Trigun Bookclub: pancake-breakfast: Trigun Maximum Volume 6: Chapter 3-4

Original Tumblr Post: Chapter 3-4

Will I get through all the chapters by the weekend? Unlikely. But at least I can get through a couple more tonight.

Stream-of-consciousness thoughts for TriMax Vol. 6, Chapters 3-4 below.

Note: Several references to Stampede’s aesthetic choices below.

Table of Contents

Chapter 3: Cross X Assassins

Goshdarn, we had to start out with Legato, didn’t we? This is pre-spider-smash Legato, but still.
Legato’s idea of a game sucks. There’s a reason Vash didn’t want to play. A GOOD reason.
A;ALJSDF;LAJDL;F This sopping wet cat… I want to wrap him in a towel like a burrito and hope he doesn’t kill me and feels marginally better about the world when he inevitably gets free. That’s the best anyone can do for him, really~~, and more than he deserves~~.
Oh, look. Elandira’s already got him wrapped up like a burrito.

He remains alive out of sheer stubbornness to get Knives-sama to someday notice him.
Elandira reading El Gato like a book here.
Hahahahahaha, now he’s literally sopping wet.
“They anger me to the point of madness!!” You don’t say….
Oooooh, Double Fang I know. Trip of Death is new.
He looks soooooo bummed that he doesn’t get to go play with them. I’d feel sorry for him if it wasn’t for **redacted**.

Man, all these people and their bikes. Are bikes like this practical in sand? My family was never one of those “go to the desert and ride around” types… but from what I remember, that was mostly done on quads. Eh, I guess bikes are what Nightow really wanted to draw.
LOL, they have so many guns….
That gate looks like a church door.
I don’t trust this dead-eyed kid.
Dude. Don’t do drugs, kids.
Pffftthahahahaha, Legato’s so happy that things are going sideways with the meeting. Only he gets to be the special one!
I’m actually really looking forward to learning about the Eye of Michael. They didn’t come up in ’98, so their presence was a surprise to me in Stampede.
Cross assassins, indeed.
So much for their fancy gate.
Ohhh, that is definitely a ship, isn’t it.

Ok, so the dead-eyed kid mentioned this place having three towers… and the more I look at it, the more I’m getting crucifixion imagery vibes. Like, you have the prominent one in the middle that’s Jesus’s cross, and it’s flanked by the smaller ones a little further back that were the crosses of the thieves. Maybe I’m stretching a bit. I dunno.
His ability to retain all his clothes after roiding out is impressive.
“Joe Tooth,” huh? That’s a terrible name.
Eyyyy, look at all those familiar-looking crosses! I’m sure that’s not ominous or problematic in the slightest!
Elandira was supposed to be hosting this meeting, but Legato’s taking charge again.
So much for the newcomers. Check out that mask, though. Now I know where Stampede’s inspiration came from, especially given that Nightow asked them to up the tech in the series.

Ew. Ew ew ew ew. Surely there was somewhere better for him to keep them? What the hell happened to his tongue? I have a lot of questions and I’m not sure I want the answers to any of them… but man, is this boy dedicated to his terrible, terrible game.

Ahhhh, what a great title page of Knives! Like, he’s got all the blades out, but his face is so calm, they might as well be groceries. A wonderful contrast that highlights his casual relationship with extreme violence.
So, apparently, Stampede got the inspiration for its Knives ass shots from Maximum, too.

Also, who’s letting him wander around in public??? He shouldn’t be allowed out and about. No, Elandira does not count as a responsible babysitter.
Arrrrrgggghhhh, he’s doing that thing where he looks too similar to Vash. A sad Vash. He looks like sad Vash.
This guy gets it. That’s the doctor, right?

The doctor knew Knives as a boy? Just how old is this man??
Goshdarnit, Vash is wanted for the death of this guy, and he’s just prancing around all alive like it’s NBD. Rude. At least have the grace to be dead if you’re gonna be involved in a plot to frame someone for killing you.
This is actually really poignant. I think it’s the first solid suggestion we’ve had that Knives wasn’t born a genocidal maniac.

Body horror time!
Her hair….
Knives doesn’t look like he’s in a forgiving mood. Can’t say I blame him, all things considered.
Good to see him doing the “My name is Millions Knives and I have lots of blades” thing, I guess?
Yeah, I’d panic a bit if I saw a giant scythe manifest in the middle of town, too.
Looks like Knives is having some trouble controlling his angel (?) arm, too.
HIS HAIR!!!! D:

Of course, he immediately starts putting two and to together with Vash’s hair. Now if he can just make the connection that Vash using all that power is his fault.
Goodbye, Conrad. We hardly knew thee.
Vash senses something’s wrong with his brother. I wonder if he can guess what.
You know, that really adds some weight to the chapter title, Death Omen. The Death Omen is the dark hair, but Vash has been carrying that around since Fifth Moon.