Nicholas D. Wolfwood

Nicholas D. Wolfwood (ニコラス・D・ウルフウッド, Nikorasu Dī Urufūddo?), also known as Nicholas the Punisher.

The background and development of the the character are different in the anime and manga.

Manga
In the manga Wolfwood is a member of the Eye of Michael, an organization of assassins founded by a plant worshiper. After showing potential in the orphanage in which he is raised, Chapel The Evergreen trains and modifies him, giving him enhanced abilities and the ability to regenerate from heavy injuries using special vials, though he ages much faster than normal. He is given the tenth incarnation of the organization's signature weapon, a special large cross-shaped gun called the Punisher, which contains two machine guns and a rocket launcher. Wolfwood later shoots Chapel and takes his place in the Gung-Ho-Guns in an attempt to kill Millions Knives. He fails to do so and is instead sent by Knives to guide and protect Vash until he is able to meet him. After Vash is taken prisoner in the Ark, Wolfwood rescues him and later departs to December to protect the orphanage from the retaliation. He battles his childhood friend, Livio, and his crippled master in a two volume face off. He manages to kill Chapel and defeat Livio The Double Fang and Razlo the Tri-Punisher of Death, but having overdosed on the regenerative vials, he soon dies while having a last drink with Vash.

Anime


In the anime, Wolfwood is raised by an abusive guardian, who he later shoots and kills. He is taken in by Chapel The Evergreen, who trains him to be his successor. He meets Vash while he is stranded in the desert, and the two join forces. Wolfwood's purpose is to raise money for the children in the orphanage he runs, trying to keep other children from suffering as he did in his own childhood. He initially holds the ideals that he must kill, though he eventually comes to accept Vash's ideals. He eventually fights his master, but spares him after defeating him. Legato Bluesummers controls Chapel and forces him to shoot Wolfwood, who stumbles into a church. He spends his last moments reflecting on his life and making a final confession before dying. Vash then takes his gun as an act of honor, and uses it fighting against Knives. During the course of the series, Wolfwood develops a relationship with Milly Thompson that crosses from close friendship into romance, sleeping with her and impregnating her shortly before his death.

Voice Actors
The character is voiced by: Shō Hayami (Japanese version) and Jeff Nimoy (English version).

Trivia
Wolfwood's weapon, Punisher, is the tenth one in creation.

According to the author, the D stands for "Dokonokuminomonjawaresumakinishiteshizumetarokakora."

Nightow commented on the Punisher being around a "hounded-and-so" kilograms and Wolfwood having an "incredible sense of balance".