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The last volume of Trigun really launched the start of an awesome story, with Vash facing the deadly Monev the Gale and encountering the creepy Legato Bluesummers. I was expecting this volume to be even better, and after a slow start it lives up to my expectations. The focus shifts in episode 14 to insurance agents Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson, who agree to help out a pair of elderly homesteaders who are fighting to keep their land out of the hands of an evil businessman. Events are further complicated by the actions of the homesteaders' son (hilariously named Badwick) who is misguidedly helping the villain, and the appearance of more members of the Nebraska family. Meanwhile Vash has his hands full with Legato and his 'Gung-Ho Guns', a gang of psychotic outlaws whose only purpose appears to be to kill him. Legato demonstrates the full extent of his terrifying powers and draws Vash into facing three of the Gung-Ho Guns - Dominique The Cyclops, E. G. Mine and Rai-Dei The Blade. Vash will need to use his full abilities if he is to defeat these deadly opponents, and Legato is determined to force him to use the one ability he has kept hidden - the deadly power that earned him the name the Humanoid Typhoon and caused the destruction of the city of July, the Angel Arms... As mentioned this volume starts slowly, with a single episode long story which doesn't really cover any new ground story-wise. It does, however, give some insight into Meryl and Milly's characters simply through focusing on them and their reactions, there seems to be some kind of sad story to Meryl's past which is touched on but left mostly unsaid and this works quite well. This character focus nearly makes up for the rubbishness of Marilyn Nebraska and her mother, who are even more ludicrous than the earlier Professor Nebraska and Gofsef. The episode is otherwise pretty standard Trigun fare, with a bit of drama, a bit of humour and a bit of action. After this though the focus shifts back to Vash, and this is where the series really gets going. Legato draws Vash into a web he has spun in a densely populated city, using his terrifying mental powers to force a gang of thugs to kill each other to set the stage for an enraged Vash to face the Dominique The Cyclops. The ensuing battles come thick and fast, with Vash not only taking on the teleporting Dominique but also having to clear the innocent people from the city before he battles the spike-throwing E. G. Mine and deadly samurai Rai-Dei. Legato's plan is to cause Vash as much anguish as possible and the other Gung-Ho Guns make cameo appearances which will no doubt lead to major roles later on. With names like 'Midvalley the Hornfreak', 'Cain the Longsight' and 'Hoppered the Gauntlet' they should all prove to be interesting opponents for our embattled hero, and it looks like wandering priest Wolfwood is going to have a major part to play too. He makes an appearance at the end of the volume and there are hints towards a dark secret in his past, whilst we see more flashes of Vash's tortured past which looks (from the next episode preview) like it's going to be explored in more depth next time round. Once again Trigun delivers a superb action and a really intriguing story, and once again my only gripe can be the low episode count. Unlike some of the previous villains the Gung-Ho Guns have been pretty cool, particularly the samurai Rai-Dei, and Legato is sinister and cruel as ever. Vash's true power is revealed as it becomes increasingly difficult for him to live to his principles, and who is the mysterious figure glimpsed briefly in a flashback? The stage is being set already for a big confrontation but there is going to be a lot more secrets and story to be revealed in the next three volumes. It may be galling that the series is stretched over eight volumes rather than the usual six, but it is worth the money. Trigun is a classic series that deserves to be in your collection. Extras: Trailers for Trigun and a couple of other MVM releases, as well as clean opening and ending sequences. Unremarkable stuff. Ratings Feature:
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