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Link Ink: New 'Arkham Origins' Screens, A 'Red 2' Trailer And Cyborg Superman Returns

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-29T09:00:00+00:00

Gaming: Game Informer has posted a few new screens from the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins. [GI]

Upcoming: The New 52 Cyborg Superman looks a little something like this, care of artist Kenneth Rocafort. [The Source]

Toys: Medicom will roll out new Iron Man 3 Marvel Be@rbricks soon. [ToyArk]

Movies: Everyone's favorite retired spies are back in the new Red 2 theatrical trailer. [Yahoo]

Lego: Moko's roughly 4-foot-tall EVA Unit 01 probably has its own bricky AT field. [The Brothers Brick]

Upcoming: Michel Fiffe's Copra #6 is due out soon, and the latest trailer gives readers an early look at interior art. [MF]

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Gaslight Batman And Doomsday Get 'Infinite Crisis' Game Profiles [Video]

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-26T19:30:00+00:00

Filed under: DC, Gaming, Video

Warner Bros. Entertainment and Turbine are keeping up their regular Infinite Crisis multiplayer online battle arena game profiles, this time with videos spotlighting Gaslight Batman and Doomsday. Inspired by Brian Augustyn, Mike Mignola and P. Craig Russell's 1989 Gotham by Gaslight story, the playable Gaslight Batman comes equipped with sweet 1889-1892 era fashions, sonic batarangs, dual sonic pistols, a grappling hook swing and explosive shells. Doomsday comes with ~~an origin that totally comic book-izes the scientific theory of evolution~~ a mix of attacks that allow him to pummel, charge at, unleash Kryptonian rage on and and even curse foes (who kill him). The differences between the two fighters is suitably striking. Doomsday is a character you want to charge straight into a brawl, while Gaslight Batman needs to keep his distance and always be on the move. You can check out WB and Turbine's new Champion Profile vids for Gaslight Batman and Doomsday after the cut.

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Medicom Mafex TDK Batman and ASM Spider-Man Action Figures Arriving Soon

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-26T19:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Marvel, DC, Movies, Toys

This summer's superhero blockbusters kick off next week with the debut of Iron Man 3 on May 3, but for action figure fans playing catchup on last summer's The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises, it's still a good time to be in the market for Medicom's 6" Mafex line. Both a TDKR Batman and ASM Spidey are set to arrive later this month or in early May for about $40 a piece depending on the preorder site. Mafex Spider-Man comes with five different sets of hands, a bunch of web effects and a stand. Batman will come with two sets of hands, a weapon-holding right hand, a grapnel gun and a honkin' EMP blaster. For fun, Medicom even paired the two together for a couple of press photos. It's no Amalgam reboot, but it's still swell to see. You can take a look at Medicom Bats and Spidey after the cut.

The Amazing Spider-Man Spider-Man

The Dark Knight Rises Batman

TEAM UP!

[Via ToyArk]

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New 'Deadpool' Video Game Ads Profile Psylocke And Mister Sinister

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-26T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Marvel, Gaming

The Deadpool video game is set to arrive on June 25 from Activision and High Moon Studios, bringing not only the Merc With a Mouth to current generation consoles, but also an increasingly expansive cast of Marvel regulars - especially X-Men stars. Fans have already gotten a decent look at the game's version of Cable, Domino and Death, and now a few new character profile ads "written" by Deadpool himself introduce players to Mister Sinister and Psylocke. While, like with everything he does/says, we can't condone Deadpool's crude assessment of Psylocke, his boiled-down bios for the heroine and Mister Sinister will likely resonate with anyone who has ever tried to explain either character to a friend who hasn't read thousands of comics or studied wiki entries. "Psychic butterflies or some crap," indeed. You can check out both Deadpool game profiles for Mister Sinister and Psylocke after the jump to see what you make of his descriptions.

[Click Images To Enlarge]

[Via AGB]

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The Next 'Scribblenauts' Game Could Take Place In The DC Comics Universe

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-26T14:00:00+00:00

Filed under: DC, Gaming

A few months back the official Scribblenauts Facebook page posted a loosely Batman: Arkham Asylum themed screen shot to show off the game's object editing tools. It was a testament to just how much 5th Cell's action puzzle game series had evolved since 2009 and a reminder that, even though players had access to licensed Nintendo characters on the Wii U, they could explore any universe they wanted with the right tools. According to a report at IGN, however, fans may not have to spend hours customizing as the next Scribblenauts will be a DC Superheroes game.IGN reports that the the next Scribblenauts was at one point dubbed "Scribblenauts Unmasked," and may be renamed before its expected unveiling at E3 in June, but will indeed be a DC title when it eventually arrives on PC and the Nintendo Wii U, and 3DS.

Unlike Lego's Batman and upcoming Marvel Super Heroes games, however, this title may put players in control of a separate protagonist adventuring through the DC Universe rather than having players take on direct DC hero and villain roles. That seems about right since the game has players control a kid who solves problems by summoning objects from a magical notebook.

Sources supplied IGN with a few in-game scenarios players may wind up playing something similar to down the road, including the game's protagonist Maxwell confronting Killer Croc in the sewers beneath Wayne Manor on his way to help a Joker-controlled Batman and a captured Batgirl.

IGN's report also mentions Maxwell using an X-ray to find a shapeshifting Clayface before capturing him with a freeze-gun, meeting Aquaman and villain Black Manta in Atlantis and the appearance of Harley Quinn and Mr. Freeze in various scenarios.

We reached out to 5th Cell for official confirmation and will update as new details arrive.

[Via IGN]

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Dark Horse Announces 'Halo: Initiative' Comic Miniseries By Reed And Castiello

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-26T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Dark Horse, Gaming, Culture

The Halo comic book license will jump from Marvel to Dark Horse this August 14, with the release of the first issue of a new miniseries titled Halo: Initiation. As revealed by Wired yesterday, the mini will be written by longtime comic book writer, Halo: Fall of Reach novelist and Halo 4 video game scribe Brian Reed, with art by Marco Castiello of Secret Invasion: Front Line and Star Wars: Purge. Initiation is set to detail the origin of Halo 4 Spartan Ops protagonist Sarah Palmer and her rise from Orbital Drop Shock Trooper to a Spartan Commander. Judging from new promo images of the series, her rise through the ranks has a little something to do with being pretty good at killing evil aliens.

The new series follows Marvel's Halo Graphic Novel short story collection in 2006, the four-issue Halo: Uprising mini in 2007, the five-issue Halo: Helljumper in 2009, the four-issue Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp in 2010, four issues of Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant in 2011, and the four-issue Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion mini in 2012.

You can see early cover and interior artwork from Halo: Initiative below.

[Click Images To Enlarge]

[Via Wired]

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Link Ink: 'Lego Batman: DC Super Heroes' On iOS, 'Pizza Cats' On DVD And An Iron Man Mark I Revoltech

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-26T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Link Ink, Culture

Gaming: Lego Batman: DC Super Heroes is now available on iOS devices. [iTunes]

Toys: A 6" Revoltech Iron Man Mark I from the first Iron Man movie is on the way in Japan (and likely internationally) for about $48 USD. [TR]

Anime: Discotek Media's English dubbed Samurai Pizza Cats complete box set (52 episodes on 8 DVDs) will arrive on July 30 for about $80. The Japanese version, Kyatto-Ninden Teyandee, is available in a complete box set now. [DM]

Gaming: Clownfyre has put together videos of every single unlockable costume and DLC costume from Injustice: Gods Among Us. [MTV]

Toys: A special black and white Funko Pop! Vinyl Thing is on the way care of Gemini. [Toyark]

Video: Just imagine... Woody Allen in Iron Man 3. [CineFix]

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Mega Man Ultimate Armor D-Arts Action Figure Coming From Bandai

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-25T15:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Gaming, Toys, Culture

The most powerful and, perhaps most ostentatious of all Mega Man X video game series armor designs is set to get the action figure treatment from Bandai as part of its ongoing D-Arts series... and fans probably won't even have to enter a secret code or wait until the year 21XX to get one. Initially teased by Capcom earlier this month, the figure has yet to receive a firm release date or pricing info (either in Japan or internationally), but Tamashii's press images make it clear that the figure will follow in the oversized footsteps of previous MMX offerings and include swappable hands, a Mega Buster, effect parts and all the articulation the D-Arts line is known for. Cosmetically, the figure has the most in common with the versions seen in Mega Man X4-X6, with colorways matching the first X4 suit. You can unlock the ultimate armor goodness with your eyes after the jump.

[Click Images To Enlarge]

[Via Tamashii]

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Official Play Arts Kai Wonder Woman, Batman And Green Lantern Figure Images Arrive

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-25T14:00:00+00:00

Filed under: DC, Toys

There were dozens of exciting action figure reveals during Toy Fair 2013, but perhaps surprisingly, one of our most popular posts came from covering Square Enix's new DC Comics Play Arts Kai figures. Featuring original costume designs, the decidedly manga/anime-style versions of Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and unpainted prototypes of Batgirl and the Flash seemed to polarize fans. Those still on the fence -- or even fans who have made up their minds -- will still probably enjoy getting a better look at Bats, Wonder Woman and GL in SE's official promo images. The promo images don't cover all of the 9(ish)" figure's pending accessories/extra hands or specify a release date, but it's likely that fans can expect them sometime after the Man of Steel PAK line drops in June, for around the same $80 price point. You can check out all the new promo images after the jump.

[Click Images To Enlarge]

Wonder Woman

Green Lantern

Batman

[Via Cybergundam]

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Link Ink: Charting Comics' Hollywood Takeover, ASM2's 'Patient Zero' And Mr. Thortato Head

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-25T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Link Ink, Culture

Infographics: Friend of CA Tim Leong's new interactive infographic "Plotting Comic Books' Rapid Takeover of Hollywood" examines the continued rise of comic book films. [Wired]

Movies: Director Marc Webb has tweeted an image of "Patient Zero" from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. [Twitter]

Video: Will and Tale imagine a Man of Steel opening sequence. [Firstshowing]

Movies: A new Iron Man 3 TV commercial has the holiday spirit (kinda). [SHH]

Anime: Takara Tomy has announced that its next Transformers toy line and anime series will be unique to Japan and be titled Transformers Go! So far its figures make it seem like a different version of Transformers: Beast Hunters. [ANN]

Toys: PPW Toys has released an official image of its upcoming Thor Mr. Potato Head. [Toyark]

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Bif Bang Pow!'s 'The Venture Bros.' 3.75" Action Figures Arrive

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-24T16:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Television, Toys, Animation, Culture

Joining the line of 8" Mego style dolls and assorted bobble heads, Bif Bang Pow!'s long-awaited 3.75" The Venture Bros. action figures have finally started venturing (HAW!) into retailers. Entertainment Earth and other online shops have posted new product images for the line's first wave, including 3.75" versions of Dr. Mrs. The Monarch with a flowing scarf, Hank Venture with a machete, Dean Venture with a shotgun and Brock Samson with a knife. Dr. Venture, Phantom Limb and The Monarch are expected to follow in June and pack the same roughly same 10 points of articulation and the same roughly $12 price tag. You can scope out all of the Venture Bros. 3.75" figures after the jump, including prototypes of the second wave figures from BBP!'s Toy Fair 2013 display.

Wave 1

Dr. Venture, Brock Samson, Phantom Limb and The Monarch

On Display During Toy Fair 2013

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Studio Ghibli's Full 'Giant God Warrior' Short Appears Online [Video]

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-24T16:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Movies, Video, Anime

Whether you're an avid fan of Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind manga, its 1984 Studio Ghibli anime adaptation, Neon Genesis Evangelion or... just awesome things in general... you may want to sit down before watching the recently released Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo short. Commissioned by former Nausicaä animator and Evangelion writer/director Hideaki Anno for The Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo in 2012 as part of a special Tokusatsu exhibition, the short was produced by Studio Ghibli (a live action first for the studio) and directed by Shinji Higuchi, known for his work as a writer and storyboard artist of the Evangelion anime and its related movies, and special effects director of numerous live action kaiju films. So yeah, basically the most qualified people in the universe made a horrifying short film about an army of enormous atomic-powered angel/demon-looking bioweapons in ceramic armor annihilating human civilization.

The short serves as a kind of 1,000 year prequel to Nausicaä, although it seems to take place in "our" reality or something approximating it. In Nausicaä, the Giant God Warriors are biomechanical weapons loosed on the world by mankind during a World War and are ultimately responsible for the story's historic nuclear apocalypse, with one model in particular figuring into the manga's conclusion (if you haven't read it yet, Viz recently put out a huge box set).

Miyazaki's God Warrior designs are a clear inspiration for the overall look of Evenagelion's EVA Units, and their overall world-ending functionality in this short is highly evocative of The End of Evangelion movie, which concluded the original anime series. In other words, this short is bananas both for being both an awesome Nausicaä tie-in and the closest thing Evangelion fans may ever get to a live action movie.

Behold the full short below:

[Via Twitchfilm]

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Link Ink: New 'TMNT: Out Of The Shadows' Trailer, Possible 'Arkham Origins' Multiplayer And Mr. Thortato Head

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-24T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Link Ink, Culture

Gaming: Michelangelo busts some ninja heads in a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows trailer. [AGB]

Toys: Hot Toys has unveiled its Power Pose Iron Man 3 Red Snapper figure images. Looks... snappy! [Hot Toys]

Gaming: Batman: Arkham Origins may just have multiplayer functionality. [Kotaku]

Eats: Fanfectionary's Avengers cookies seem assemble with awesome frosting work. [Neatorama]

Gaming: A new trailer for LittleBigPlanet Vita's Marvel Arcade Pack sees sackboys and sackgirls become mighty heroes. [PlayStation]

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New 'Hush' Catwoman And Harley Quinn Real Action Heroes Coming From Medicom

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-23T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: DC, Toys

With Batman and the Joker already duking it out on store shelves, Medicom is turning its Real Action Heroes attention to Jim Lee's Hush style Catwoman and Harley Quinn. We missed the pair in Medicom's Toy Fair 2013 display, but the toymaker has finally released press photos showcasing each of their 1/6 scale sculpts, scads of articulation, swappable hands, real cloth costumes and character-specific accessories. Catwoman's removable whip belt is an especially thoughtful touch, even if it seems to be a separate piece from her weaponized plastic whip. Though the femme fatales won't be available until around January or February of 2014, they're both these Gotham City Sirens are currently available at various preorder sites for around $185-200. You can see more photos of Medicom's upcoming Real Action Heroes Hush Catwoman and Harley Quinn, after the cut.

[Click Images To Enlarge]

[Via Toynewsi]

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If You Like Jock's 'Iron Man 3' IMAX Poster, Wait'll You See His Nine Unused Designs [Art]

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-23T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Marvel, Movies, Art

Yesterday Disney and IMAX debuted prolific comic book and commercial artist Jock's official Iron Man 3 poster. In addition to being just plain more Jock dopeness, it's part of IMAX's concluding "12:01" series, which is handed out to antsy fans hitting up midnight viewings. The poster's streaky design distills a key scene from IM3's second trailer, in which Tony Stark summons what seem to be all 42 of his specialized suits of armor to help he and buddy James Rhodes beat down some foes. This wasn't the only stab Jock took at the theme, though, as seen in the artist's gallery of unused designs. Most of the unused posters are variations on a similar layout, with the Mark 42 armor leading or flying alongside its robros, but one is all about Stark's signature arc reactor. Whether you're a process junkie or just want to see a ton of Iron Man armors, Jock's images are a feast for the eyes. You can see all ten of Jock's IM3 poster designs after the jump.

[Click Images To Enlarge]

Final Version

Unused Designs

[Via Jock]

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Link Ink: Halle Berry's 'Future Past' Storm Suit, Iron Mouse, And Starblazing

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-23T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Link Ink, Culture

Movies: Director Bryan Singer has tweeted a photo of Halle Berry as Storm in her X-Men: Days of Future Past attire. [Twitter]

Video: Gizmodo continues its look inside Hasbro's manufacturing process with a profile of the toymaker's model workshop. [Gizmodo]

Interviews: Over at Boing Boing, Craig Thompson (Blankets, Habibi) interviews French artist Blutch. [Boing Boing]

"@kristagaz: @adancanto no hints on your new projects??" 1) I might turn into a ball of fire if someone pisses me off.
- Adan Canto (@adancanto) April 8, 2013

Movies: It looks like Adam Canto is joining the X-Men: Days of Future Past cast . [Twitter]

Tech: E-3LUE's Iron Man 3 mouse looks neat, but I'd still like to see an actual rodent pilot a special Stark suit. [Engadget]

Movies: Yamato 2199, the live action movie reboot of the classic Space Battleship Yamato, will be called Starblazers 2199 in international markets just as the original Japanese anime source material was called Starblazers when brought to US audiences in 1979. [JEFusion]

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First 'Thor: The Dark World' Movie Trailer Thunders Online [Video]

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-23T03:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Marvel, Movies, Video

Following last week's official poster reveal for Thor: The Dark World, the live action followup to the 2011 Thor movie starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Jamie Alexander, Anthony Hopkins and more, Apple Trailers has debuted the first full trailer for the film. While the cast from the first film is certainly present and accounted for, so too is the first appearance of former Doctor/Destro Christopher Eccleston as Malekith (the Accursed). What's the dark elf got in store for Thor and Mjolnir when the movie opens on November 8? Take a look after the cut.

From the official The Dark World movie synopsis:

Just as Marvels "Thor: The Dark World" continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvels "Thor" and "Marvels The Avengers," Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

You can watch the debut trailer, below.

[Via Apple Trailers]

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Marvel Minimates Series 51 And Toys 'R' Us Series 16 Live In the NOW

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-22T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Marvel, Toys

Spinning out of AvX and into Marvel NOW are the latest two sets of Marvel Minimates from Diamond Select Toys and Art Asylum. Joining the previously announced specialty store-centric Marvel Minimates series 51 this June is a 16th Toys "R" Us exclusive that's all about the most modern versions of the Avengers and X-Men. TRU's 2-packs will pair Iron Man in his Model 40 suit with Hulk and his Roving Observational Bot, R.O.B., Wolverine and Reaper (aka Sauron), Uncanny Avengers Captain America and Scarlet Witch and Phoenix Five Emma Frost and Colossus.

The upcoming TRU wave gives a home to Cyclops and Emma Frost designs that didn't wind up making their way into the previously released AvX box set, with the rest of the heroes acting as the latest comic book versions of established Minimate heroes. While this will only be Scarlet Witch's third figure, Wolverine's up to about 39, Captain America has topped 25 and Hulk has surpassed more than 20. The Model 40 suit is especially appropriate for Iron Man, as he's nearing his 40th actual Minimate incarnation.

You can take a better look at all the upcoming Marvel Minimates below.

[Click Images To Enlarge]

TRU Series 16

Series 51

[Via Art Asylum]

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'Man Of Steel' Superman And Zod Figures Coming From Play Arts Kai

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-22T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: DC, Movies, Toys

While Square Enix wasn't quite ready to unveil its Man of Steel Play Arts Kai figures during Toy Fair 2013, the toymaker has finally posted official product images of Superman and his Kryptonian foe General Zod. Modeled in the likenesses of stars Henry Cavill and Michael Shannon, respectively, each of the roughly 9.5" tall action figures will come equipped with flowing capes, specialized display bases and swappable alternate pieces. Supes is set to be a minimalist with just a pair of interchangeable fists/open hands, while Zod will come packed with an extra head, an alternate set of hands, and a bunch of space helmet-looking attachments to pop into his back, neck and head. Preorder sites are currently listing the figures at roughly $80 a piece, with estimated August shipping dates. This means fans will have to be a little patient for these massive figures following the MoS film's June 14 release. You can browse all of the Square Enix Play Arts Kai Man of Steel action figure promo images, after the... leap.

[Click Images To Enlarge]

Superman

General Zod

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Link Ink: Behind The Scenes Of 'Iron Man 3', An Egghead Action Figure And How Transformers Are Made

Caleb Goellner — 2013-04-22T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Link Ink, Culture

Movies: Nearly six minutes of new Iron Man 3 b-roll might just make your morning. [Tony Stark]

Surveys: From now until May 5, fans can vote in Hasbro's new "Fan Built Bot" poll to decide what Transformer will commemorate the line's 30th anniversary. Me? I voted for a green and gold hotheaded Autobot spaceship with a flamethrower. [Hasbro]

Toys: Figures Toy Company is releasing new teaser images for its Batman Classic TV Series action figure head sculpt prototypes, beginning with actor Cesar Romero's Joker and Egghead likenesses. [FT]

Free: If you haven't checked out Boom! Studios' Adventure Time series yet, Wired has the entire first issue for free online. [Wired]

Video: Ever wonder how Transformers get designed? Of course you have! Well, wonder no more! [Gizmodo]

Ornaments: The holidays are still some months away, but for those who can't wait to get a jump on Christmas tree planning, Hallmark's announced new Iron Man 3 and Spider-Man ornaments. [Marvelousnews]

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