Trigun is a series that first blast off onto US shores in the form of an anime and quickly captured the attention of fans for its quirky characters and its ability to mix light hearted drama with dark converging story elements. However if the anime is your only experience in the world of Trigun, then I suggest you book a return trip in the form of the superior manga.
Written and illustrated by Yasuhiro Nightow, Trigun follows the adventures of the walking disaster zone known as Vash the Stampede. Wherever Vash goes trouble is sure to follow. With a bounty on his head, he is constantly being hunted, often leading to massive collateral damage to the areas around him. Vash is rumored to be a legendary gunmen though he hardly appears as such upon first glance. Rather than facing those who come to challenge him, he runs away, occasionally only stopping for a bag of fresh donuts to munch on. However, as he encounters situations that require his skills, Vash is quick to prove why he is uncontested when it comes to handling a gun. Despite this, he cherishes life, going so far as to put his own on the line for others.
As this is the starting point of the manga, the first few chapters act as introductory stories to characters and events that continue to drive it for the remainder of it’s run. While the bulk of the characters that show up within volume one play only minor roles, mainstays such as the insurance duo comprising of Milly and Meryl have greater parts to play in the overall story. Both are ceaselessly chasing Vash in the hopes of preventing him from unleashing more destruction. While they present no challenge to him physically, Vash is constantly on the run, wanting nothing to do with them or their surveillance. With their jobs on the line, Milly and Meryl have no choice but to remain in pursuit of him.
The majority of volume one focus' on the trio as they are faced with numerous challenges in the forms of over the top villains who all see an opportunity to cash in on Vash’s bounty. This can get repetitive as each new chapter brings more of the same, acting as filler until the real story gets off the ground.
While volume one is good, it is unessential. The first half of the anime was a faithful adaption, making it unrequired reading to those familiar with the characters. The chapters are stand alone and the art isnt as polished as it should be, with the series still in it’s early stages.
Volume two is where things kick into high gear and the manga begins to distinguish itself from it's animated counterpart. The overall shift in art and tone make for a much more satisfying read than the previous volume. The story takes a drastic turn toward a darker direction, with traces of Vash’s past coming back to haunt him, setting up the overarching story that will run throughout the rest of the series. Several new sinister faces are introduced who promise to make Vash’s life miserable; the first of which is Legato Bluesummers.
Legato presents a new challenge to Vash, as he has the unique ability to control the bodies of others. He makes his presence known almost immediately by issuing a warning that the worst is yet to come. His calm, yet depraved nature make him more of a threat than any previous foe.
Following Legato is the group known as “the Gung Ho Guns”, with each member being stronger than the average human. Each one is more than a challenge for Vash, making for dynamic action sequences that will have you turning pages at a rapid pace.
Later on, the fan favorite Nicholas D. Wolfwood is also introduced. Much like the anime, Wolfwood is a traveling priest who befriends Vash only later to be revealed as part of Legato’s army of thugs. Though he makes little impact this volume, his true moments of glory lie further on ahead.
Pulling the strings from the shadows is Vash’s aptly named brother, Knives. We get brief glimpses into their tragic past, revealing what tore the two apart, ultimately leading to a climatic confrontation that nearly brings about the destruction of the moon. The survivors are unknown as the conclusion is left ambiguous, setting up for a continuation under a second series titled “Trigun Maximum”. These first two volumes merely act as an introduction to the series, laying the foundation for future stories.
Two things make this a much more complete package over the anime; Story and art. The Character's backgrounds are more fleshed out and the pace is significantly improved, considering it doesn't have to cram everything into twenty six episodes, giving it room to breathe. Character designs are also more detailed with slight alterations to the costuming that adds to their visual flare.
Of course, there are some noticeable flaws that do detract from the overall quality of the work. Art is generally good, though hardly Nightow’s best, lacking an overall attention to detail. Speech bubbles are place erratically throughout the panels, making it difficult to know who is saying what, which has the potential to perplex some readers.
Though it has a rough start, Trigun is definitely a series worthy of your time. Compelling characters, an involving story, and intense action helped make Trigun a success both in Japan and the U.S. After reading these two volumes, it's easy to see why the series has such a devoted fanbase. If you're new to the franchise, this is as good a starting place as any. If you’re already a fan of the anime, consider this an extension. Either way, your sure to walk away satisfied.
Trigun Volume one – B-
Tringun Volume two – B+
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