The majority of the negative consequences attributed to "Vash" stem from the actions of bounty hunters seeking the 60 billion "double dollars" reward on his head for destroying the city of July. Despite not recalling the destruction of July himself, Vash asserts that he only desires "love and peace." Although he possesses exceptional marksmanship skills, he utilizes his weapons solely to protect lives whenever possible. As the series unfolds, more information about Vash's enigmatic past and the history of human civilization on Gunsmoke, the planet where the show takes place, comes to light. The tone of the series is often humorous, but it also involves profound character development, particularly in later episodes which become emotionally intense. Occasionally, Vash is accompanied by a priest named Wolfwood, who is nearly as skilled with firearms as he is. Later, Vash becomes the target of an assassination group known as the Gung-Ho Guns for reasons that remain mysterious at first. Trigun explores profound questions about morality, such as: What constitutes morality? Can different moral codes be judged fairly? If a person must violate their moral code to survive, does this betrayal render the code invalid? Is it possible for individuals to find redemption from past wrongdoings, and if so, how?
Trigun Maximum was published in English by Dark Horse from May 26, 2004 to April 8, 2009 and collected into five omnibus editions from December 4, 2012 to November 18, 2014.