our $trad_comment_re = qr!
    /\*
    (?:
                                # Match "not an asterisk"
                                [^*]
                            |
                                # Match multiple asterisks followed
                                # by anything except an asterisk or a
                                # slash.
                                \*+[^*/]
                            )*
                            # Match multiple asterisks followed by a
                            # slash.
                            \*+/
!x;