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Trigun Maximum #2
Trigun Maximum Volume 2: Death Blue
Vash the Stampede rises again!
Vash the Stampede can't seem to escape peril since he came out of two years' hiding. Travelling across a dusty planet back to his old hometown, Vash survives a duel with a samurai on skull-skates and delivers a town from the terror of a local thug, only to arrive home to a mysterious and grim surprise. The popular manga story continues into new territory, as Trigun Maximum follows our hero's promotion of "peace and love" further into comedic conflict and daring despair with volume 2, "Death Blue."
From the the talented & twisted mind of Yasuhiro Nightow (1967–), here comes another volume full of huge guns, signature characters, wild shoot-em-up action, and funny writing. Celebrated for both his writing and art style, the Japanese manga artist is well known for his magnus opus 'Trigun' (1998). Beloved by many, it has also been adapted into a hit anime series and film. He is also behind the design of the characters for the iconic video game and anime series 'Gungrave' (2003-2004).
Format: Soft Cover, 200 pages, B&W, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4
Edition MSRP: $9⁹⁵ U.S. (ISBN 1-59397-197-3)
Printed in Canada
Vash the Stampede can't seem to escape peril since he came out of two years' hiding. Travelling across a dusty planet back to his old hometown, Vash survives a duel with a samurai on skull-skates and delivers a town from the terror of a local thug, only to arrive home to a mysterious and grim surprise. The popular manga story continues into new territory, as Trigun Maximum follows our hero's promotion of "peace and love" further into comedic conflict and daring despair with volume 2, "Death Blue."
From the the talented & twisted mind of Yasuhiro Nightow (1967–), here comes another volume full of huge guns, signature characters, wild shoot-em-up action, and funny writing. Celebrated for both his writing and art style, the Japanese manga artist is well known for his magnus opus 'Trigun' (1998). Beloved by many, it has also been adapted into a hit anime series and film. He is also behind the design of the characters for the iconic video game and anime series 'Gungrave' (2003-2004).
Format: Soft Cover, 200 pages, B&W, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4
Edition MSRP: $9⁹⁵ U.S. (ISBN 1-59397-197-3)
Printed in Canada
200 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1999
11 people are currently reading
436 people want to read
About the author
Yasuhiro Nightow
143 books135 followers内藤 泰弘. Traditional transliteration would be Yasuhiro Naitou. Author uses "Nightow" for better pronunciation by English natives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 1, 2023
things that happen in this volume: a guy shreds a sax solo so hard it kills people, that guy's name is midvalley the hornfreak, there's another guy who's a samurai that wears skull roller skates and his katana is also a gun that shoots the blade, meryl and milly go on a silly goofy roadtrip to reunite with vash while vash and wolfwood are on a homoerotic roadtrip to hell, vash crashes wolfwood's bike multiple times because he's 150 years old and still doesn't have his driver's license, and also vash and wolfwood cannot be normal about each other for one singular second ever
April 8, 2020
I think it's the character of Vash himself that carries the story - even when the plot and the artwork may sometimes be a little lacking. He's just such a badass, yet also genuinely a good and idealistic person. All too often badassery comes with a solid dose of cynicism and meanness.
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June 9, 2023A CLIFFHANGER?!?! 😱 Anyway, even that aside, this volume is where I started to truly enjoy myself. Vash seriously needs a 24/7 babysitter even when injured and half-conscious. Man's a magnet for trouble.
Also missing Meryl and Milly, but I'm sure they're on their way. Hopefully.
Also missing Meryl and Milly, but I'm sure they're on their way. Hopefully.
August 10, 2025
still not a fan of the artwork. but I'll keep going for now.
February 27, 2023
This one hurt. I thought what Wolfwood pulled in the chapter sharing his name was a lot, but then his dream, and then the Home Sweet Home chapter came in for the kill with Vash. Absolutely devastating.
To actually speak further on things I brought up in the first volume of Deep Space Planet, Wolfwood does make a note of Vash's optimism, which could simply just be viewed as foolishness, and I think we begin to see the different ways that these two operate. Vash is sticking to certain morals in the hopes of honoring someone already gone, while Wolfwood doesn't hesitate to do what he believes needs to be done because he, as he notes, has people/kids that he needs to take care of or that seem to rely on him in some way, people still living. Both could be seen as very valid, but I think we do get insight into how taxing these choices are on Wolfwood and how he views himself. Also I think we've gotten hints that killing to avenge or take care just incites further killing and avenging. The world becomes an eye for an eye and suddenly there is no vision towards a future of empathy and good.
I mentioned this in my very first review, what can be fostered in this place of cyclical, often selfish death when people are met with goodness and given the choice? I think it's another idea that is brought up in this volume, that idea of what someone may choose to do. I think Vash is optimistic, it's one of my favorite things about him as someone who would perhaps feel hopeless in a world like this, but I think his idea of choice rings very true. Almost everyone in this world has stained their hands, but how do they atone for those actions? Who judges when things have been taken too far, especially in this world so aesthetically that of the wild west? Wolfwood is the traveling priest, but Vash is the one calling for redemption through acts and choice.
To actually speak further on things I brought up in the first volume of Deep Space Planet, Wolfwood does make a note of Vash's optimism, which could simply just be viewed as foolishness, and I think we begin to see the different ways that these two operate. Vash is sticking to certain morals in the hopes of honoring someone already gone, while Wolfwood doesn't hesitate to do what he believes needs to be done because he, as he notes, has people/kids that he needs to take care of or that seem to rely on him in some way, people still living. Both could be seen as very valid, but I think we do get insight into how taxing these choices are on Wolfwood and how he views himself. Also I think we've gotten hints that killing to avenge or take care just incites further killing and avenging. The world becomes an eye for an eye and suddenly there is no vision towards a future of empathy and good.
I mentioned this in my very first review, what can be fostered in this place of cyclical, often selfish death when people are met with goodness and given the choice? I think it's another idea that is brought up in this volume, that idea of what someone may choose to do. I think Vash is optimistic, it's one of my favorite things about him as someone who would perhaps feel hopeless in a world like this, but I think his idea of choice rings very true. Almost everyone in this world has stained their hands, but how do they atone for those actions? Who judges when things have been taken too far, especially in this world so aesthetically that of the wild west? Wolfwood is the traveling priest, but Vash is the one calling for redemption through acts and choice.
June 30, 2024
I have to leave this volume at a 3/5 because despite the fact that it has some ICONIC moments (specifically, Vash and Wolfwood's standoff and the first clear articulation of their clashing moral perspectives), I found the fight scenes especially hard to follow here. The confrontation between Vash and Rai-Dei, in particular, felt very chaotic and difficult to track; I am sure part of that is because conveying high-speed action in a static format is inherently stilted, but oof.
An aside: I think the fandom needs to talk about Rai-Dei's Heelys more.
And that cliffhanger... ugh. It hurts to see Vash so happy, so relieved, so at home and then to lose it all in an instant.
An aside: I think the fandom needs to talk about Rai-Dei's Heelys more.
And that cliffhanger... ugh. It hurts to see Vash so happy, so relieved, so at home and then to lose it all in an instant.
April 23, 2023
they're really making this man suffer more then jesus huh?
February 1, 2015
3 1/2 Stars
This volume started out rather confusing -- partly because it's been awhile since I read #1, but also the artwork was hard to follow.
We get to see a lot more of the dynamic between Vash the Stampede and Wolfblood, which is pretty comedic. There is a dramatic/comedic battle between Vash and a Samurai, which Vash attempts to bring to an end in his typical manner. After all, he is the man of "peace and love". :) The ending of this particular volume is a bit heartbreaking, as our hero is brought face to face with the Puppet Master.
I hope the next volume won't quite take so long to get to me. I really enjoyed the Trigun Anime, and want to see more of the Manga that was the inspiration.
This volume started out rather confusing -- partly because it's been awhile since I read #1, but also the artwork was hard to follow.
We get to see a lot more of the dynamic between Vash the Stampede and Wolfblood, which is pretty comedic. There is a dramatic/comedic battle between Vash and a Samurai, which Vash attempts to bring to an end in his typical manner. After all, he is the man of "peace and love". :) The ending of this particular volume is a bit heartbreaking, as our hero is brought face to face with the Puppet Master.
I hope the next volume won't quite take so long to get to me. I really enjoyed the Trigun Anime, and want to see more of the Manga that was the inspiration.
June 21, 2023
“if you really believe i’m wrong, pull the trigger. in return, my role as the devil will be handed over to you. that way, you won’t hesitate to take out the next man who gets in your way. it’s a small price to pay. if it brings something like that out of you… i’ll trade my life.”
wolfwood about to risk it all… is he… you know…
“you are the coward here wolfwood.
no matter what it is you do…
…you give it up so easily”
“this is the first time ive seen a man put others’ lives in front of his own.
is he ignorant to his adversaries’ skills, or his?
he makes me sick…”
the soulmates are soulmateing
wolfwood about to risk it all… is he… you know…
“you are the coward here wolfwood.
no matter what it is you do…
…you give it up so easily”
“this is the first time ive seen a man put others’ lives in front of his own.
is he ignorant to his adversaries’ skills, or his?
he makes me sick…”
the soulmates are soulmateing
May 28, 2023
Trigun Maximum (the manga) has a penchant for being a whacky, high energy type of manga. Of course, it’s super dark and somewhat gory (it was probably super gory for its time), and it’s not lighthearted besides moments surrounding Vash, but it still has some sort of whimsical whackiness to it at most times alongside that darkness it conveys.
Personally speaking, I didn’t enjoy this volume very much. I’d give it a 3 stars personally. But I can recognize its worth and I think that for what it is, it deserves 4 stars— but no more. It’s sort of choppy and sometimes I feel like I’m getting whiplash from how little certain scenes transition, but a lot of the content in this volume is indeed interesting and important. I can’t say much else without spoiling— so give it a read for yourself! We do have our lovely girls appear briefly, but this volume is primarily dedicated to Vash and Wolfwood’s travels and encounters with the Gung Ho group. It’s a lot of fighting, and a lot of arguing of ideals and lifestyle between Vash and Wolfwood (along with a nagging suspicion at the tip of Wolfwood’s tongue). It almost feels like Wolfwood might turn his barrel to face Vash if nothing is resolved… Then again, perhaps not. Human or not, Wolfwood shows a certain fondness for Vash unlike other affections I’ve ever seen him express. I like that Wolfwood, when he takes the time to develop a relationship with someone (which isn’t often. What. Twice? Thrice?), it’s always a very different relationship.
Personally speaking, I didn’t enjoy this volume very much. I’d give it a 3 stars personally. But I can recognize its worth and I think that for what it is, it deserves 4 stars— but no more. It’s sort of choppy and sometimes I feel like I’m getting whiplash from how little certain scenes transition, but a lot of the content in this volume is indeed interesting and important. I can’t say much else without spoiling— so give it a read for yourself! We do have our lovely girls appear briefly, but this volume is primarily dedicated to Vash and Wolfwood’s travels and encounters with the Gung Ho group. It’s a lot of fighting, and a lot of arguing of ideals and lifestyle between Vash and Wolfwood (along with a nagging suspicion at the tip of Wolfwood’s tongue). It almost feels like Wolfwood might turn his barrel to face Vash if nothing is resolved… Then again, perhaps not. Human or not, Wolfwood shows a certain fondness for Vash unlike other affections I’ve ever seen him express. I like that Wolfwood, when he takes the time to develop a relationship with someone (which isn’t often. What. Twice? Thrice?), it’s always a very different relationship.
April 3, 2023
While the art on an ability level is still respectable, it's still often hard to figure out what is going on in certain panels, because the details are so overly complex, style-wise. I also still just don't like the art style (e.g., I didn't think Vash's costume could get worse, and Yet). I still think the character designs are ugly, and visually it's an ugly mess. There are a number of good Wolfwood panels I enjoy, and his parts are often the better ones: his relationship with Vash is quite fun.
Overall the plot's kind of boring, though I do like the general theme of trying your best to help those in need, with the hope of doing better in your future, for yourself and those around you. There are also just stories that aren't this visually ugly that also tackle that... It came out at a different time, so obviously I benefit from just having more options in the future, but for example, "Mo Dao Zu Shi" the novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu handles a number of similar story themes here much better, and the manhua adaptation is far better looking than this. "Fullmetal Alchemist" and "Spy x Family" do fight scenes better (FMA in particular is gorgeously drawn, as is "InuYasha"), and "Spy x Family" also handles similar themes quite well. But I mean if you're into classic shounen manga that are westerns... this is here.
Overall the plot's kind of boring, though I do like the general theme of trying your best to help those in need, with the hope of doing better in your future, for yourself and those around you. There are also just stories that aren't this visually ugly that also tackle that... It came out at a different time, so obviously I benefit from just having more options in the future, but for example, "Mo Dao Zu Shi" the novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu handles a number of similar story themes here much better, and the manhua adaptation is far better looking than this. "Fullmetal Alchemist" and "Spy x Family" do fight scenes better (FMA in particular is gorgeously drawn, as is "InuYasha"), and "Spy x Family" also handles similar themes quite well. But I mean if you're into classic shounen manga that are westerns... this is here.
January 23, 2022
The second volume of Maximum, Death Blue, further establishes the difference in philosophy between our hero Vash and his traveling companion Wolfwood. We get to see them clash morally over a number of situations and see how extreme their differences can go when it comes to killing, even when it involves a death obsessed member of the Gung-ho Guns.
There is an absolutely horrific scene right at the start of the book just in case you needed to be reminded of how horrific the followers of Knives can be, an absolutely nightmarish scene that doesn't need to show excessive gore to be effective.
But not content to simply inflict physical trauma on the reader Nightow doubles down and bookends this volume with an absolutely heartbreaking scene that leaves you waiting until the next volume for the conclusion.
Overall this volume is a really solid entry in the story with more really great Vash and Wolfwood interactions with just enough action to keep it from feeling too dialogue heavy.
There is an absolutely horrific scene right at the start of the book just in case you needed to be reminded of how horrific the followers of Knives can be, an absolutely nightmarish scene that doesn't need to show excessive gore to be effective.
But not content to simply inflict physical trauma on the reader Nightow doubles down and bookends this volume with an absolutely heartbreaking scene that leaves you waiting until the next volume for the conclusion.
Overall this volume is a really solid entry in the story with more really great Vash and Wolfwood interactions with just enough action to keep it from feeling too dialogue heavy.
April 17, 2023
Perseguidos por los Gung ho Guns, Vash y Wolfwood se plantean la posibilidad de luchar, pero los ideales pacifistas de Vash solo complican las cosas. La senda de la paz no los podrá llevar todo el camino y Wolfwood está seguro de que tendrá que acabar ensuciándose las manos.
Vash tiene un corazón enorme y el hecho de que se niegue constantemente a matar no es vosa de subestimar al enemigo, sino de lo mucho que le dolería hacerlo. Wolfwood no se quiere dar cuenta de ello porque se niega a aceptar que la gente es capaz de cambiar, que él mismo es capaz de cambiar. Esa introspección que vemos de forma tan intimista me parece preciosa porque redondea al personaje más allá del asesino que no es capaz de tragarse el "paz y amor" de Vash. Es más, estoy segura de que el giro de 180 grados que va a dar no lo va a alejar tanto de lo que era, sino que va a resultar en su vacío rellenado por Vash y eso me da un poco de miedo. Miedo porque no salen de peligro y lo veo capaz de dar su vida por Vash. Literalmente.
Vash tiene un corazón enorme y el hecho de que se niegue constantemente a matar no es vosa de subestimar al enemigo, sino de lo mucho que le dolería hacerlo. Wolfwood no se quiere dar cuenta de ello porque se niega a aceptar que la gente es capaz de cambiar, que él mismo es capaz de cambiar. Esa introspección que vemos de forma tan intimista me parece preciosa porque redondea al personaje más allá del asesino que no es capaz de tragarse el "paz y amor" de Vash. Es más, estoy segura de que el giro de 180 grados que va a dar no lo va a alejar tanto de lo que era, sino que va a resultar en su vacío rellenado por Vash y eso me da un poco de miedo. Miedo porque no salen de peligro y lo veo capaz de dar su vida por Vash. Literalmente.
April 24, 2021
No me enorgullezco de mí mismo al estar seguronfe que hay frases en este tomo que voy a plagiar de forma automática y descarada.
El dibujo de Nightow va aclarandose y lo que en sus primeras viñetas eran escombros mezclados con rocambolescas y emborronadas onomatopellas poco a poco se convierten en nítidas figuras contorneandose detrás de cortinas de humo. Este hombre quiere hacerlo todo tan épico que casi no hay espacio para detalles importantes sobre la trama. Pero lo estúpidamente cierto es que le sale bien.
Hay tintes de Berserk aquí, aunque es normal, porque en los noventa todos habían bebido de lo mismo.
Además, seamos realistas. Todo lo que huela a Berserk huele bastante bien.
El dibujo de Nightow va aclarandose y lo que en sus primeras viñetas eran escombros mezclados con rocambolescas y emborronadas onomatopellas poco a poco se convierten en nítidas figuras contorneandose detrás de cortinas de humo. Este hombre quiere hacerlo todo tan épico que casi no hay espacio para detalles importantes sobre la trama. Pero lo estúpidamente cierto es que le sale bien.
Hay tintes de Berserk aquí, aunque es normal, porque en los noventa todos habían bebido de lo mismo.
Además, seamos realistas. Todo lo que huela a Berserk huele bastante bien.
December 10, 2023
Amando profondamente questo volume tutto dedicato a confrontare gli stili di vita di Wolfwood e di Vash, senza giudicare nessuno dei due per le scelte che fanno, ma piuttosto sottolineando che sia l'uno sia l'altro hanno le loro ragioni per abbracciare la violenza o rifuggirla il più possibile. Tra le altre cose, i piccoli sprazzi del passato del Reverendo lasciando intendere che quest'uomo abbia sofferto e io sono qui, pronta a soffrire insieme a lui.
E poi sono tornate le mie bimbe, Milly e Meryl, come posso non amare questo volume, eh?
E poi sono tornate le mie bimbe, Milly e Meryl, come posso non amare questo volume, eh?
July 7, 2025
“I see a man forcing himself to play the devil while his heart cries out” Vash intenta remidir al Samurai de las Gun-Ho Guns perdonandole la vida, este con el corazón lleno de odio intenta matarlo por la espalda, pero Vash es salvado por Nicholas, que le da un tiro en la cabeza matandolo. Esta es al menos mi parte favorita del volumen, donde discuten sobre si estaba bien matarlo, Vash llamando a Nicholas cobarde mientras el le responde “Ya talk ‘bout savin’ everyone, but ya just don’t wanna get yer own hands dirty”
November 29, 2021
Utk plot berkembang dg cukup baik. Namun tetap yg saya rasakan seperti di volume pertama.
Artwork Nightow sensei terlau padat, dan terkadang peralihan pane serta balon komiknya menjadi padat. Sensei seolah ingin membuat semuanya begitu epik sehingga hampir tidak ada ruang untuk detail penting tentang plotnya.
Artwork Nightow sensei terlau padat, dan terkadang peralihan pane serta balon komiknya menjadi padat. Sensei seolah ingin membuat semuanya begitu epik sehingga hampir tidak ada ruang untuk detail penting tentang plotnya.
May 23, 2022
I’m honestly too stupid to read Trigun. I’ve maybe read this volume two or three times before reaching the concession that I need to re-borrow and re-read Volume 1 to understand what is going on. I find the sequences between panels and pages difficult to follow. It also doesn’t help that I’m reading a tonne of unrelated manga at the same time. I should come back to Trigun with a greater focus.
February 19, 2023
I love Wolfwood’s development in this volume! His humanity and his will to survive would always come over those of others which leads him to the trouble he gets to understand Vash’s moral. He was willing to give up his life for Vash to see the world through his eyes and yet, it seems Vash is doing a much better job on changing Wolfwood’s perception and we really got to see that in this volume.
April 9, 2025
"you told me back then that you saw a man grinning just to bear the pain. do you wanna know what i see when i look at you? i see a man forcing himself to play the devil while his heart cries out."
condenados por la narrativa, aquí estamos un día más. estoy escribiendo una review real de este volumen porque me parece peak tragic yaoi, menudo comienzo...
condenados por la narrativa, aquí estamos un día más. estoy escribiendo una review real de este volumen porque me parece peak tragic yaoi, menudo comienzo...
June 4, 2025
I'm still not all that clear about the story other than Vash and the other guy are travelling from town to town as if it was the Old West even though it's the future. The art is technically good but all of the extreme angles and close ups in the panels can make it hard to follow the story. Still I'm invested for now.
March 1, 2021
I’m new to manga. I found the artwork in this book confusing in many places.
May 19, 2021
That last chapter was so evil...Poor Vash.
I’m not saying he should abandon his promise to not kill, but if he did kill then it’d be well deserved.
I’m not saying he should abandon his promise to not kill, but if he did kill then it’d be well deserved.
March 27, 2023
goddamn that was exquisite
April 8, 2023
Now we start gettin a peek at Wolfwood too. He and Vash are butting philosophical heads while continuing to deal with the Gung Ho Guns.
April 27, 2023
Maybe I need to lay down or something.
May 6, 2023
vashwood make me crazy ❤
May 13, 2023
why is everyone so mean to him? he is just a nice man :(
June 27, 2023
3.75 🌟 I think.
July 6, 2023
oh this gets better by the chapter
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews