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"Jack Woods: "Damsel In Distress"": While riding through the desert, Jack hears a woman's cry for help coming from an isolated shack. Choosing to investigate, he knocks on the shack's front door, but gets no response. Inside, two outlaws are holding a woman prisoner. Using his horse to create a

Quote1 Let's turn the critter loose, to go back to his people, it will show we want to be friends. Quote2
Buckskin Jim

New Fun Comics #5 is an issue of the series New Fun Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1935. It was published on July 12, 1935.

Synopsis for Jack Woods: "Damsel In Distress"

While riding through the desert, Jack hears a woman's cry for help coming from an isolated shack. Choosing to investigate, he knocks on the shack's front door, but gets no response. Inside, two outlaws are holding a woman prisoner. Using his horse to create a diversion, Jack sneaks onto the roof, hangs over the edge, and pounds on the door from above. The outlaws begin shooting immediately, thinking Jack is standing directly in front of the door. Jack counts their shots, and after they run out of ammunition, Jack breaks down the door and takes the two outlaws prisoner, and frees their prisoner.

Appearing in Jack Woods: "Damsel In Distress"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Two outlaws

Other Characters:

  • Kidnapped girl

Locations:


Synopsis for Ramblin' Jim: "Fishy the Gangster, Part 1 (of 4)"

Jim prepares to ramble on from the town of Sleepy Hollow when he encounters Sheriff Smith, who asks him if he has seen any "desperate characters" around. Jim hasn't seen anyone, so he goes on his way, but when he stops for lunch, he is attacked by an escaped convict. Though he manages to escape the convict's initial attack, Jim falls victim to a treacherous ploy, and the villain drops a rock on his head and steals his lunch.

Appearing in Ramblin' Jim: "Fishy the Gangster, Part 1 (of 4)"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Sheriff Smith

Antagonists:

  • Fishy Gill (not yet named)

Locations:

  • Sleepy Hollow

Synopsis for Sandra of the Secret Service: "The Gavonian Affair, Part 5 (of 13)"

The two Gavonian agents have abducted Sandra, wrapped her up in a carpet, and escaped. Lothar and the secret agent attempt to pursue them. They commandeer a taxi and give chase. However, the taxi's engine overheats, and the conspirators get away with Sandra.

Appearing in Sandra of the Secret Service: "The Gavonian Affair, Part 5 (of 13)"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Lothar
  • Reynolds (not yet named)

Antagonists:

Locations:

Vehicles:

  • Taxicab

Synopsis for Spike Spalding: "Prince of Patrania, Part 3 (of 25)"

Detectives question Spike and Pincus' families after the boys disappear, but get no leads. Meanwhile, with Pincus clinging desperately to the outside of the car, the kidnappers take Spike to the coast and bring him on board a ship. Thinking quickly, Pincus climbs a rope and sneaks onto the ship himself.

Appearing in Spike Spalding: "Prince of Patrania, Part 3 (of 25)"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Pincus

Antagonists:

  • Alex
  • Nikko

Other Characters:

  • Philip of Patrania
  • Susan Bell, Spike's aunt (not yet named) (First appearance)

Locations:

Synopsis for Don Drake: "Women Riders of the Winged Death"

Don and his friends are on their way to the midget city of Zetruria when they are attacked by the Women Riders of the Winged Death. Suddenly, a Many Armed Beast attacks everyone, but Don drives it away with his atomic energy gun. In gratitude, Zastia, captain of the Women Riders, offers to escort Don and his friends to Zetruria. As they near the city, Don discovers a giant footprint. The giant is not long in coming, and he seizes Don in an iron grip.

Appearing in Don Drake: "Women Riders of the Winged Death"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Women Riders of the Winged Death
  • Many Armed Beast
  • Giant

Alien Animals:

  • Amazons' steeds, giant flying bugs

Other Characters:

  • Zastia

Locations:

  • Planet Saro
    • Valley of the Winged Death
    • Zetruria (First appearance)

Items:

  • Drake's Atomic Energy Gun

Synopsis for In the Wake of the Wander, part 3 (of 17): "Island of Missing Men"

Captain Grim questions the wounded sailor from the dismasted vessel, who tells him that the vessel's crew disappeared on the Island of Missing Men. The wounded sailor further describes a giant gray bird with sharp claws, and how one sailor was found dead without any visible marks. Encountering another ship, Grim describes the situation to its captain, who agrees to lend him three armed men. Captain Grim's crew makes landfall on the Island. They make camp in a defensible spot and post a guard, but it is not long before the guard disappears--possibly the latest victim of the Death That Leaves No Mark.

Appearing in In the Wake of the Wander, part 3 (of 17): "Island of Missing Men"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Slim
  • Holcomb, wounded sailor (not yet named)

Antagonists:

  • Hostile Islanders

Other Characters:

  • Steamship's Captain
    • Boarding party, 3 armed men

Locations:

  • Island of Missing Men
    • Old Blockhouse
    • Islander Village

Vehicles:

  • Wander
  • Steamship

Synopsis for Barry O'Neill: "Fang Gow of China, Part 5 (of 35)"

Barry and Le Grand have seized control of the assassins' biplane and are flying away, but beneath their plane is a Mongol assassin, climbing a rope ladder towards the fuselage. He reaches the cockpits and there's a fight. Barry flies down alongside the motor launch, which unlimbers an antiaircraft gun and fires at him. And then an enemy airplane, more modern and much more heavily armed than O'Neill's kite-like seaplane, arrives on the scene, and also opens fire. The heavy fire accidentally hits the Mongol assassin, removing one threat.

Meanwhile in a mysterious house in a suburb of Paris, the disembodied voice of Fang Gow scourges his followers, ordering a mob of them to swarm out in pursuit of Barry O'Neill!

Appearing in Barry O'Neill: "Fang Gow of China, Part 5 (of 35)"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Fang Gow (Behind the scenes)
    • Fang Gow's followers

Locations:

Vehicles:

  • Amphibious Biplane
  • Modern Monoplane
  • Motor Launch

Synopsis for Little Linda: "On the Road Again"

The police put out an all-points bulletin for Linda and Buddy. Unaware of this, Linda and Buddy go to a police station. The police are surprised to see the two pint-sized fugitives walk into the station, and the chief of police sends Detective Kelly to get Wilbur Stone to identify his nephew. While Kelly is gone, Linda tells the chief the story of how Wilbur Stone abandoned Buddy in the middle of nowhere. Kelly returns with the news that Wilbur Stone has committed suicide, leaving a note confessing his attempt to kill Buddy to inherit Buddy's parents' money. The chief asks Buddy what he wants to do now, and Buddy says he wants Linda to take care of him.

Appearing in Little Linda: "On the Road Again"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Buddy Stone

Antagonists:

  • Wilbur Stone (Behind the scenes) (Dies)

Other Characters:

  • Detective Kelly (Single appearance)

Synopsis for After School: "And So It Goes"

The boys are going to a baseball game, but Lefty has to bring his Uncle Wilbur along. Gertie claims that Wilbur will bring Slimsy good luck, but Slimsy is dubious. In Slimsy's first time at bat, he hits it over the fence--perhaps Wilbur is bringing him luck after all! Not quite--because the ball goes down the sewer. Furious, the other team claims Slimsy's new bat as collateral until he replaces the ball.

Appearing in After School: "And So It Goes"

Featured Characters:

  • Lefty Peters
  • Slimsy Simpkins

Supporting Characters:

  • Uncle Wilbur
  • Gertie

Synopsis for Oswald the Rabbit: "Job Interview"

Oswald the Rabbit sees a job offer in the newspaper and decides to apply. While he waits to be interviewed, a well-dressed hippo walks past him, and Oswald bows to him. Later, a shabby-looking dog walks past him too, and Oswald, assuming he is another competitor for the job offer, trips him. But when Oswald walks into the interview room, he learns that the hippo is just the janitor, and the dog is conducting the interviews.

Appearing in Oswald the Rabbit: "Job Interview"

Featured Characters:

Synopsis for Buckskin Jim: "Indian Ambush, Part 5 (of 7)"

In a desperate attempt to wake the sleeping sentry before an Indian buries his tomahawk in the sentry's head, Jim throws a rock at the sentry, but he hits the Indian instead, knocking him out and making him drop the tomahawk, which hits the sentry's rifle, and causes it to go off, rousing the entire camp. The pioneers are alerted and have their rifles out, and seeing this, the Indians withdraw in disorder. Jim and Pete soon discover that Mary Halliday has disappeared as well!

Appearing in Buckskin Jim: "Indian Ambush, Part 5 (of 7)"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Trapper Pete

Antagonists:

  • Indians

Other Characters:

  • Wagon train pioneers
    • Zeb Halliday
    • Mary Halliday

Locations:

Vehicles:

  • Conestoga wagons

Synopsis for Slim Pickins: "The Haunted House, Part 1 (of 4)"

Having inherited his deceased aunt's house, Slim travels to Gloomdale to take a look at the place. Strangely, no one will give him directions to the house--out of fear, because the place is reputed to be haunted. Slim finally pries the directions out of a policeman, arrives at the house, and goes inside. But as he passes a staircase, something comes out of the shadows to grab him by the throat!

Appearing in Slim Pickins: "The Haunted House, Part 1 (of 4)"

Featured Characters:

Other Characters:

  • Kate Pickins (Mentioned only) (Deceased)

Locations:

  • Gloomdale

Synopsis for "The Professor, Ch. 1, of 4"

The Professor has hired two detectives to protect his formula from three persistent burglars. As the detectives stand guard, they find a cabinet full of what they assume to be alcohol. Meanwhile, the burglars sneak up on the Professor and force him to show them where he hides his formula, he tries to lead them to the detectives, but they are nowhere to be found. Suddenly, the burglars are scared away by a spooky ghost, who turns out to be the Professor's dog, Schniffer, wrapped in a blanket. Later, the Professor finds the detectives, who've passed out from drinking his horse liniment.

Appearing in "The Professor, Ch. 1, of 4"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Private detectives
    • Schnooper
    • Schnatcher (not yet named)

Antagonists:

  • Three burglars

Dogs:

  • Schniffer

Synopsis for Bob Merritt: "The Mystery Plane, Part 1 (of 25)"

Buzz, using Bob's Electric Eye, detects a mysterious plane circling seven thousand feet over Bob's laboratory base. He is suspicious, but Shorty dismisses the contact as impossible, since no plane could be flying in the blustery winter weather outside. Buzz decides to take one of the team's planes and see for himself. Meanwhile, Bob closes a deal with Cyrus Campbell, a millionaire interested in financing Bob's inventions. As Bob meets Shorty outside, a gunshot rings out, and Bob rushes back into the meeting room to find Campbell shot to death. While some mysterious force is preventing Buzz from climbing his plane more than three thousand feet, on the ground, Bob finds a note on the floor.

Appearing in Bob Merritt: "The Mystery Plane, Part 1 (of 25)"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Buzz (First appearance)
  • Shorty (First appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Cyrus Campbell (Single appearance; dies)

Locations:

Items:

  • Merritt's Electric Eye

Vehicles:

  • Mysterious Airplane

Synopsis for Treasure Island: "Episode 1 (of 7)"

Jim Hawkins serves in his mother's inn near the sea. One morning, a man, Bill Bones, arrives carrying a chest and demands a room facing the sea, and orders Jim to keep watch for a one-legged man. Bones eventually falls ill and requires a doctor, who orders him to stay away from rum, but Bones ignores him. Late the same night, a cruel and mysterious face peers through the window of Bones' room.

Appearing in Treasure Island: "Episode 1 (of 7)"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Widow Hawkins (First appearance)
  • Dr. Livesey (First appearance)

Antagonists:

  • Bill Bones (First appearance)

Locations:

Synopsis for Charley Fish: "Bathtub Yanking"

A man asks Charley to help him get a leaky bathtub out into the yard. Charley gets the brilliant idea to tie the bathtub to his car and just yank it out. He gets a boy to tie the rope between his car and the bathtub, while he idly awaits. Once the bathtub is tied, Charley pulls with his car and the plan is successful! The only problem is that the boy has tied the rope to the wrong bathtub, pulling a poor man out into to the streets, while in the middle of his bath.

Appearing in Charley Fish: "Bathtub Yanking"

Featured Characters:

Synopsis for Along the Main Line: "Saving the 945"

Freight train engine crewmen Ed and Jake use their ingenuity, and some borrowed tools, to clear a derailed boxcar from the tracks, before a passenger train, due in an hour, crashes into it. They accomplish this and get their own engine onto a spur track in the bare nick of time.

Appearing in Along the Main Line: "Saving the 945"

Featured Characters:

  • Ed (First appearance)
  • Jake (First appearance)

Locations:

  • Red Island R.R., Main Line

Vehicles

  • Ed & Jake's Engine
  • Train #945

Synopsis for Charley Fish: "Painting"

Charley Fish goes to a picturesque field to draw a painting. When a man asks Charley about his painting, he's surprised that it has nothing to do with the beautiful scenery.

Appearing in Charley Fish: "Painting"

Featured Characters:

Synopsis for "Cap'n Spinacker, Part 3 (of 16)"

Captain Spinacker dives his submarine under the Arctic ice and drills toward the surface. On the surface, another captain languishes, with his sail-powered ship locked in by ice floes.

Appearing in "Cap'n Spinacker, Part 3 (of 16)"

Featured Characters:

Other Characters:

  • Captain Sternpipe (not yet named) (First appearance)

Locations:

Synopsis for Wing Brady: "The Bedouins, Part 5 (of 17)"

Wing is captured and tortured by the Arabs, whose chief is still in the hands of the Legion. Slim informs the Legion commander that Wing has been captured, then leads a search party on the trail of a spy, who in turn is attempting to warn his tribe of the Legion's close proximity. As Slim's party gains on the spy, Slim shoots him. The shot is heard in the Arab camp, and a fierce battle ensues. Slim and the Legionnaires attempt to surround the camp, but the acting chief intends to escape with Wing.

Appearing in Wing Brady: "The Bedouins, Part 5 (of 17)"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Bedouin marauders

Locations:

Synopsis for Caveman Capers: "Ur the Caveboy, Part 5"

While flying through the air, Ur and Wur are chased by a Flying Ichtosaurus. Ur hits a hive, enraging the bees, which chase the Ichtosaurus until it crashes into a tree. But the kids are not out of danger, as they have no way to land safely.

Appearing in Caveman Capers: "Ur the Caveboy, Part 5"

Featured Characters:

  • Ur (Final appearance)
  • Wur (Final appearance)

Antagonists:

  • Flying Ichtosaurus (Single appearance)

Synopsis for Jack Woods: "Pancho Villa, Part 2 (of 14)"

Jack leaves the besieged villa to find help, but instead is surrounded by the attackers. Fortunately, he is able to subdue three of his enemies and escape. Meanwhile, one of the ranchers turns traitor and sneaks out. He offers to show the attackers a secret way into the ranch house. Jack encounters the Rurales and leads them back to rescue those trapped in the ranch house, but there is no way of knowing whether he will be in time.

Appearing in Jack Woods: "Pancho Villa, Part 2 (of 14)"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Locations:

Synopsis for Brad Hardy: "Between Snake and Rat Men"

Brad, Lorraine, and Kardos have gotten cornered between the Snakemen and the Rat Men, but they use the fighting between these bitter enemies as cover to escape. But they are seen and pursued, and captured in nets. King Naga, ruler of the Dre, has been told that the trio were hiding in the caves. As Brad and the others are dragged before him, Naga decides to keep Lorraine for himself, but condemns Brad and Kardos to death in combat with the Black Magician of the Dre.

Appearing in Brad Hardy: "Between Snake and Rat Men"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Snakemen
  • Rat Men
  • King Naga (First appearance)
    • Dre, evil minions of the underworld
      • Black Magician (Mentioned only)

Locations:

Synopsis for Ivanhoe: "Episode 5 (of 26)"

The Disinherited Knight is revealed to be Wilfred of Ivanhoe. Lady Rowena is initially stunned to see her lover under the Disinherited Knight's helm, but she quickly recovers herself and awards Ivanhoe the victory token. Ivanhoe collapses at her feet from his wounds, and Cedric rushes to his son's side.

Meanwhile, with the tournament complete, Waldemar proposes an archery contest. Prince John, meanwhile, learns that his brother, the rightful king, Richard has returned to England, but decides to allow the archery contest. Locksley, secretly Robin Hood, tries to withdraw from the contest, but Prince John insists that he compete, offering a purse full of silver if Locksley can outshoot John's yeoman Hubert. Locksley agrees and easily defeats Hubert. John then offers to increase the prize if Locksley will join him against Richard. Locksley declines, saying that he would only serve Richard, but offers the prize to Hubert. The archery tournament ends and Prince John departs for Asby.

Appearing in Ivanhoe: "Episode 5 (of 26)"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Locations:

Synopsis for Jack Andrews: "Back to School"

Jack returns to school and meets with Coach Muller to see if he can resume his position on the baseball team. Next week is the big game against Hobart Academy.

Appearing in Jack Andrews: "Back to School"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Coach Muller

Locations:

  • Dover Academy
  • Hobart Academy (Mentioned only)

Synopsis for Midshipman Dewey: "Dewey and the Pirates, Part 2 (of 16)"

Jack battles against two cutlass-wielding pirates. With a marlin spike he manages to disarm one, and grab his weapon, but while he's fencing his way toward the second swordsman, a third pirate sneaks up behind him.

Appearing in Midshipman Dewey: "Dewey and the Pirates, Part 2 (of 16)"

Feature Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Three pirates

Vehicles:

  • Jolly Roger

Era:

Synopsis for Magic Crystal of History: "In Ancient Egypt, Part 5 (of 10)"

The High Priest sends assassins, disguised as merchants, to kill Bobby and Binks. Meanwhile, Hotep, the High Priest's nephew and master of the Pharaoh's household, plots against the children himself. As the erzatz merchants display their wares to the Queen, she orders wine to be poured. One of the merchants poisons the wine and offers it to the children, but Hotep, unaware that it's poisoned, drinks it himself while toasting the Pharaoh. The Queen accuses the merchants of poisoning Hotep and they are executed by the Pharaoh. The Magic Crystal then transports Bobby and Binks 1000 years later to meet King Tutankhamun.

Appearing in Magic Crystal of History: "In Ancient Egypt, Part 5 (of 10)"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Hotep (Single appearance; dies)
  • High Priest (Behind the scenes)
    • Two assassins (Dies)

Locations:

Items:

Concepts:

Synopsis for Pelion and Ossa: "Ice House"

Pelion and Ossa are set on building an ice house, and Pelion finds the perfect spot for it, a chunk of ice just beside the ocean, so they can go fishing from the window. Once the house is made, they fetch Mr. Walrus to show him their house. Unfortunately, the chunk of ice they built the house on breaks away, and the trio watch the house slowly drift into the ocean.

Appearing in Pelion and Ossa: "Ice House"

Featured Characters:

Other Characters:

  • Mr. Walrus (Final appearance)

Locations:

Synopsis for 2023 Super Police: "Captain Kiddlaw, Part 5 (of 12)"

The team prepares for its assault on Kiddlaw's stronghold. Meanwhile, Kiddlaw himself is punishing his men for their latest defeat at Rex's hands. One of Kiddlaw's men spots the team's approach, and Kiddlaw orders his men to open fire. Rex has Brut return fire, and Kiddlaw is amazed at the gun's potency. Still, Kiddlaw vows that the team's hours are numbered.

Appearing in 2023 Super Police: "Captain Kiddlaw, Part 5 (of 12)"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Captain Kiddlaw
  • Renee Avalon, Kiddlaw's sweetheart (not yet named) (First appearance)

Notes

  • Published by National Allied Publications.
  • The release date is taken from Mike's Amazing World of Comics.
    • Cover date is "August 1935" and cover number is "Vacation Number".
    • All of the features are one page or less in length.
  • First issue for Along the Main Line by Tom Cooper.
  • Starting this issue, in Barry O'Neill, Inspector Le Grande's name is now spelled "Le Grand".
  • First issue for Bob Merritt by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson and Leo O'Mealia.
  • Last issue for Richard Loederer on Brad Hardy, replaced next issue by W.C. Brigham.
  • Charley Fish appears twice in this issue, and only in different one-page stand-alone stories.
    • The Black Magician in this issue's story is not the same character as the more famous Black Magician from Batman.
  • Last issue for Caveman Capers by Dick Loederer, the story sets up a cliff-hanger but the feature does not continue.
  • Ivanhoe continues the adaptation of the novel by Sir Walter Scott. This episode covers Chapters 12 and 13 of the novel.
  • Jack Andrews by Tom Cooper is one half page long.
  • Jack Woods appears twice in this issue. The first time is on the cover, in a one-page stand-alone story. The second time is towards the end of the book, and is a continuation of the ongoing Pancho Villa serial.
  • First issue for The Professor by Eugene Koscik.
  • First issue for Ramblin' Jim by Stan Randall, one half page.
  • Last issue for Monroe Eisenberg art on Sandra of the Secret Service, replaced next issue by W.C. Brigham.
  • First issue for Slim Pickins by Stan Randall, one half page.
  • First issue for Treasure Island, adapting the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.
    • This installment covers Chapters 1 and 2, and some of Chapter 3.
  • Also appearing in this issue of New Fun Comics were:
    • "African Antics" by Dick Loederer, newspaper-style strip running across the top 1/4th of the Caveman Capers page.
    • "Comics Shorts" by Adolph Schus, gag cartoons.
    • "The Evil Eye" by Stan Randall, newspaper-style strip running across the bottom 1/4th of the Treasure Island page
    • "Famous Flights" by Al Whitney, nonfiction comic about the early history of aviation.
    • "Famous in South America" by W.C. Brigham, nonfiction comic about Simon Bolivar, running across the top 1/4th of the Jack Woods interior page.
    • "Fanny" by Vincent Sullivan, newspaper-style strip running across the top 1/4th of both Charley Fish pages.
    • "Fun Fax" (illustrated fun facts) by Joe Archibald.
    • "In Days of Yore" by Rich, nonfiction comic running across the bottom 1/6th of the Ivanhoe page.
    • "Junior Funsters" (illustrated features) by Connie Naar.
    • "The Magdalena Kid" (text story) by William H. Cook.
    • "Man's Inventions" by Leighton Budd, nonfiction comic about Cromagnon art.
    • "Midsummer's Day's Dream" by Leighton Budd, newspaper-style strip running below the Slim Pickens story.
    • "Mr. Plotz" by Eugene Koscik, a newspaper-style strip, runs across the top 1/4th of this feature's page.
    • "My Grandpa" by Tom McNamara, newspaper-style strip running across the top 1/4th of the After School page.
    • "The Nerve Of It" by Vincent Sullivan, newspaper-style strip running across the top 1/4th of the Oswald the Rabbit page.
    • "New Fun Magic" (text article) by the "Wizard of Biff."
    • "Pincus" by Vincent Sullivan, newspaper-style strip running across the top 1/4th of the Spike Spalding page.
    • "Shavetail" (text story) by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
    • "Sonny" by Whitney Ellsworth, newspaper-style strip running across the top 1/4th of the Little Linda page.
    • "Sports" (text article) by Joe Archibald.
    • Untitled and uncredited newspaper-style strip runs across the top 1/4th of the Bob Merritt page.
    • "Weird Asia" by Loe, newspaper-style strip running across the top 1/4th of the Brad Hardy page.

Trivia

  • Tom Cooper signs his In the Wake of the Wander story as "Mac Fergus," and his Captain Spinacker strip as "Mot."
  • Leo E. O'Mealia signs his Bob Merritt story as "Lem."


See Also

Recommended Reading

Links and References

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