Trigun Bookclub: pancake-breakfast: Trigun Maximum Volume 2: Chapter 2-4

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Original Tumblr Post: Chapter 2-4

Table of Contents

Chapter 2: Resume Our Business

This weekend’s gonna be busy-busy, so let’s see if I can’t make some solid progress on the volume for the week before it comes. Besides, there’s rumor of a scene of Legato pathetically eating meat coming up soon, and I’m HERE for it.

TriMax Volume 2!

Stream-of-consciousness thoughts for TriMax Vol. 2, Chapters 2-4 below.

Ahahahahahahaha!!! I really shouldn’t be laughing at these eating sound effects, but I am. ~~Maybe I just like to know he’s suffering.~~
Gods, I can’t wait to see how Stampede tackles this whole mess. I’m giddy with anticipation for something that likely won’t come up for 2-3 years.
Slurp it up, buddy. I can’t believe Nightow let this drag on for SO MANY PAGES.

I genuinely think he’s eating this way as a sort of penance. Buddy can force people to do things with his brain. He does NOT need to humiliate himself like this. But he done pissed off Knives, so his suffering must be great until he’s back in his lord’s graces.
They’re all just watching him and being like, “Welp. Our boss has lost it.”
The two of these I remember NOTHING about are Hoppered and Gray. Leonof scarred me in ’98 (but that’s a thing with me and puppetmaster-type characters, so….). Zazie’s forgettable in ’98 but a wonderful chaos creature in Stampede. I’m pretty sure Rai-Dei shows up in ’98, but nothing about him stands out. And, of course, Midvalley, who has such an excellent introduction in ’98.
Uhhhhh… insulting Knives in front of Legato (or even saying things that could be perceived as insults to Knives in front of Legato) isn’t exactly a wise move. There are reasons I call Legato yandere.
Ooooh, this goes beyond insulting. Midvalley has balls. Probably shouldn’t have hesitated, though.
Meanwhile, Legato’s still like, “Omnomnomnomnom.”
Yyyyyeaaaahhh, Midvalley really shouldn’t have hesitated. Now he is a pretzel. Maybe Legato will be kind enough to spare him an extra iron maiden.
LOL, Legato saying this is hilarious because Knives implies Legato just made up their previous order without any input from Knives himself. Also, it’s hilarious that he’s still talking with food in his mouth. I know he can talk telepathically, but still.

Knives’ plan sucks. I don’t mean it’s a bad plan. I mean it’s terribly cruel.
Also, Knives’ outfit is just… ridiculous here. I know he gets crap for wearing a snuggie ~~(that’s apparently made out of actual knives)~~ in Stampede, but this is… also a lifestyle choice. I particularly like the spikes apparently through the torso there, like someone’s run him through. I feel like there’s a reason for that which I’m not quite grasping.
NO LEGATO IS LEGIT SPEAKING WITH HIS MOUTH FULL LOOK HE HAS THE MEAT IN HI MOUTH AND THE TEXT BUBBLE IS EVEN POINTING TO HIM FOR ONCE. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Ok, now that I just looked at it for however long it took to colorize the panel, I have to talk about the table. ‘Cause I think it’s notable that it starts out like this…

…and ends up like this.

Just… the contrast between how pristine and perfect it was to how much it’s just a chaotic mess it’s become. It was fit for a king before. Now, two of the drinks are spilled (and one is just… missing?), there are crumbs and God only knows what else EVERYWHERE, and the silverware that was laid out so carefully is just… gone. Gah, indeed.

Midvalley is taking this rather well, all things considered. I don’t think I’d be as chill if I was being pretzel-ified.
Cut to: Vash eating a donut. Because Trigun.
Neither of these men are wearing helmets, which seems rather unsafe. Sand isn’t that soft.
I like how Vash recognizes Wolfwood’s annoyance enough to try, even though he knows he’ll fail. Very Vash of him.
“Hi, I’m Vash the Stampede. I can drive the lost technology known as space ships, but motorcylces? Ohhhh, no. Count me OUT.”
Wolfwood’s dodginess is bringing out Vash’s serious face. Gods, he’s so babygirl here, though….

Wait, is this guy riding a SAND DRAGON???
Yep, that thing sure do say “Knives” on it. And what is that emerging from the dust? SOMETHING BAD, you say? Gasp! Shock!
LOL, Vash is doing his best to Japanese. Does the Japanese version of the manga specify that Rai-Dei is actually speaking in Nihongo? Or was this just kind of confusing?
Ohhh, check it out. This guy isn’t even looking at Vash. He’s looking at Wolfwood. I’m sure that’s not significant and definitely not something Vash has already picked up on.
Vash has a lot of questions. As he should.
Wolfwood, on the other hand, presents a single and equally important one.

Man, WW knows NOTHING about his coworkers, does he?
LOL, his secret ability is roller skates. SUPER roller skates. Gods, this manga is so goofy sometimes.
Is… Vash parrying the sword with his gun??
Did Rai-Dei just parry bullets with his sword????
This whole scene is so samurai showdown. It’s great. We just need Rai-Dei to start monologuing about his training and shouting out the names of his moves and we’re set.
Wolfwood calling himself a bystander. LOL
Ohhhh, shit. He done told Vash they’re going after his home. Now he has to deal with Angry Vash.

Actually, WW doesn’t look too happy about this, either.
Why does this guy have 411 carved all over him?
So, this guy expects to die. Or has at least accepted it as a legitimate possible outcome.
Ah, there he goes talking about technique and all. And here I was afraid he wouldn’t get around to it.
Ok, can we talk a bit about how he’s wearing a FRINGED COWBOY VEST over his samurai gear? Seriously, this is a thing.

Chapter 3: Samurai Showdown

Wolfwood’s hand going to the straps on the Punisher. He’s genuinely considering interfering.
Aw, man. Rai-Dei noticed.
Geez, first this guy’s like, “Vash, we’re gonna go after the closest thing you have to family here.” Then he’s like, “I want to hunt you, Vash, because you’re not human.” He’s definitely a master of “ways to piss off Vash quickly.”

Guys, my heart is so full at WW’s little inner monologue here. Especially how it stands in stark contrast to what Rai-Dei was saying on literally the previous page. He genuinely wants to help Vash. He says, “Just this once,” but that’s how it always starts, isn’t it?
Vash is even more in tune with Wolfwood’s little movements than Rai-Dei is. AND he seems to understand something fundamental about Rai-Dei. That’s my babygirl. <3 <3 <3 Be safe out there, Vash.
In anime with Japanese-inspired fights, they often talk about sensing the other person’s bloodlust. That makes Rai-Dei’s thought here really stand out. Also, I can’t get over the framing and how very samurai showdown this whole page feels.

Then, of course, the next page follows the showdown beats, having them move and the reaction shots without telling us which one hit his mark.
If anyone wants to translate “jigenzan ittou” for me, that would be hot. I can’t even give it a try without the kanji.
I’m sorry, I’m not over the Super-Skates. You can put all the skulls on them you want, but they’ll still be dumb.
Oh, good. I’m glad Rai-Dei actually told us what happened on the last spread. I genuinely would have never figured it out on my own.
Heh. Vash is never unarmed.
Wolfwood, you big idiot. That’s not how Vash works! That’s not how any of this works!!

The real question is, has Rai-Dei dodged his way through as many battles as Vash has dodged his way through?
Wait, did Vash put a grappling wire on his gun??
Yeah, Vash has had enough of your shit, sir. Time to call it quits. Maybe find some nice mountains to retire to.

Chapter 4: Wolfwood

Hmm, I WONDER what THIS chapter will be about? *cue high-pitched screeching*
I don’t think it’s the way of the sword specifically that’s so fragile, Rai-Dei. It’s more… the path of violence. Or maybe any path we’re on. Blank ticket and all.
Ohhhhh, Rai-Dei saying he abandoned his humanity to be here when WW just noted in the last chapter that, while it seems like they’ve all become monsters, they’re just humans. There’s… there’s something there, but I don’t have the thoughts for it right now.
Attacking an enemy’s back when you’ve already been beat? Dishonorable.
Ohhhh, shit. Yeah, dang, Wolfwood’s lucky Vash only punched him. And with his flesh arm, too. This isn’t gonna sit well.
Wolfwood’s not taking any of Vash’s crap.
Gunsword??? That’s not very samurai-like, either.
This. This is Vash. This is the line the made reference to in Stampede ep. 12. As many times as he has to so he doesn’t take away their chance to make a change for the better. Wolfwood doesn’t get it yet. But Vash only punched him ’cause Wolfwood needs more chances, too.

Oof, this scene. I knew it was coming, but still. There’s so much weight in Wolfwood’s single word. He knows exactly what he’s asking on multiple levels.
GoshDARNIT Wolfwood! I mean, I realize you probably don’t put a lot of weight on your own life, but… you care about him this much??? *heart bursts*

Ugh, Vash’s response. These boys are killing me. But it’s so brave to hope, isn’t it? So brave to hold out for it even in the darkest times. Vash looks so sad for Wolfwood. He calls him a coward, but there’s no malice here. Only the heavy sadness and desperation of wanting better for someone on the edge.
This is Vash not wearing his masks. This is him revealing himself to Wolfwood, with all the sadness and the troubled heart and, most importantly, all the hope he still has for Wolfwood.
Crap, why’s Zazie gotta show up? They’re gonna spoil the mood.
LOL, “Blow-Up Hill.” What a name….
PLEASE tell me that this tall and smol who just entered the bar are Meryl and Millie….

YUUUUUUSSSS!!!! Hello, girls!!!
I, too, would like a banana sundae….
A truck full of tomases (toma?)! Hooray for birds!
“Ever since he ran away, we haven’t been able to get ahold of him.” LOL, GIRLS. He was RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU for a bit while you were on vacation and you were like, “Pfft, I’m not getting paid for this and LET HIM GET AWAY.” ~~I mean, as someone who’s worked salary jobs, I’d have done the same, but still.~~
This is lovely. Everything about this is lovely. This is how it’s supposed to be. In this moment, everything is right with the world.

Was that a SPACE SHIP that just crashed???
Bless Meryl. Her first concern is never for her own safety. It’s always for the safety of others.
Oh, I don’t trust the noises.
Wait, a girl?
Wait, she knows Vash?!
Wait, this is where I have to end for the night?!?!

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