Trigun Bookclub: pancake-breakfast: Trigun Maximum Volume 8: Chapter 5 + Bonus

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Original Tumblr Post: Chapter 5 + Bonus

I’ve been chomping at the bit to get through the last few chapters of this volume, and finally, it is time!

Stream-of-consciousness thoughts for TriMax Vol. 8, Chapter 5 + Wolfwood Spinoff below.

Table of Contents

Chapter 5: Parting Ways

Noooooo, who’s parting wayyyys?? Everyone’s finally set up to reunite!
LOL, the Punisher looks like it’s taken some… punishment… in its fall from the ship.
They’re looking for them! That’s right, keep looking, guys!
OMG THEM <3 <3 <3 Protect him, Vash! Gods, he’s soooo worried.

TBH, I think Vash is right to be shocked. I’d probably be shocked if I didn’t Know Things. ~~Gods, I don’t wanna Know Things.~~
Aaand there’s the vials! Drink ‘er up!
STAMPEDE SPOILERS: I do think Stampede made the right choice in introducing those sooner rather than later. It doesn’t destroy the tension around Wolfwood, because he’s still Wolfwood and… well… yeah. Hard to get life-saving meds when you’re not on great terms with the people who gave you the meds (and tend to go through it like it’s candy).
And now he’s providing some insight on Eye of Michael for Vash. And us. Good good good.
AND FOR ONCE NIGHTOW ACTUALLY USED THE BLACK BACKGROUND FOR FLASHBACKS. Gods, I wish he did this more often.
Awww, baby Wolfwood!

Also young Chapel, I guess, but I don’t care about him NEARLY as much.
I mean, that’s one way to train someone, I guess….
Ugh, poor kid. No one should have to go through this. He looks terrified, and probably rightly so.
Ah, there’s the bit about his age not being what it appears to be.
He looks… I don’t want to say “mournful” over what he’s lost. More like he’s already mourned it and accepted it as gone forever, and now there’s just kind of a gaping hole in his heart where it used to be.

But there were more kids that ended up like him, most notably Livio, who Chapel seems to have recruited specifically as a “fuck you” to Wolfwood.
LOL, this is so them.

Vash in a blanket. Vash in a blanket!!! SOMEONE MADE HIM COZY!!! A:LGJA:OSDJ:FAJS:LDJ He needs to be cozy more often. He even has cozy slippers!

That’s RIGHT, Knives! Stop trying to merge your being with your sisters! They’ll win in the long run, ’cause they’re used to being a hive mind.
Awww, Wolfwood’s got a blanket, too. <3 Blankets for everyone.

The migration makes sense. Even in a world where communication isn’t instantaneous, news spreads.
Yeah, Knives going after the envoy ships might not be so great.
Eyyy, it’s our friend the gunsmith!
“Tumbleweed.” That’s a very apt name for Vash, all things considered.
Vash is sooooo happy to see him.
This guy. He’s like, “My death got ruined by some jerk giving me a reason to live.”
Ever-hopeful, ever-determined Meryl. <3
Marlon probably doesn’t know it, but he’s providing Vash with more than just a weapon here. Given how poorly their last meeting went, Vash probably expects Meryl to hate and fear him, but by telling him this story, Marlon lets Vash know Meryl still has hope in him. Enough hope to want him to be protected.
OMG, he’s gonna repair the Punisher. He calls repairing the Punisher child’s play. Who is this man?!
Vash, still looking tired and wan, but also looking hopeful again.

(Also, I love his floofy hair throughout this whole chapter. You can really see where Stampede took their inspiration.)
Geez, is Knives even absorbing dead Plants? This is not good. For him, I mean. It might actually work out ok for other people.
Is… is Knives trying to kill himself? Or just part of himself? The part of himself that feels sympathy for Vash despite the destruction of all the Plants? Does he even realize how many of these Plants would probably still be alive if it weren’t for him “rescuing” them??
Epic Wolfwood spread! Looks like Marlon got the Punisher back in tip-top shape. (Hats off to @trigun-manga-overhaul for all their work stitching together pages like this.)
Noooooo, don’t leave, Wolfwood! Vash needs you around! Have you learned nothing?? *SIGH* This means they’re not gonna be getting the band back together, doesn’t it.

Wolfwood Spinoff: Freed Bird

I’m glad he’s free… but… I don’t want him off on his own.
Ahhhh! I’d heard he whittled things but wasn’t sure if it was true!

For reference, the ガタガタ (gata gata) sound on the right-hand panels is the sound of Wolfwood’s knife, and the キキイイイ (ki ki-iii) sounds on the left-hand panel are bird cries.
Yeah, flying does a number on one’s metabolism. There’s a reason birds are poop machines. As anyone who’s ever owned a bird knows.
LOL, this driver’s like, “I’m glad you’re an artist, but I need to get paid in cash.”
I wonder where Angelina is….
Wolfwood’s already making friends, I see.
Is Wolfwood blushing as he watches her?
Ah, trading women as products is common enough that she doesn’t even flinch at the suggestion.
This is a shitty situation, since chances are he gets the Plant in the marriage anyway. Either way, she loses.

I’m beginning to think Wolfwood’s not the “freed bird” referred to in the title.
*cue MAPPA flying bird reflected in a close-up of an eyeball scene*
Oh, no. Wolfwood has a soft spot for orphans.
Ah, seems like she’s made her choice. Not because it’s the choice she particularly wants to make, but because it’s the only choice she knows how to make.
Haaaahahahahahaha, she thinks he got to choose his own path. He carved his road to his own path in literal bodies and blood.
I dunno, man. Different strokes for different folks. Something something “give me the freedom of the starving wolves.” We all make sacrifices, and we have different opinions on what we’re willing to sacrifice. I’m sure Wolfwood would prefer a life of not wandering around, wondering where his next bed and meal will come from, but he should know he chafes under collars and leashes.

You can’t believe she doesn’t remember you? When did she last see you??
Hahahahaha, he’s so determined. He looks angry, but apparently the baby enjoys mad-dogging him back.

Yeah, she’s not exactly walking here. She’s not gonna remember you from that, Wolfwood!
LOL, eat the bird.
Oh, so this orphanage also adopts their kids out to actual families? Who knew? I thought they were all just Eye of Michael fodder.
Aww, toddler version of Maylene doesn’t want to leave big brother Nico.
Now I’m thinking he was blushing at her not because of any attraction, but more out of pride at how much she’s grown.
Oh, great. Who’s this clown??
Ugh, it’s the loan shark. He looks skeevy.
Uhhhh, what happened to Wolfwood? Who’s this chick?
Oh, it’s Maylene. She looks ready for a fight. Why was she chillin’ in a dark room like that?
This panel, tho.

Why’d they beat him up?
Oh, they think he convinced her to refuse the offer? Man, this loan shark guy is dumb. I got the distinct impression she’s never liked him. But of course it couldn’t be because of anything he’s done. It MUST be someone else’s fault she’s rejecting him.
Duuuuude. This guy assumes Wolfwood somehow seduced her, and he’s ready and willing to kill both Wolfwood and Maylene if he did. Seems like GREAT husband material.
LOL, Wolfwood doesn’t even justify his dumb-ass question with a reasonable response. You can just tell Wolfwood’s head is full of murder-thoughts here.

Ah, now she’s blaming him for the situation, too. Vash really has rubbed off on Wolfwood.
It’s hard to tell, but I think Wolfwood is protecting her from the gunfire by keeping them both behind the Punisher.
This guy. He’s got himself a tank to take out someone he thinks might be getting laid more than he is?
Wolfwood. Buddy. How dare you tell her she should have just married this guy.
Look, she’d rather die than go into a gilded cage! That’s how it is sometimes! A cage is still a cage! And her purported husband-to-be is absolute filth!
Oh, good. Wolfy’s coming around. At the very least, he wants to defend Maylene, and he recognizes this guy is trash. Just take a few more steps in the right direction, friend.
I get he was trying to keep her from the kind of hard life he’s lived, but he’s just the bird envying the person on the ground. He doesn’t get that there are difficulties on both sides and you kinda have to pick your poison… if you’re lucky enough to even have the choice.
He is still proud of her, despite his harsh words and narrow vision.

She may or may not recognize him, but she is aware of the impact he had on her young life.

Author Bonus Chapter

I wanna… just soak in water for a bit….
LOL, always a good plan to run away for a bit of one gets stuck being at home.
What’s 1/F?
Wolfwood sure does spend a lot of time covered in blood. WHO’S FAULT IS THAT, NIGHTOW?!?!

“Silly manga” my foot… Tell that to my therapist. (Just kidding; Trigun Book Club is my therapist for this stuff. Sorry, folks!)

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