Billy Bat 126

Billy Bat, Billy Bat. Billy Billy Bat...
We're back! AGAIN! How many years have I been doing this now, goddammit? Uh... ok so 8 chapters again. Is this gonna be the last volume or what? Is this the last successor? They're running out of history, you can say that much for sure. I said "is it gonna end" every chapter in the last 3 years though. I sure as hell don't know what's gonna happen.

[Billy Bat 126 Translation by Kewl0210]
Cover:
[Uh, it's just the title and stuff so I don't really have anything to translate here.]

Page 1:
Side: nnneeaoowww... We're in the middle of a flying lesson!! What are these "two towers" standing in their path?!
Guys: Be careful not to lose stall out.
Got it.
Can I get a little closer?
It's fine. Go ahead.
Oh. Man, these sure are some impressive towers!!

Page 2:
Guys: Tower's this tall are really worth knocking down.
Huh?
What did you say?
It was nothing. I was just talking to myself.
These towers are symbols of freedom.
I see. Symbols of freedom.....
When those symbols fall
let's see what happens to "freedom".

Page 3:
Chuck: ..........
SFX: KAH KAH
Chuch: Hey.
I would've done the coloring for you if you'd asked.
Or do you think my coloring style is too old fashioned?

Page 4:
Kevin: It's not like that......
I just couldn't get a good grip on the image, so I tried coloring it.
Chuck: Hm. Well, I think it's fine.
This villain will make for a pretty good character.
Kevin: There's not gonna be such a simplistic villain
in this drama.
Title: Chapter 126 The Next Artist [1/8]

Page 5:
Chuck: I see...... But I think something this simplistic may be good.
Narration: January 2001----
Chuck: Anyhow, the recent Billy Bat story has been getting too complicated.
Kevin: ..........
Chuck: You're drawing to opposing countries, but the king of the seemingly just country is actually evil.
And the people of the country everyone thought was the evil country are incredibly pure.
So I think drawing it from a neutral standpoint is good, but it's hard to understand.
I thought more of a rewarding good and punishing evil story would be good, but......
maybe I'm too old fashioned?
Kevin: No......
It's just that we've had the series on hold for a year and a half......

Page 6:
Chuck: Well, there's no need to rush.
You've come quite a ways. It's fine if you don't want to publish anything unless it meets your standards.
And besides, the comic filling the hole you left, "Chameleon Ninja Karma" is a hit.
They've already green-lit a plan for a 2nd animated movie, isn't that right?
It's not just filling a hole now, it's a fully fledged hit on its own.
Kevin: So maybe I am still worth something even if I can't draw Billy Bat anymore.
Chuck: That's what I'm saying. 'Ninja Karma' is a masterpiece.
Kevin: If I don't draw Billy, there's no point to it all.

Page 7:
Kevin: You should know that better than anyone.
How're the auditions of the successor for a new Billy Bat work going?
Chuck: We've gotten an incredible number of applicants.
Kevin: Anything stand out?
Chuck: The impartial judging is going on as we speak.
Anyhow, the media is in a real frenzy right now.
Kevin: That's good, isn't it? If word spreads, we'll get more applicants.

Page 8:
Chuck: No, not that kind of frenzy.
'Kevin Goodman has finally thrown in the towel'.
'He's going to hand Billy Bat off to someone else without getting it under control first.'
Kevin: Well that's what's actually happening, so I can't blame them.
Chuck: Kevin......
Apparently Audrey is going on TV right now to address that.
Kevin: She can address it however she wants.
Chuck: She's blown a gasket over you putting out a public appeal for a successor without her approval.
Kevin: She's always upset when things don't go exactly her way.
Same as her dad.

Page 9:
Kevin: We're not slaves.
And I think you know that on a deeper level than anyone.
Chuck: Yes......
Kevin: ...So, where're the Billy Bat author applications being evaluated?

Page 10:
Kevin: These are all application works......?

Page 11:
Devivie: These are the ones I've read..........
and these are the ones I have yet to read.
And those boxes over there.........
are ones which are so out of the question I don't even have to read them and are thus being disposed of.
Kevin: .........
......So, how many Billy Bats have caught your eye in all these so far?
Devivie: Zero.

Page 12:
Kevin: But there're so many of 'em.
Devivie: My regret over what I did 40 years ago has been reinforced.
How I disposed of all the world's Billy Bat artists......
Chuck: That's enough of that sort of talk......
Now it's the other way around and you're trying to stop an organization that's trying to dispose of Billy Bat artists.
Kevin: But their way of doing things is pretty messed up.....
Devivie: Yes.
Even though we've gathered all of these manuscripts, there's not one person......

Page 13:
Devivie: Then perhaps there is not a single real Billy Bat artist remaining in this world...............
Kevin: No.
Billy told me......
Billy: You rewrote too much.
It's at the point where there's nothing I can do anymore.
Kevin: That was our last conversation before Billy Bat went silent.

Page 14:
Kevin: No matter how much I try to talk to him, Billy Bat......
doesn't say anything back.
SFX: SHA SHA SHA

Page 15:
Chuck: I wonder what's going on with him......
Kevin: Him...?
Chuck: The other Kevin......
Devivie: Him......
He is most likely traveling the world while his life is being targeted as well.
At one point he was staying at the Yucatan Peninsula,
and then he may have suddenly visited a place called the Tomb of Jesus Christ in Aomori Japan...

Page 16:
Devivie: The letter from Argentina was the last one I received.
It said that Atlantis may exist at the South Pole......
Chuck: Oh.
The program is starting.
SFX: PIH
Guy: It's the Larry Campbell Show! [Music note]
SFX: CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP
Guy: Hey everybody in TV land, we've invited a beautiful guest here today.
This beauty possesses a shrewdness you'd never imagine.

Page 17:
Guy: She grew the great legacy her father left her into an even grander business.
And now she's the queen of America's business world!!
Allow me to introduce...
Audrey Culkin!!
SFX: CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP
Larry: Is is all right if I ask you about everything from the future of the show-biz world to your private life, Audrey?
Audrey: Go easy on my, Larry.
SFX: CLAP CLAP HAH HAH HAH HAH CLAP CLAP

Page 18:
Larry: Your father was also a host of a TV show,
but you've stayed behind the scenes, haven't you? Despite being so easy on the eyes.
Audrey: My father is the very image of the Culkin Enterprises everyone loves,
I could never destroy that.
My father projected a powerful charisma to the outside world,
but at home he was an ordinary father that loved me, his only daughter, from the bottom of his heart.
Kevin: Why's she saying all that stuff she doesn't really think......
Larry: Congratulations on the massive success of the animated movie 'Chameleon Ninja Karma'.
There's one thing I'd like to ask on that subject,
and that is what is going to be happening next with 'Billy Bat'?
After all, Kevin Goodman is the author of both 'Ninja Karma' and 'Billy Bat'.

Page 19:
Larry: And there's this public appeal for a new author to take over 'Billy Bat'.
Does this mean that Kevin Goodman is going to be stepping down from 'Billy Bat' to focus on 'Ninja Karma'?
Audrey: No.
Kevin: will continue to draw 'Billy Bat'.
..........
Audrey: I seems the public appeal was misunderstood.
That's something of a contest for drawing something that looks just like 'Billy Bat'.
Kevin is the only one that can draw Billy.
After all, he......

Page 20:
becomes a prophet when he draws Billy Bat.
Kevin: Wha......
Larry: Oh my, so Kevin Goodman was a prophet after all, was he?
And with that juicy bit of information, we've reached the half point in our program!! Next is the musical guest......
Kevin: What bullshit was that?!! I can't let her keep saying that stuff!!
Chuck: Leave her be, Kevin!! She's just saying that to increase sales!!
Wah!!

Page 21:
Guy: Going out, sir?
Kevin: To SCB TV, step on it!!
That woman......
Using me as an advertisement!!
I've gotta find a successor as soon as possible!
And because she had to go and say something like that out in public......
Billy Bat really won't talk to anyone again!!

Page 22:
Kevin: Hurry!! C'mon, go!!
Driver: Y...... Yes, sir. I'll get moving right away.
!!
Kevin: Hold on, stop!!

Page 23:
SFX: BAM
Kevin: You're......

Page 24:
Tim: U......Um, sorry I took so long......
I finished my manuscript. Um...... I'm......
Timmy.
Bottom: "Billy Bat" Chapter 126 / End
Running next issue, too!! Look forward to it!!
Side: He's the "Billy Bat artist boy" from the slum. Has he come to fulfill the promise he made with Kevin long ago......?!