Trigun Bookclub: deludedfantasy: Trigun Maximum Volume 6: Chapter 1-3

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Original Tumblr Post: Trimax Vol 6 Ch 1-3

Trimax Vol 6 Ch 1-3

These chapters were so!!!! The trauma continues, but it’s so so good. Anyway, my brain has been very mushy these past few days, but some thoughts on the beginning of Vol 6.

Ch1

Trimax does this thing where it effortlessly goes from joking to being serious and it’s doing that right now in this conversation between Meryl and Wolfwood. Sometimes it’s almost painful because it feels like it’s the characters’ way of coping with the situation and it really shows here. Wolfwood is trying to give Meryl—who is traumatized and trying to deal with a lot of new revelations about her friend—some levity, an out from this dangerous situation she’s in, and it isn’t hitting quite right.
Also, I can’t believe that Wolfwood has no idea what Vash is (or at least he says so. I think he probably has some suspicions) but Meryl does. I keep coming back to this but it says a lot about Vash that he’s never the one to give his friends that information about himself. He’s very private, but also I think it’s caution and fear. How would they react to knowing that he isn’t human in the slightest? Will he be able to deal with it if they turn away from him in disgust?
There’s a great commentary going on about power and who gets to wield it. In a lawless world like Gunsmoke, your survival is determined by how much power you have and the best way to gain it is with a good gun. What do you do with that power? Do you use it for good or ill? To take what you want or protect what you have? How does it shape you? And who gets to have it? The contrast between the sheriff’s blind desire for a Marlon gun versus Meryl considering what having that kind of firepower does to her. And perhaps by extension, Vash.
I love, love, love getting more Meryl backstory. Never enough Meryl backstory.
Vash takes his training so seriously, always pushing himself to the brink, to be the best he can be and go above and beyond even that. If there’s one thing he has in spades, it’s commitment and determination. Like, I can’t imagine how much it would take to make your finger bleed from pulling a trigger so many times.
Interesting, Vash has new glasses! And they hide even more of his eyes. Now no one can see how he’s really feeling at all.
Knowing what she does about Vash now, Meryl wonders if he can still pull the trigger. The thing is, one way or another, he’s always had these memories, and despite everything he’s been through, he’s kept on going, kept on doing the tough things, the things that hurt him sometimes, because they were the right thing to do. Again, he’s determined.
DETERMINATION
Anyway, love how protective Wolfwood is of the Punisher and that Vash just…took it anyway.

Ch 2

Wolfwood and his nightmares. They truly hurt me. He’s given up everything to protect the orphanage, including his own humanity. But now he’s afraid that it won’t be enough, that the very people he’s working with (who also happen to be the people he’s trying to protect the orphanage from) are going to destroy everything he cares about. And there’s nothing he can do. It’s heart-wrenching.
I wonder who’s saying, “Do you really think there won’t be consequences?” Is it his conscience or someone else? And consequences for what? Personally, I think it’s consequences for continuing down this path and being who and what he is.
“It’s my job.” Wolfwood does not like getting praise from Knives. It’s only making the conflict inside himself worse.
Wolfwood tried to kill Knives after Fifth Moon! He saw what he could do and went, “This has to be stopped!” But the sheer fear and power Knives put out stopped him and he was put back on the path of being a tool, an assassin. He draws a direct connection between Knives and Vash with their power to project emotion. It scares the shit out of him! How can these two creatures possibly be anything other than a threat to humanity? After the destruction he witnessed in the Dragon’s Nest he has to confront this again and really think about how willing he is to let this go on.
First of all: what an iconic panel. Secondly, I can’t get over how Vash’s friendly, open face is contrasted with Wolfwood’s stark fear. Vash just showed up out of nowhere, without a sound, while Wolfwood is thinking about the kind of monster he is. On top of that, that friendly face is overshadowed by the damage he did to the Fifth Moon. Talk about cognitive dissonance. Right now, Wolfwood can’t imagine how all of this can coexist in one person.

And then an even more iconic panel!! Wolfwood points his gun at Vash! A lot of people have analyzed this better than I ever could, but I need to talk about this because it’s just too good.
For a moment, Wolfwood really thinks about doing it. He couldn’t stop Knives, he was too powerful. But maybe, if he takes Vash off the board, he’ll be able to stop all this destruction that awaits them in the future. The thing is, in his fear, Wolfwood forgets that Vash isn’t the problem. Knives is the one with the world-ending plans, and Vash is the only one trying to stop it and the only one who truly stands a chance. But all he can think about right now is the weapon of mass destruction he first saw in Fifth Moon and was reminded of in the Dragon’s Nest. Until Vash turns around and he sees his face again. Until he’s faced with the fact that Vash is a lot more than a weapon and is the only person who’s ever been concerned with saving people.
Wolfwood is like, “Ok, I’m not gonna kill him, but I am going to keep him from getting in more trouble than necessary.”
Meanwhile Vash is already running straight into danger as if to prove all of Wolfwood’s fears wrong. And standing directly in the path of a truck. We love one man.
Yeah, Wolfwood to the rescue!! This chapter is just full of iconic panels honestly. After just thinking about killing him, he protects Vash with the Punisher! He’s probably telling himself it’s his job, but really, it’s because he knows Vash and he cares about him, more than he’s afraid of him.
Love love love how they instinctively fight back to back. In the grand scheme of things, they haven’t known each other long, but this shows the level of trust they’ve already developed. They move together and trust the other enough to turn their back on them in battle. Can you tell this chapter is hitting me hard in the Vashwood feels?
Wolfwood is once again reminded of just who and what Vash is. Vash knew Wolfwood was protecting his back, so he knew that he pointed a gun on him on the roof. And yet, Vash never said anything about it, even trusting him enough to turn his back on him again, during a fight no less. It’s the reminder Wolfwood needs. This is who Vash really is. Not a weapon, but a kind, understanding (perhaps too understanding for Wolfwood sometimes) man.
“Everything’s different when I’m back to back with him.” Sums it all up basically. When he’s with him, Wolfwood’s fear and doubt melts away, because this is who Vash truly is. Wolfwood trusts him.
Also, damn Milly. I want whatever helped her sleep through that.

Ch 3

Ah, Legato, so delightfully toxically devoted to Knives. Even after he broke his spine and sidelined him, kept him from killing Vash in revenge, he’s still willing to serve him.
Elendira, on the other hand, is so tired of his shit. Oopsie, just gonna spill my drink because you’re insufferable but I have to deal with you anyway because we’re in the same murder gang together. She’s the best.
Double Fang and Trip of Death!!!! The Eye of Michael!!! My favorite religious assassins!!!
So Knives has his own castle of evil made from a fallen spaceship? Yeah, that sounds like him.
Even on my second read, I can’t figure out why Double Fang kills Ogre and Joe. They’re Eye of Michael too, right? Were they not supposed to be there? Are they traitors somehow?
Ewwww, Legato. Why is his tongue so long???
Not much to say for this chapter except ooh, new characters! With cool designs!

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