Even when it comes to manga like Trigun, fate can work in mysterious ways, and somehow, one Twitter 's tweet advocating for a queer sci-fi novel has turned into a campaign to reprint the Trigun Maximum manga--and even stranger, it seems to be working.
Twitter @maskofbun made a demanding late-night tweet on May 7, 2023, pleading with readers to take a look at the novel This is How You Lose the Time War. The tweet went viral and the book skyrocketed to #3 on Amazon's Best Sellers list. The 's name at the time, however, had a risqué reference to the character of Nicholas D. Wolfwood of Trigun, and @maskofbun seized upon the limelight to make a new plea to Dark Horse comics, asking respectfully if, now that they had seen the collective power of the Trigun fandom, they would consider reprinting the classic series. This tweet then racked up over 5,000 likes and almost 2,000 retweets.
A Surprise Return for Trigun Maximum?
The Trigun Maximum manga series, which ran for almost 10 years after the original 1998 anime ended, is owned by Dark Horse Comics in the US. While Dark Horse has kept Trigun Maximum available digitally, the series has been out of print for years, driving the prices of physical manga through the roof and rendering the series difficult to access for many a fan. With the newfound success of Trigun Stampede this year, there's never been a better opportunity to do another print run, yet Dark Horse had remained fairly quiet on the subject. However, with @maskofbun thrust into the viral spotlight, even Trigun Stampede's producer tweeted that he bought This is How You Lose the Time War. The website Insider reached out to Dark Horse Comics for comment, and received the following reply:
"Dark Horse is very much aware of the interest in the 'Trigun' manga, and while we can't share specifics just yet, fans should stay tuned for some exciting news very soon."
While it's not exactly a confirmation, the fact that anything is going on with Trigun's manga at all is enough to get fans excited. The phrasing even seems to suggest that whatever they're referring to has been in the works for a little while, perhaps as a direct response to Trigun Stampede's popularity earlier this year.
Fans of Trigun who've long awaited the day that the manga might become more affordable to own may still want to keep their fingers crossed for now, but these rumblings are the first sign in a long while, and that's something worth celebrating--even if it arose from such a bizarre turn of events.
Source: Insider, @maskofbun
