up for an all-new ongoing series CURSE WORDS, set to launch from Image Comics in January 2017.

In the series, a wizard appears one day in New York City, claiming he's here to protect the planet from dark magical forces bent on its destruction. The world falls in love with Wizord and his slick sorcerous ways - after all, we've never had a wizard before. Everything's great! But it's not. Wizord is actually fleeing an extremely dark past, and it's only a matter of time before that evil comes calling. CURSE WORDS is a gonzo modern fantasy, full of shadows, light… and magic.

"Ryan Browne and I wanted to create a series where literally anything could happen, and giving the story a magical framework lets us do that,” said Soule. “Curse Words constantly surprises me with what happens next, and I'm writing the thing. Ultimately, it's the story of a man trying to be good in a world that wants him to be bad—but it's also got a talking koala. That's Curse Words. Deep, wrenching, relatable character beats mixed with some of the most wonderful, strangest things you've ever seen in a comic. Even better, it's all drawn by the Incredible Ryan Browne—so you know it's pretty."

Browne added: "Thank goodness for Charles' words. I would buy Him writing the phone book. I draw. But His words! So good."

CURSE WORDS is Lord of the Rings meets Breaking Bad. A color-saturated, anything-goes dark fantasy romp about the coolest, most charming evil wizard you've ever met in your life. It is, in a word, magical.

CURSE WORDS #1 Cover A by Browne (Diamond Code NOV160537) and Cover B by Skottie Young (Diamond Code NOV160538) hits stores on Wednesday, January 18th, 2016. The final order cutoff for comics retailers is Monday, December 19th, 2016.


ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

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Image Comics Reprinting "Kill or Be Killed"

RAPID-FIRE PRINTINGS FOR KILL OR BE KILLED

Every issue sent back to print

Image Comics will be rushing every released issue of KILL OR BE KILLED—the hot new series from Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, and Elizabeth Breitweiser—back to print in order to keep up with overwhelming customer demand. The breakout hit from the creative team behind the Eisner Award-winning THE FADE OUT series made headlines with critics and fans alike raving about this mind-bending thrill ride.

As an added bonus, the 4th printing of issue #1 will feature a new cover by award-winning artist David Aja (Immortal Iron Fist, Hawkeye).

"Sean and Bettie and I are all blown away by the crazy response to this series so far, and hopefully these new printings will mean those readers who keep missing out will be able to find it," said Brubaker.

KILL OR BE KILLED follows a young man who is forced to kill bad people and how he struggles to keep his secret as it slowly ruins his life and the lives of his friends and loved ones.

KILL OR BE KILLED is also available for purchase across all digital platforms, including the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com), the official Image Comics iOS app, Comixology’s website (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play.

KILL OR BE KILLED #1, 4th printing (Diamond Code SEP168236), KILL OR BE KILLED #2, 3rd printing (Diamond Code SEP168237), KILL OR BE KILLED #3, 2nd printing (Diamond Code SEP168238), and KILL OR BE KILLED #4 (Diamond Code SEP160734) will all be available on Wednesday, November 16th, 2016. The final order cutoff for retailers is Monday, October 24th, 2016.


ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

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Image Comics Announces New Printings for First Issues of "Seven to Eternity"

SEVEN TO ETERNITY BURNS THROUGH PRINTINGS

Issues #1 and #2 rushed back to print

“The kind of book Image Comics was made for. It’s unapologetically deep, gorgeously illustrated, and as inviting as it is complex.” —IGN

“Seven to Eternity by Remender & Jerome Opeña is f*cking awesome! Amazing world building, just really dense, smart stuff. Don't miss it!” —Robert Kirkman

Image Comics is pleased to announce that SEVEN TO ETERNITY #1 and #2 will both be rushed back to print in order to keep up with increasing customer demand. The epic new sci-fi/western series written by Rick Remender, drawn by Jerome Opeña, and colored by Matt Hollingsworth has gone back to print multiple times since its launch.

In SEVEN TO ETERNITY readers meet The God of Whispers—a dark tyrant who has spread an omnipresent paranoia to every corner of the kingdom of Zhal. The God of Whispers’ spies hide in every hall spreading mistrust and fear. Adam Osidis, a dying knight from a disgraced house, must choose between joining a hopeless band of magic users in their desperate bid to free their world of the evil God, or accepting his promise to give Adam everything his heart desires.

SEVEN TO ETERNITY takes fans on a hard road through the strange fantasy world of Zhal. All men have surrendered their freedom for fear. Now, one last free man must choose.

SEVEN TO ETERNITY remains available for purchase across all digital platforms, including the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com), the official Image Comics iOS app, Comixology’s website (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play.

SEVEN TO ETERNITY #1, 3rd printing (Diamond Code SEP168407) and SEVEN TO ETERNITY #2, 2nd printing (Diamond Code SEP168408), SEVEN TO ETERNITY #3 Cover A by Opeña and Hollingsworth (Diamond Code SEP160751), and SEVEN TO ETERNITY #3 Cover B by Farel Dalrymple (Diamond Code SEP160752) will be available on Wednesday, November 30th. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, November 7th.

Select praise for SEVEN TO ETERNITY:

“Seven to Eternity has a compelling opening, a vivid (and vividly rendered) setting and a quietly mysterious central character—all of which make for a terrific narrative hook.” —Paste Magazine

“Very much the opulent fantasy you'd expect.” —Kieron Gillen

“Seven to Eternity #1 is divine. It’s an incredible debut issue that will suck you in, chew you up, and spit you out” —Nerdist

“Gorgeous.” —UPROXX

“Has the potential to be thrilling and strange, and we need more of that in comics.” —Comics Alliance

“Seven to Eternity #1 is the kind of book Image Comics was made for. It’s unapologetically deep, gorgeously illustrated, and as inviting as it is complex. The brisk pacing and lack of clear cut direction can mar initial comprehension, but the excellent early focus on family, coupled with the ridiculous amount of beautiful imagery, carries it on through. Regardless of your preferred genre flavor, this debut is well worth your money.” —IGN

“Starts with a bang and doesn’t let up.” —Fangoria


ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

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"Jojo's Bizarre Adventure" Returns with "Stardust Crusaders"

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: PART 3 – STARDUST CRUSADERS

Third Story Arc In The Acclaimed Multi-Generational Fantasy Action Manga Series Debuts In Print And Digital Editions This Fall

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, announces an exciting new addition to the acclaimed JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE saga with the release of JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: PART 3 – STARDUST CRUSADERS on November 1st, 2016.

Created by Hirohiko Araki, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a groundbreaking manga series famous for its outlandish characters, wild humor and frenetic battles. JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: PART 3 – STARDUST CRUSADERS is the third story arc in the overall series and will be published in a deluxe, hardcover edition under the Shonen Jump imprint and is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens. Volume 1 will carry a print MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN.

JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: PART 3 – STARDUST CRUSADERS will also be available digitally from VIZ.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and GooglePlay stores. Future volumes of the series will be published on a quarterly basis.

JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE depicts the long-running, multi-generational adventures of a family of mighty heroes – the Joestars. As the STARDUST CRUSADERS arc opens, a fiendish villain once thought to be dead has resurfaced and become even more powerful! To fight this evil, the aging Joseph Joestar enlists the help of his hot-blooded grandson, Jotaro Joestar. Together they embark on a perilous adventure that will take them around the world!

“This is the story arc that propelled JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE to international fame,” says Urian Brown, Editor. “With the introduction of Tarot-themed Stands, ghostlike projections with fantastic powers that come from the characters' bodies, the action in the story took on a whole new life. And now this fan favorite arc is collected in deluxe, hardcover editions complete with color pages. Read the first volume next month and find out how the series achieved the legendary status it has!”

Manga creator Hirohiko Araki made his manga debut in 1981 with the Wild West story, Busô Poker. He experimented with several genres, including mysteries (Mashonen B.T.) and action-horror (Baoh), before beginning JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE in 1986. Propelled by imaginative storylines, surreal imagery and individualistic artwork, JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE is one of the longest-running and most popular shonen manga ever released. Araki’s current works include a new series set in the JOJO'S universe, JoJolion.

VIZ Media is the North American master merchandise licensee for JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE and also publishes the manga series in print and digital editions. Readers are invited to enjoy the earlier JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE manga releases that include JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: PART 1 – PHANTOM BLOOD and JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: PART 2 – BATTLE TENDENCY. VIZ Media also distributes the JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE anime series.

For additional information on JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE and other manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at www.VIZ.com.

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