Only near the conclusion of the original manga run do Steven and James find out that they have been reading different translations. Which spurs talk about the differences between the two. Including the original video anime. Which also had two separate English translations! Skip synopsis @4:30
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073: Battle Angel Alita vol. 8
Chapters 42 to 47
"One Last Broadcast" and
By Yukito Kishiro
Translation by Stephen Paul
Lettering by Scott Brown
Continuing after the events of the Panzer Bride saga, the rebel leader that is Den pontificates on the reason why he is still alive after fighting the TUNED agent Alita, knowing full well that his true body is that of Kaos' and that Alita could kill Kaos at any time if she so chooses. Koas realises this, with his telemetric powers he touches the blade which was used in the fight between Alita and Den. Once Kaos gains memories of the object's past, he realizes that he is Alita's hostage.
Kaos makes a final radio broadcast to not only warn the people of the rebels but to inspire peace. Alita decides not to kill Kaos knowing that he does not share the same murderous tendencies as Den, however she does lose respect for him on his persistence in wanting Alita's love. Especially when it comes to his telemetry as he should know better that Alita's heart belongs to another.
Kaos reveals where Ido may be staying and as Alita visits Ido she finds that the man has erased all his memory, including his memories of Alita. Ido's accomplices gives Alita the last video that he recorded for Alita. Within the video Ido tells her how the mad scientist, Desty Nova, revived his life, however speaking to Nova has scared Ido into sharing Nova's same madness and thus he decides to erase his memory before apologising to Alita. Alita leaves Ido, unable to rejoice with the only father figure she knows.
Meanwhile Kaos seeks out Desty Nova, by confronting the mad man who is his father he dares to gain a semblance of intimacy with Alita, and the chance to build upon the memories that he can truly call his own. Sadly, Kaos is defeated only to suffer more abuse, and as Alita makes way to Nova, she encounters a mysterious figure and recognises this person's acrobatic movements as her own "Panzer Kunst". Alita is told by the director of TUNED operations that this new antagonist is AR unit 2 of 12. And that before she can meet Nova she is to be tested as an agent in battle. Alita's life is saved by her TUNED private operator, Lou, yet the battle itself cost Alita an arm, a foot and an eyeball.
Via a transmissible electric shock, Alita is woken from her rest by the director. She is told that the rebels were defeated (apparently by AR unit 10) and is reminded that her job is to apprehend Nova, thus Alita still carries on, she's smart enough not to enter the front once she gets to Nova's place. Yet within Nova's lair, Alita finds herself on the old Motorball circuit that she knows well, waiting for her is the ghost of the athlete she defeated all those many years ago. Ready for another match, as is Alita.
Topics:
- Alita gets "prestiged"! The fight between her and AR2. And what makes a good fight scene.
- Translation differences between Viz and the Kodansha printing, as well as the Original Video Animation and Hollywood movie adaptations. 1994 Manga UK dub is based on the Viz translation, whereas the1999 ADV Films translation keeps Alita's original Japanese name of Gally, Hugo as Yugo and the Scrapyard is referred to as Scrap Iron City. This is faithful to the original Japanese text with the exception of minor characters. Zalem is a biblical reference to Salem, whilst the name Tiphares is a reference to the Kabbalah. Allegedly the man who changed Gally's name to Alita is Fred Burke (the same Fred Burke who did the translation for Neon Genesis Evangelion's Viz media release), Burke worked on the Viz translation of Battle Angel Alita with Sterling Bell, Matt Thorn and Toshifumi Yoshida.
Other references:
- Nova's base is at Norad Mountain. This is most likely based on the real world setting that is the Cheyenne Mountain in El Paso County, Colorado. Alluding to the setting of Alita being sometime in the distant future.
- Madness and enlightenment as a topic of this volume seems to have been inspired by the Russian philosopher and mystic George GurdJieff. "Life is Real only Then, When 'I am'". His students published a book after his death known as "The Fourth Way".
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