Tuxedo Blowing in the Wind is the first episode and premiere of Gun X Sword. It first aired on the 5th of July, 2005. It is the first episode in the first Volume: Endless Illusion.
Synopsis[]
A lone wanderer wearing a tuxedo and a cowboy hat enters a vast and desolate town. He come across a group of ruffians and a girl in trouble. Little does he know that his and her fates are soon to entwine...
Plot[]
On the verge of starvation, a man named Van enters a church looking for food. He encounters some thieves after a young girl named Wendy Garret. After being rescued, Wendy graciously brings him back to her town of Evergreen, where she treats him to lunch.
Van meets the Mayor of Evergreen, who asks for Van's help. He explains that Evergreen is under siege by a gang called the Wild Bunch led by their boss, Lucky Roulette. Lucky then makes an appearance in the town, making a public threat that he will attack the town if they don't hand over their vault.
The Mayor begs for Van's help, but he declines, ignoring Wendy's pleas to help the town.
That evening, Van stumbles into a bar and comes across Lucky Roulette and his gang. Lucky challenges Van to a card game, with the loser being the one who finds the joker. Van questions why Lucky is so obsessed with luck and he tells him it is the one thing in God's domain that can't be learnt. Van asks if Lucky will let him leave unharmed if he wins and Lucky agrees, telling him he only shoots people when he's looking them in the eye - a personal code of his. After a tense game, Van draws the Joker and is thrown out by Lucky's gang.
Outside, Van is confronted by Wendy, who is frustrated by Van not helping out the town. She offers to become his wife if he helps them. Van is shocked by this and tells Wendy to get out of town. He leaves her and walks down an alley, only to be shot from behind by Lucky Roulette. However, due to his reconstructed body, Van is able to heal himself.
The next day Lucky attacks the town with his armor. Van finally summons his armor, Dann, after Wendy is threatened and Lucky attacks Van dishonorably – from behind. The Town's people, spurned on by Van defend the town.
After Van defeats Lucky Roulette, Van and Wendy confront him on the whereabouts of Michael Garret, Wendy's brother. Lucky says he sold Michael to a man with a claw on his right hand a week past, but doesn't know where they are now. Van is enraged - he is after The Claw for killing his bride.
The next day, when Van leaves to continue his search for The Claw, Wendy offers to join him, as she also wants to find The Claw in order to find Michael. Nothing Van can say will convince her otherwise. Whether he likes it or not (and he doesn't), he has a companion.
Continuity[]
- This episode marks the debut of Van and Wendy, the two main protagonists of the series.
- Michael is mentioned, but does not physically appear in the series till The Vengeance Within.
- Van's Bride is also seen in a brief flashback but is not named.
- Wendy's pet turtle, Kameo, makes his debut.
- Lucky Roulette mentions how he kidnapped Michael on behalf of The Claw. The Claw would later regret using Lucky for such a task due to him being a violent thug.
- Van's armor, Dann of Thursday makes it's debut appearance.
- Wendy's hometown of Evergreen makes it's debut. It would be referenced and seen in flashbacks several times across the series.
- Van's strange proclivity to ask and use all the different condiments is first seen here.
- Van is able to survive being shot multiple times in the chest. A scar on his face is healed when he activates Dann - impling his regenerative abilities and link to Dann.
- Lucky mentions "A man with a claw on his right hand." was the one who ordered him to take Michael. This man seems to be someone Van is interested in pursuing too.
- Van wearing a tuxedo is commented on by several characters in the episode, but it's true meaning is only implied with a flashback of Van and his Bride, laying on the ground in front of the Clawed Man.
- This is the first time Van summons Dann. This armor is clearly very different to Lucky's armor, as it is summoned from space. The various mysteries of Van and this Armor are explained as the series progresses.
Cast[]
| Character | English Voice Actor | Japanese Voice Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Van | David Vincent | Takanori Hoshino |
| Wendy Garett | Stephanie Sheh* | Houko Kuwashima |
| Lucky Roulette | Gerald C. Rivers | Kyousei Tsukui |
| Wild Bunch A | Sam Regal | Shigeru Shibuya |
| Wild Bunch B | Kyle Herbert | Naoki Imamura |
| Wild Bunch C | Liam O'brien | Junji Kitajima |
| Wild Bunch D | Talis Axelrod | Katsumi Toriumi |
| Mayor | Doug Stone | Kazuo Oka |
| Secretary | Elise Baughman | Tomoko Miura |
*Credited under Jennifer Sekiguchi
Quotes[]
"Dead as a doornail. That's just great... Why couldn't have die after i'd eaten ya?"
- Van's first line.
"Thanks a lot! For saving me I mean!"
- Wendy's first line.
"DAMN THAT'S GOOD!"
- Van referring to his meal.
"For man, each day is a test. Desire, dreams and fate try him at every turn. Only the man who does not run from these things can obtain luck."
- Lucky Roulette
"I'm begging you, please protect us! They'll kill us anyway even if we do surrender! You can have whatever you want; money, women! But we need you now before the armor comes! You have to do something about Lucky! "Do it yourself, it'll be a lot cheaper."
- The Mayor begging Van for help against Lucky.
"You mind if I ask why you're so stuck on luck?" "It's the one thing in God's domain, no training to it, or honing of one's skills, nothing. That's why I wanna test it. I wanna find out just what God thinks of me."
- Van asks Lucky about his obsession.
"I don't get it why don't you help us if you're this strong?! It's not fair!" "There's nothing unfair about it. Listen, what I do and who i do it for is my decision. There just isn't any reason for me to protect you people right now I'm sorry."
- Wendy begs for Van's help, but he has no desire too.
Wendy: "Give me back my big brother!" Lucky Roulette: "Sorry baby, but i'm the lucky one today!"
- Wendy and Lucky Roulette
"Well that just tears it! Just for grabbing the girl, I'm gonna hack your luck to pieces until there's nothing left!!!"
- Van confronts Lucky and helps defend the town.
"What did you do with my brother?"
"Sold him off, he told us, to bring him along!
"Who told you?"
"A man with a claw on his right hand!"
"With a claw.... ! WHERE IS HE?! START TALKING!"
- Wendy & Van ask Lucky what happened to Michael, learning that The Claw was involved in his kidnapping.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Ending Card: Wendy Garett (Based on the scene where she offers to be Van's Bride)
- Unlike subsequent episodes, the credits start before the episode ends.
- The scene where Van confronts Lucky with his arm in a sling, the background behind him spells "VAN".