Features
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Features could be original writing that doesn’t fit into Essays, Reviews, or News – but a feature post will more likely be composed of fun pictures or general nuttiness. We need some place to put it, right?

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By | Wednesday, March 6, 2013 | 11:22 pm | 7 Comments | Blog > Features

Hello faithful TRO-ites! Welcome to another edition, or Vol. 2 as I affectionately call it, of Lee’s Pull List (not to be confused with my tug list, which, as I’m sure you can imagine, is something else entirely and not suitable for print on this, or any other, website). Since nobody had anything to say about last months column I can only assume I knocked it out of the park in a stunning display of wit, knowledge and know how. Also, all titles are paperback unless otherwise noted and the suggested retail price is just that: suggested. And, the same as last months column, all of the dates are approximate and subject to change so you should always check with your local comic shop before assuming I don’t know what I’m talking about, (all though, in some cases, you would be right in assuming that).

Without further adieu and absolutely no fan fare we begin!

 

MARVEL

 

marvel zombies destroy

Marvel Zombies Destroy!

This is the 11th, yes 11th, volume in a series that has now included a Christmas Special, (what the what?!), a crossover with another property and a collection of just covers. I initially assumed MZ would run it’s course after a few collections and a few laughs. Apparently I don’t know squirt. Or zombies are just that danged popular. Insert the obvious jokes about the Marvel Zombies never dying, or being undead if you will, and I think that about wraps up my write up.

SRP: 19.99
Contains: Marvel Zombies: Destory #1-5
Indigo, Amazon – March 19th
Things From Another World, My Comic Shop – March 6th

 

kick ass 2

Kick-Ass 2

Coming to paperback a few months before the movie hits theaters so all the fan boys who couldn’t, or wouldn’t, buy the hardcover can claim they know more then everyone else. Apparently this was written after the first movie was successful so the sequel would have a superior product to butcher. I kid, I kid. Or do I? I guess we’ll just have to find out. The first book and movie were both quite….awesome, (you thought I was going to say kick ass didn’t you? don’t lie, I know you did), so, hopefully this one is as well. On a side note, there’s a prelude book coming out for Hit Girl as well. Not sure if that will tie in to the upcoming movie or not.

SRP: 19.99
Contains: Kick-Ass 2 #1-7
Indigo, Amazon – April 9th
TFAW, MCS – March 27th

 

Invincible Iron Man Vol. 10

Invincible Iron Man Vol. 10: Long Way Down

When I bought issue one of Matt Fraction’s fantastic run on Iron Man I did it mostly for the kinda cool, kinda stupid, photo cover featuring Robert Downey Jr. I knew very little about Iron Man and had just finished watching the movie for the first of many times. Fraction wowed me with his ability to take a movie universe and breath life in to it after the celluloid ran out, something I can only assume is not easy to do. Somewhere along the way I lost touch of what was going on with Fraction’s Iron Man but I’m glad to see he’s still pumping them out. I doubt this would the best place to start if you’re curious about what he’s doing as it sounds like he’s got quite an involved story going, but, if you want to read some Iron Man adventures you could do a lot worse than Matt Fraction’s take. Side note, there’s a Vol. 3 of Fraction’s version of Thor coming out this month as well.

SRP: 16.99
Contains: Invincible Iron Man #516-520 (a few trades ago they jumped out of sequence and started numbering them from 500 onward, not sure why)
Indigo, Amazon – April 2nd
TFAW, MCS – March 20th

 

Avengers vs. X-Men

(not the final image)

Avengers vs. X-Men

Roll call: Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Ed Brubaker, John Romita Jr., Ed McGuiness, Adam Kubert and more. If that list of names alone doesn’t make your mouth water with the possibilities then there is very little I can do for you and chances are you’re on the wrong website. It’s an all out brawl between some of Marvel’s top tier characters: Iron Man vs. Magneto; Captain America vs. Gambit; Spider-Man vs. Colossus etc. etc. Very cool. I can’t really seem to find out what the story is about per se because most write-ups are filled with a lot of buzz phrases like ‘landmark event’, ‘ultimate showdown’, ‘world changing epic’, ‘pop-culture wet dream’…ok, that last one was me. But, I mean, who cares really? We just want to see the fights!

SRP: 34.99
Contains: Avengers vs. X-Men (2012) #0-12 and some material from Point One (2011)
Indigo, Amazon – April 16th
TFAW, MCS – March 27th

 

DC

sleeper

The Sleeper Omnibus (HC)

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips have become synonymous with hard-boiled, pitch-black crime fiction in the comic book world and for anyone enamored with Criminal this omnibus is sure to be another treasured edition. It’s very hard to talk about the book or the plot without fear of giving away some crucial twist. It is set in the Wildstorm universe and there is a few super-heroes flying around, but they are by no means the crux of the story. If you’re looking for an antidote to capes, tights and cowls then this might be the place for you to start.

SRP: 75.00
Contains: Point Blank #1-5, Sleeper: Season 1 #1-12, Sleeper: Season 2 #1-12, Coup Detat and Coup Detat Afterword
Indigo, Amazon – March 5th
TFAW, MCS – Feb. 27th

 

superman omnibus

Superman: The Death And Return Omnibus (HC)

Continuing with their expanded re-pressings of landmark DC events (see: Knightfall re-release), we are now graced with over 1000 pages collecting, arguably, one of the biggest events in comic book history. For anyone who hasn’t read it or wants to experience the earth-shattering carnage of Doomsday all over again this is the perfect way to do it. And for anyone who can’t get enough Doomsday/Supes action the Reign Of Doomsday story line is coming to paperback at the beginning of the month. You’re all ready spending 100 dollars, so, what’s 15 more?

SRP: 99.99
Contains: The Death Of.., World Without A.. and The Return Of.. trades plus “bonus material”
Indigo, Amazon – March 26th
TFAW, MCS – March 20th

 day of judgment

Day Of Judgment

Finally! OMG, yes! Now I can retire my single issues and get the beautiful trade that my collection sorely deserves. Back before Geoff Johns was Mr. DC he was just a guy writing good stories, and this was one of his first. Working with Scott Beaty and featuring the Hal Jordan version of the Spectre in a key roll this is a story that sounded hokey on paper, (something about hell fire and demons and tortured souls), but was awesome in execution and gave us a hint of what GJ was capable of. If you’re a fan of Geoff Johns or epics starring the Justice League then you’ll all ready want this. If you’re not then I’m not sure why you’re still reading this.

SRP: 14.99
Contains: Day of Judgment #1-5 and Day of Judgment Secret Files
Indigo, Amazon – April 2nd
TFAW, MCS – March 27th

 

batwing

Batwing Vol. 2: In The Shadows Of The Ancients

In response to Uncle Gorby’s essay this month, and for my unabashed love of all things Bat, I’ve decided to include the second volume of Batwing. Spawning from Batman Inc. and kept alive by the overwhelming popularity of the Bat this second volume features material that ties in to The Court Of Owls with Batwing coming to Gotham. Written by Judd Winnick, (love him!) and featuring awesomely slick art by Dustin Nguyen this volume should be a winner and will, hopefully, let Batwing’s run continue because apparently he’s part of a quickly dying breed.

SRP: 14.99
Contains: Batwing #0, #7-12
Indigo, Amazon – April 2nd
TFAW, MCS – March 27th

 

INDIES

 

chew vol. 3

Chew Omnivore Edition Vol. 3 (HC)

For those of us who like to take big mouthfuls of story comes Vol. 3 of the Chew Omnibus, or “Omnivore Editions” as they have so cleverly called it. If you’re looking for Vol. 3 chances are you’re all ready familiar with the story of cibopathic detective Tony Chu. Essentially, he’s a man who runs around munching on dead people to find out who killed them. This may leave a bad taste in the mouth for some, but, for other’s it’s a sweet treat. If you’re the latter, grab Vol. 1 and enjoy one of the most bizzare detective stories ever told in sequential format.  Also, see the review for Vol. 1 of the trades for more information on whether this is the right meal for you.  I think I’ve just about had my fill of eating related puns, so, that’s my cue to move on.

Publisher: Image
SRP: 34.99
Indigo, Amazon – March 26th
TFAW, MCS – March 13th

 

vampire hunter d

Vampire Hunter D Vol. 19: Mercenary Road

When did Dark Horse start pumping out so much manga? About half of their output this month is related or inspired by anime/manga products. I mean, if it works for them, have at it. I was just surprised to see it. As for the story, it’s something to do with bank robbers, bounty hunters and an army. Looks like somebody will need D to help them clean up the mess. Not sure if there’s any actual vampire hunting per se, but, if you’re looking to buy Vol. 19 I’d say you’re probably invested in the story and characters either way.

Publisher: Dark Horse
SRP: 11.99
Contains: 160 pages of b&w Japanese fury
Indigo, Amazon – March 19th
TFAW, MCS – March 6th

 

jennifer blood vol. 3

Jennifer Blood Vol. 3: Neither Tarnished Nor Afraid

Now that we’re all done drooling over the beautiful cover by Tim Bradstreet, may I continue?  Thank you.  I love Garth Ennis. I may not have read all his stuff, but what I have read has been unique, emotional and over the top: equal parts fun and frustration, but, always entertaining and original. Now, apparently Ennis only wrote the first two volumes on this comic which feels like a riff on the Punisher with a female perspective, but, the man himself says his replacement, Al Ewing, is more than up to the task having penned the second volume with him. Since it’s the beginning of a new arc with a new writer this could be a good starting point for anyone curious, but, let’s face it – if you’re going to read this you might as well get the first two volumes written by such a unique talent. And for those who scoff at Ennis leaving the book and letting someone else take the reigns – get over it.  Everybody deserves a shot.

Publisher: Dynamite
SRP: 19.99
Contains: Jennifer Blood #13-18
Indigo, Amazon – March 26th
TFAW, MCS – March 13th

 

ghostbusters vol. 4

Ghostbusters Vol. 4: Who Ya Gonna Call?!

When I first saw the title of the fourth story by Erik Burnham I thought, “Well, that seems a little obvious” and then I read the plot outline and it’s actually kind of clever. Apparently, there’s a new group of supernatural investigation and elimination specialists setting up shop in the Big Apple and they’re stealing all of the ‘Busters work! But all is not as it seems, (when is it ever?), and Egon begins to worry that these new specialists haven’t thought everything through. Can the Ghostbusters talk some sense in to them? Or is it going to be an all out brawl? By the looks of it these are self-contained stories and not issues that form arcs re-printed. So, if you’re curious as to what’s going on in the comic book world of the Ghostbusters this is as good a place as any to start.

Publisher: IDW
SRP: 17.99
Contains: 104 pages of four color, Ghostbusting action.
Indigo, Amazon – March 26th
TFAW, MCS – March 13th

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By | Monday, March 4, 2013 | 11:23 pm | 2 Comments | Blog > Features

So, we’ve put all these trades in a nice neat order for you. But what if you’re looking for something a little more chaotic? No worries mate, because we’re introducing Bingo Night here at TRO!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: collect enough trades to achieve five in a row on the table below. If you already have some of the books on the list, then congratulations, you’re almost there.

We’ll start off this month with some randomly selected trades from the DC Comics library. If there’s demand for it, we can roll from other publishers in future renditions — or even combine them.

If you do achieve a bingo, take a picture of your five books in a row (stand in any of your choice for the FREE SPACE) and post it in the comments section. We might just send you a little something for your trouble.

 

TEEN TITANS: TITANS EAST TEEN TITANS SPOTLIGHT: CYBORG PLASTIC MAN ARCHIVES VOL. 1 LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES ARCHIVES VOL. 2 SUPERMAN: REDEMPTION
BIRDS OF PREY VOL. 1: TROUBLE IN MIND KURT BUSIEK’S ASTRO CITY: FAMILY ALBUM SUPERMAN: THE DAILIES VOL. 2 BATMAN: MONSTERS THE SUPERMAN CHRONICLES VOL. 1
TEEN TITANS BY GEOFF JOHNS OMNIBUS VOL. 1 ASTRO CITY: LIFE IN THE BIG CITY FREE SPACE JLA VOL. 2: AMERICAN DREAMS BATGIRL/ROBIN YEAR ONE
DC/WILDSTORM: DREAMWAR JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE THE LEGION: FOUNDATIONS MYSTERY IN SPACE VOL. 2 ELFQUEST: THE GRAND QUEST VOL. 1
THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS: THE DC COMICS COLLECTION BOOSTER GOLD VOL. 1: 52 PICK-UP JONAH HEX: WELCOME TO PARADISE THE SILVER AGE TEEN TITANS COLLECTION VOL. 1 ABSOLUTE BATMAN AND ROBIN: BATMAN REBORN

 

Good luck, and happy collecting!

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By | Wednesday, February 6, 2013 | 8:10 pm | 1 Comment | Blog > Features

Hi everyone! Lee T. here with a list of new releases.

This is by no means a complete and irrefutable list of what is coming out this month, nor is it intended to be.  It’s just to give TRO readers an idea of where to begin their hunt.

This is my first column for TRO, so, if anyone has any suggestions or comments please feel free to leave them, (column is too long, too short, someone who knows what they’re talking about should write it, etc).

Please keep in mind release dates are subject to change and you should always check with your retailer of choice before demanding your copy.  Also, all titles are paperback unless otherwise noted and the suggested retail price is just that: suggested.

Without further ado and absolutely no fanfare we begin!

MARVEL

 

CAPTAIN AMERICA – THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

In a month that is filled (and I mean right to the brim) with collected editions from Marvel this is by far one of the coolest.  Who doesn’t love watching our heroes die?  And this was one spectacular way to go.  I love anything with complete, ultimate, omnibus or library in the title and to get the death of Cap all rolled in to one fantastic little package is pretty great.

SRP: 39.99

Contains:  Captain America (2005)  #22-42, Winter Soldier: Winter Kills

Chapters, Amazon – Feb. 19th

Things From Another World, My Comic Shop – Feb. 6th

 

MARVEL NOIR: WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN

These sorts of things can either be fun and mildly diverting entertainment shedding new light on old aspects or they can be terrible and make you feel deep despair like you’ve never known.  I enjoyed the Noir take on Spider-Man and I feel like some of the X-Men characters could be adapted quite well to an urban 30‘s and 40‘s setting.

SRP:  34.99

Contains: X-Men Noir #1-4, Wolverine Noir #1-4, X-Men Noir: Mark Of Cain #1-4 and Weapon X Noir #1.

Chapters, Amazon – March 12th

Things From Another World, My Comic Shop – Feb. 27th

 

Avengers vs. Thanos

AVENGERS VS. THANOS

Well, it’s no shock that this came out, but, it does seem a little premature and probably would have been better timed to coincide with the release of either the Guardians Of The Galaxy movie or The Avengers 2.  Unlike most of these “released to capitalize off a movie” trades, this one is supposed to tell the life story of Thanos through his various appearances and battles, which is a cool idea.  Hopefully it actually does it.

SRP: 34.99

Contains: Over 450 pages of various comics mostly from the late 60‘s and early 70‘s

Amazon, Chapters – March 5th

Things From Another World, My Comic Shop – Feb. 20th

 

AVENGING SPIDER-MAN: THE GOOD, THE GREEN AND THE UGLY

Essentially this looks like a book of team-ups featuring Spider-Man with help from She-Hulk, Captain Marvel (apparently the new one) and Deadpool…..ya, Deadpool.  Weird, but, if you can handle the insane amount of one-liners and bad jokes that would be spewing forth between the two of them then it could be an entertaining couple of issues.

SRP: 16.99

Contains: Avenging Spider-Man (2011) 7, 9-10, 12-13

Chapters, Amazon – March 5

Things From Another World, My Comic Shop – Feb. 20

 

DC

 

BATMAN: THE NIGHT OF THE OWLS (HC)

The follow up to The Court Of Owls promises to be an epic done in the style of the great Bat Sagas, (No Man’s Land; Knightfall; Bruce Wayne – Fugitive).  The issues collected here feature Red Robin, Batwing, Batgirl, the Birds of Prey, Nightwing, Catwoman (and the list goes on) with all of their respective stories coming together as a whole.  Can’t wait.  

SRP: 29.99

Contains: One or two issues from all the major and secondary Bat Books totalling 360 pages of awesome

Chapters, Amazon – Feb. 19

Things From Another World, My Comic Shop – Feb. 13

 

GREEN ARROW: SALVATION

I like DC’s events in all their twisting, convoluted glory and this newest volume of Star City’s emerald defender is a tie-in to Brightest Day.  There really isn’t much more that needs to be said about it.  If you liked Brightest Day you’ll want to add this to the collection.  Ditto if you just like Oliver Queen.  Either way 200 pages for 17 bucks is a pretty solid deal.

SRP: 16.99

Contains: Green Arrow (2010) 8-15

Chapters, Amazon – Feb. 19

Things From Another World, My Comic Shop – Feb. 13

 

THE NEW DEADWARDIANS

Published through their Vertigo line for older readers this book just looks plain odd.  A kind of combination of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and those Seth-Graeme Smith books that have been so popular of late, this book is about a detective solving murders in post-Victorian England.  The catch is that the lower class have all become zombies and the upper class have voluntarily become vampires to separate themselves.  Weird?  Yes.  Intriguing?  A resounding yes.

SRP: 14.99

Contains: All 8 issues of the mini-series by Dan Abnett

Chapters, Amazon – Feb. 12

Things From Another World, My Comic Shop – Feb. 6

 

VOODOO VOL. 2: THE KILLER IN ME

I’ve gotta say, in the spirit of honesty, I’m not very up to date on my New 52.  It’s not because I don’t want to be, I just don’t have the money to be keeping up on all these books.  One day in the distant future I will have them all and I will revel in their glory, but, until that day I’ll have to live vicariously through you guys.  I know Voodoo is an old character being brought back and I know she is ambiguous in that she isn’t sure whether she’s a villain or a hero and I love that kind of tension.  Will she or won’t she?  This will definitely be a book I check out at some point.

SRP: 14.99

Contains: Voodoo 7-12, 0

Chapters, Amazon – Feb. 26

Things From Another World, My Comic Shop – Feb. 20

 

INDIES

 

G.I. JOE: THE IDW COLLECTION VOL. 1 (HC)

Originally slated to come out at the end of next month this 350 page hardcover has been pushed back until sometime this month.  Hopefully it actually comes out as it’s supposed to feature writing by Chuck Dixon and that’s always a good thing.  Make note that this has all ready been delayed once and may be delayed again so the dates that follow are just an estimate.

Publisher: IDW   

SRP: 49.99

Contains: 352 pages of GI Joe action starting with Origins and, presumably, moving forward.

Chapters, Amazon – Feb. 26

Things From Another World, My Comic Shop – Feb. 13

 

AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER: THE PROMISE – LIBRARY EDITION (HC)

Written by the show’s creators and Gene Luen Yang this story picks up directly after the series finale.  Apparently the peace that we saw at the close of Avatar is tenous and Fire Lord Zuko is at odds with Earth King Kuei.  I’m sure it will be up to Aang, Kitara and Soka to stop them and since they’re friends with Zuko now I doubt it will be very cut and dry.  Normally this kind of thing wouldn’t interest me, but, with the show’s creators at the helm it’s a perfect opportunity for those of us who miss the show to get something new while we wait for Legend Of Korra to start up again.

Publisher: Dark Horse

SRP: 39.99

Contains: The first 3 graphic novels put out by Dark Horse

Chapters, Amazon – March 5th

Things From Another World, My Comic Shop – Feb. 20

 

SUPER DINOSAUR VOL. 3

A T-Rex who plays video games and the 10 year old boy who loves him… ok?  Oh, and they fight bad guys and stop evil plans and stuff… double ok?  If it didn’t have Robert Kirkman’s name attached for writing duties a lot of people probably wouldn’t have bothered with this, but, it is Kirkman and he has a fairly strong track record.  This and the Astounding Wolf-Man are definitely on my pull list if even just to read something different and odd, emphasis on odd.  Side note: this may be delayed as well since My Comic Shop doesn’t have it listed and issue 17 is supposed to drop the same day as the trade.  Huh.  That’s a new one.

Publisher: Image Comics

SRP: 12.99

Contains: Super Dinosaur 12-17

Chapters, Amazon – Mar. 5

Things From Another World – Feb. 20

 

MARS ATTACKS VOL. 1: ATTACK FROM SPACE

Apparently this is an all-new take on the Mars Attacks universe that promises to be just as gonzo as the original if not more so.  Having John Layman of Chew fame at the helm should help ensure that it stays weird and bloody.  The art looks to be solid and while this book probably won’t change the landscape of comics forever I have a feeling it will be pretty entertaining.  You know, if you’re in to that sort of thing.

Publisher: IDW

SRP: 19.99

Contains: Probably the first 5 or 6 issues (can’t get a definitive list, sorry)

Chapters, Amazon – Feb. 26

Things From Another World, My Comic Shop – Feb. 13

 

That’s it!

Hopefully you’re excited about some of these books. What are you looking forward to the most?

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By | Saturday, March 5, 2011 | 4:03 pm | 4 Comments | Blog > Features

So I just came back from the SCAD Mini-Comics Expo (where I dropped off a few flyers for TRO) and thought I’d share what I found.

My budget was pretty limited but I still got some great stuff.

The first is Another Stupid Cat Comic by Alyssa Ciaccio (lisserbliss.blogspot.com). It’s actually a little handmade flipbook with an adorably animated cat and some scatological humor.

Though it must be reprinted, it still somehow looked like it was drawn with pencil right in the book.

The second book, Boogers #1 by Kevin Burkhalter (kevinsjournalcomic.com) was a bit of unexpected high fantasy with low.. well, high in the nostril… er, characters. I made sure to get #1, since you guys know what a continuity freak I am. Don’t want to accidentally read Boogers out of order.

I liked how the pages counted with little boogers in this one.

The last one there is Inkdick #5, where I felt ok getting out of order since I also read the comic online. Pranas T. Naujokaitis (ghostcarpress.com/inkdick/) has been doing his journal comic for a long time and it was kind of weird getting this one, which contains a bit about the Obama election, and realizing it’s the happiest thing in the book.

Such a feeling of hope, something it doesn’t seem has stuck with us. In any case, I always enjoy Pranas’ work because his honest depictions of down times help keep me from feeling really alone when I’m sad.

Finally, I also picked up a bitchin’ shirt from Nate Marsh (www.obscureanimals.com), who also had some awesome books that were a little out of my price range… well, if I wanted the shirt that is.

I always love these kinds of things and I always feel bad that I don’t plan ahead to bring more to support the indie peeps. There was a lot of other interesting looking stuff there, but I ran out of the cash in my pocket quick.

I like that I came home with little books featuring three different binding techniques. There was even more ingenuity on display at the tables. It just goes to show – if you wanna make comics, you’re gonna make comics. No reason to let anything stand in your way.

Like many artists, I highly doubt any of these guys are breaking even on the printed stuff shown at the actual expo, but I hope they do well through their websites.

So check em out, show em some love!

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By | Tuesday, February 15, 2011 | 4:28 am | 3 Comments | Blog > Features

Matt Seneca, who is fast becoming one of my favorite writers on Sequential Art and Visual Culture, posted an essay on Eisner’s Ebony White character over at his blog, Death To The Universe.

Here’s an excerpt:

Racism was a part of the world once upon a time, and as such it was a part of comics. And it’s hardly left the world, let alone America, let alone American comics — but at least there are certain things you can’t do in public anymore, and this is most definitely one of them.

Ebony White will always ensure that The Spirit isn’t presented in the grand fashion the work’s aesthetic value merits. In a way that’s poetic justice, a casual racism that no doubt endeared Eisner’s work to a populist audience in its day now preventing it from getting over to the world at large in ours. And there the story would end, if Ebony White wasn’t such a good character.

In full here.

It’s an excellent read and ties well into our discussion in the comments of the Milestone Comics feature posted earlier this month.

I’ll be getting into The Spirit in the reviews soon after we resume our daily review schedule with DC’s Golden Age. Until then, Seneca’s essay will give you a little to think about.

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