"Giant Babbage" Second Half

...Annnd done. We're officially ready for business!

Great, thanks. All right, I'm gonna go check out the other clubs.

Ah, reconnaissance on our enemies, hm? Good idea. I shall accompany you, at least for a while.

Why only a while?

I guess it's a matter of...mobility?

The hell's that supposed to mean? Well, whatever. Come on, let's go then.

Hold down the fort while we're gone, 'kay?

Hey, hey! If it isn't Master! Did you finish your doujin in time!?

Whoa, you did! And the cover's even fully colored!

I'm impressed you pulled this together in such a short time... And whoa! You even made it a mecha story!?

You really know your target audience! I'm so moved!

My inner mecha fanboy (with his machine-gun butt) has been bemoaning the recent dearth of good examples of the form for far, far too long!

？！

Thank you for the kind words, Blackbeard. Does that mean you'll be buying a copy?

Of course! I, for one, welcome my new steambot overlord! (Saluting)

I've been champing at the proverbial bit for a new robot yarn. This should scratch that itch nicely.

Hey, this book looks fun. I think I'll buy a copy, too!

What about you? Doesn't this get your pulse pounding?

A giant robot story, huh? Is it original?

Looks that way. And check out this guy on the back cover... I think it must be an enemy mecha.

...Ooh, this looks good!

What do you think, Darling? Well?

How'm I supposed to answer that when I don't even know what you're talking about?

You know, the robot girl with the pink hair in the back? What do you think of her?

How many times do I have to tell you!? I am all about soft curves, not hard edges!

Oh? And just what do you mean by that, hmm?

Oh man, what is goin' on with this doujin!?

THIS IS SO COOL!

There ain't a red-blooded man out there who doesn't love a good giant robot! This bad boy is golden!

Don't even gotta turn the page to see the passion you put in this beauty! It's got pathos out the wazoo!

Just lookin' at it gets me fired up. I'll take a copy too, Master and Boss!

... ...

Oh, Kintoki. You always did love big suits of armor, ever since you were a little boy...

I still remember the way your baby blues shone when you saw our family's great armor suit.

Gah! Ma!?

I mean, Boss Raikou!

Ma!?

Kintoki! You just called me your mother! Oh, what a wonderful day!

All the maternal instincts I thought I had sealed away are rushing back, giving me extra Prefect Power...

A-absolutely not, Kintoki! You can't fool me!

I forbid it, I absolutely forbid it! I know what sorts of unacceptable activities these doujin portray!

Though I have also heard that such things account for a relatively low percentage of all works displayed...

Whoa, whoa, slow down, Raikou! You're barkin' up the wrong tree entirely! This book is so wholesome it's golden!

It's all on the up-and-up! There's no problem here, I swear!

Really? Are you sure...?

...Boss. Master. I ain't been this moved in a long time.

I knew you had a golden soul burning bright inside you! Man, giant robots really are the best!

I can't wait for the day when I can show off my own giant armor by your side!

Everyone who stopped by seemed to love our book! I think we might have succeeded this time!

...Nope. Definitely not.

Huh...?

B-but why? Everyone was so excited about it...

...Hmm.

True, we've got a great cover, and great subject matter. Everyone's gonna love it for sure. Except...

...it's still unfinished.

!

So it is... The battle between Babbage and Giga Elisa remains unresolved...

Lord El-Melloi II only shows up in one panel... Lady Ishtar never shows up at all...

And on the last page, it only says, "Giant Babbage's battle is about to begin!"

We ran out of time and money... I'll have to be more careful next time.

...How'd we let it come to this...?

All I wanted to draw was a dark, brooding fable...