Warning: SPOILERS for episode #4 of Trigun Stampede.Trigun Stampede gives one of anime’s most iconic weapons an epic upgrade. The Cross Punisher is a cross-shaped multipurpose weapon usually held by Nicholas D. Wolfwood, which is instantly recognizable for people who are familiar with the original Trigun series or anime fans in general. This already iconic design got a massive upgrade in Trigun Stampede, making the Punisher even deadlier.
Manga and anime have plenty of crazy or bizarre weapons that became iconic over the years. Guts’ Dragon Slayer sword from Berserk, Ryuuko’s Scissor Blade from Kill la Kill, the Omni Directional Mobility gear from Attack on Titan, Alucard’s twin guns from Hellsing; these are all instantly-recognizable instruments that became just as famous as the characters holding them. Trigun‘s iconic weapons should be the two AGL revolvers carried by the twins Vash and Knives, but it’s actually easy to be overshadowed by a giant cross-shaped gun carried by a charismatic gunslinger priest: the Cross Punisher.
Trigun‘s Most Extravagant Weapon Becomes Even More Outrageous in Stampede
In episode #4 of Trigun Stampede, “Hungry!“, after surviving the deadly attack of the series’ arch-villain, Knives, Vash meets one of the main supporting characters of the series, Nicholas D. Wolfwood. While traveling in the desert, the group is attacked by a giant Sand Worm that swallows them whole. Inside the beast’s belly, Vash figures out that a kid they rescued is, in fact, controlling the creature. To get out before they are digested, Wolfwood takes out the Punisher, which turns into a laser cannon and slices the entire giant worm in two.
In the original Trigun series, each side of the Punisher had a different purpose. The two long sides could be used respectively as a machine gun and a rocket launcher, while the two short sides held Wolfwood’s eight pistols. Trigun Stampede has changed the rocket launcher with a laser cannon, making this iconic weapon even more impressive. Very few weapons scream “anime!” more than Trigun‘s Punisher, and it’s good to see that the Trigun Stampede reboot is doing a great job in trying to capture, and even upgrade, the outrageous spirit and style of the original.
Wolfwood’s Punisher is more than just an extravagant weapon. In the original series, it becomes a symbol of Vash and Wolfwood’s connection. The reboot has not been afraid of changing up things, including dropping all the mystery of the original Trigun. In episode #4, Wolfwood is already revealed as a potential traitor, so it remains to be seen what else will change about his story. One change that fans will not be complaining about is the incredible upgrade given to Wolfwood’s Punisher in Trigun Stampede, which made one of the most “anime” weapons ever even more outrageous.
Trigun Stampede is streaming on Crunchyroll.
