Trigun, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Yasuhiro Nightow (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 2003 | Series: Trigun (Book 1)

It's a western, it's sci-fi, it's punk, and it's popular. It's Trigun and it's become one of the most popular anime in America. But before it was animated, it was a manga. And now Dark Horse has finally brought that manga to America! Continuing our foray into the world of non-Westernized manga publishing, Trigun promises to be entertaining with its huge guns, signature characters, wild shoot-em-up action, and funny writing. Vash is a nice guy, but everyone wants to kill him. An enigma of a man with a coat full of bullet holes, he's widely feared because of the destruction left in his wake. And he's also highly valued for the price on his head. But he's no easy man to kill. Of course, that doesn't stop people from trying. What's his mission? Where's he from? This volume may have the answers to those questions, and more. See what you've been missing in the video, visit Vash in true black and white coolness. Finally, Trigun is here!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

American readers may be familiar with the version of Trigun seen in the popular anime series Daffy Duck, directed by Sergio Leone. However, the story first appeared as a manga serial, the first 12 installments of which are gathered here in the right to left format. Readers must absorb several installments before figuring out the basic setup: colonizing starships dropped groups of people on a desert planet. Survival is difficult for their descendants, since their original high-tech machinery has either stopped working or is dangerously erratic. A version of Old West society has evolved, enlivened by the presence of wacky outlaws with huge weapons. One of the most notorious gunslingers is Vash the Stampede, a skinny, spiky-haired geek wearing a long, bullet-shredded duster. Vash manages to avoid killing anyone while he dodges the hail of lead everyone aims at him, but that doesn't stop two cute but clueless insurance-company representatives from tagging along to record the massive damage that occurs wherever Vash goes. Just when readers have decided this all must be an elaborate farce, though, flashbacks occur, suggesting Vash may not be the wild and crazy guy he seems. It's too early to tell how much of a serious side the story might reveal. What is beyond doubt is the artwork's uncommon vigor, which fills each page with exploding, overlapping panels of the rootin'-tootin', Wild West, sci-fi space action. It's energetic to the point of being delirious (maybe even demented) but still entertaining.
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Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse Books/Digital Manga Publishing; 1 edition (October 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593070527
• ISBN-13: 978-1593070526
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The beginning of a masterpiece., March 4, 2005

By 

Christopher P. Cecena "ssjanifan" (Pine Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trigun, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

There are tons of manga on that I regularly collect. Dragonball/Z, Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, Ranma 1/2, Case Closed(Detective Conan), Yu-Gi-Oh/Duelist/Millenium World, and others.... but there are a rare few that grab me, that are are real gems that contend for the greatest manga in existence, such as Akira, Nausicaa... and Trigun(and Trigun Maximum).

Most people are probably familiar with Yasuhiro Nightow's series through the 26 episode anime series that was released in the US by Pioneer(now Geneon) and has aired on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block, and let me tell you, as good as it can be, does not do this manga total justice. Covering only about 1/3 of both Trigun and Trigun Maximumn, the anime was forced to not only cut the overall plot short, but also cut out the development of many characters. Vash, the tortured wanderer throughout the planet Gunsmoke, who endlessly searches for his sinister brother, Knives, has a slightly deeper history, as does his eventual traveling companion, the priest/gunman Nicholas D. Wolfwood. Millions Knives, Vash's bro, is far more vicious and cruel, as is his subordinate, Legato Bluesummers. Bernadeli insurance girls Meryl Strife and Milly Thompson are pretty much the same, although personally I found Meryl far more likeable in the manga. Most of the Gung-Ho Guns are also far more sadistic, screwed up, and crazy than the manga(particularly Zazie, although I won't spoil anything), shocking anyone who's used to their anime personas. Nightow's artwork is a true sight to behold, something people will just have to see to fully understand its beauty. The grimy, dusty, and decayed design of Gunsmoke truly is a marvel to look at, and I often spend minutes just staring at the art before proceeding on with the story. The fast-paced action sequences have a fantastic rush, although often they also cause things to become intensely confusing, wondering who's shooting at who and what's getting blown apart, and it does take some time getting used to Nightow's style during these action-packed parts, but once it does, you are in for one crazy yet entertaining ride.

The first volume is episodic for the most part, other than introducing Vash, Meryl, and Milly, the real plot doesn't really begin until volume 2(and continues on into Trigun Maximum), but the stories are a nice read and help us get to know our three main characters, thus setting up the main Knives/Gung-Ho Guns storyline. Overall, this makes one heck of a great read. Welcome to Gunsmoke, and enjoy your trip.

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good manga, better anime, October 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Trigun, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I feel like I am going against all that is right in the world when I say that the anime of Trigun is definitely better than the manga. While some manga artists are able to skillfully capture fighting, I felt the fight scenes were very confusing (not to mention that all the sound effects are in Japanese, which can be rather perplexing also.) The manga also starts farther ahead than the anime. Volume one starts with Hard Puncher, and goes until Murder Machine.

Not to say that the whole manga is terrible. Frankly, I still enjoyed it very much. The "plants" have a better explanation, and the dialogue is much better also (yay, more curse words!). The story flows better, too (until you get to the fight scenes.) And it's a bit more philosophical in places also.

The Trigun manga IS the sort of thing that a Trigun fan should own, because the story diverges from the anime dramatically halfway through the story, and there is an extra Gung Ho Gun that never managed to make it into the anime. But none of that is in this volume, so it's not really a point here.

I did have a point to this review, somewhere, maybe...the point is that if you want to get into Trigun, watch the anime, but if you're a fan already, buy the manga. Just don't be surprised if all the characters are drawn very differently. That's another thing I forgot to mention.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Manga, A Real Must Haver, March 2, 2004

By 

Sam McComb (Clinton, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trigun, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

This is by far the best manga I have ever read. It is a great blend of action and comedy and unforgetable characters. It isn't that much different than the anime, only slightly differing in some parts. It contains the original manga form of the first few episodes (those with Brilliant Dynamites Neon and the Nebraska Family ending with Meryl and Millie saving "without help" the plantation) and they are portrayed quite well. The artwork although in the very beginning is of a slight less quality than the anime early in the Manga. Those of you out there with a Wolfwood Legato or Knives obession shouldn't worry about this volume, as these characters are yet to appear. Bottom Line Anyway you want this Novel if you like Vash at all.