Gun X Sword: Gun Sword

Van and Wendy continue in their quest for the Claw, whilst a rising sense of urgency takes them both early on in this second volume. Like the first, each episode is based on a different town or city, which carries its own unique scenario, dangers, and hints as to the direction of the Claw.

The first episode sees two twin sisters, L and R, at war with one another for their father’s inheritance, which can only be unlocked by both keys, with one in the hands of each sister. Van, along with Wendy, is brought as a bodyguard for one sister, and an old rival and enemy of Van’s for the other, at the arrangement of Carmen 99. Ray, an Armour (mecha) pilot like Van, reveals similar reasons for his own search for the Claw. Whereas Van still holds on to values and ideas of virtue, Ray has given himself entirely to his pursuit of revenge, growing cold and selfish in the process. Even after a few dicey assassination attempts (one by Ray on the sister Van guards, and visa versa), Ray extends a hand to Van, with the offer of joining in their pursuits of the Claw.

When Van rejects the offer, however, the battle continues, with the sisters deciding to cut their losses and have the two body guards commit to a duel, with the winning side taking possession of the inheritance. As the audience assembles, Ray instead takes a shot at the opposing sister, steals her key, and takes his own to unlock the door that leads to the inheritance. Only injured, as the one seeks out her inheritance, the other crawls into the huge vault, both finding only a cruel mystery behind the door for which they had fought their entire lives. It’s not quite as good as it sounds, but this is probably the best episode in the series thus far, with a good balance of exhibition (of the existing characters and Ray), action and story.

From there, each episode follows a similar line, pursuing its own snow globe adventures, whilst expanding on elements of the main character’s back stories, or the search for the Claw and Wendy’s missing brother. Even if it’s only through a single line of dialogue, every episode commits to adding something, however small, to the greater story. What I find most irksome in the Gun X Sword series is that each episode is content to pursue its own plotline ahead of the real story, meaning that progress can frequently be slowed down by a series of little adventures that are meaningless in the context of the actual story (especially the second, comic relief, episode). If you’re not as anxious as me for the story, then this volume should be sufficient, being more fun and featuring better action than the first volume. The final episode also sees Ray’s brother, Joshua, joining in Van and Wendy’s quest, as he brings with him yet another converging goal, to be reunited with his vengeful sibling.

Gun X Sword seems to have found its comfort zone in this volume, balancing its duties to the audience, and expanding the fiction appropriately. The major problems remain it’s sense of direction, and the fact that some of the series can be derivative, or even clichéd.

In Summary

The expanding cast seems rounded enough to carry the series, but enjoyment will depend on how much you take to them and the fiction, given that Gun X Sword, though fun, doesn’t really do anything that other animes haven’t before.