Laughing Bull

Laughing Bull (ブル?) was a nomadic Native American living on Mars with his son. He practiced Native American customs and gave advice, which often sounded cryptic to outsiders. He knew Spike Spiegel and Jet Black and would help them occasionally.
Spike sought out Laughing Bull in order to track down Asimov Solensan, a drug dealer with a bounty on his head. Laughing Bull correctly predicted that "the red-eyed coyote" would appear in Zona Norte, in the far side of town. Using this information, Spike confronted Solensan and attempted to apprehend him.
After Gren conducted a Red Eye deal with Vicious, Laughing Bull observed a shooting star with his son. He saw it as the "tear of a warrior" and "lost soul who has finished his battles." Also, he could not find his way to the "great spirit."
After his first fight with Vincent Volaju on the train car, Spike fell into the river and slipped into unconsciousness. He woke up to see Laughing Bull and another who had apparently saved him by hauling him out of the water and treating his wound. Here, Bull referred to Spike's two different eyes, calling one of them the "eye of truth," and stating that Spike has nothing to fear of death. He also referred to Spike by the name "Swimming Bird."
After Spike left the Bebop to confront his past with Vicious, Jet sought out Laughing Bull to find out where Spike was (though he believed it was a ridiculous idea). Laughing Bull explains to Jet (whom he calls Running Rock) that all living creatures that breathe have a guardian star and that this star falls when the creature dies. He foretells that Spike's star is about to fade and also tells Jet that he should not fear death. After the ending credits of the last episode, a star, near the top center of the screen, twinkles and fades out, and the scene shifts to Spike after the final confrontation.
: "Do not fear death. Death is always at our side. When we show fear, it jumps at us faster than light, but if we do not show fear, it casts its eye upon us gently and then guides us into infinity."
== Background ==
He is visually inspired by Sitting Bull, a real-life native holy man.
It is not certain to whom Bull's comments about the shooting star apply, but many have speculated that Laughing Bull is talking about Gren or Lin. The shooting star may have in fact been Gren's spacecraft falling and burning in the atmosphere while en route to Titan.
Laughing Bull's prediction coincides with the fading of the bright blue star during the credits of the session and its theme song, Blue.
The reference of Bull to Spike as Swimming Bird may be a reference to some older, closer bond between the two of them or the fact that a swimming bird is a penguin, who's known by being loyal to his love partner for his entire life.
Bull's tent appeared to have a PlayStation One console in it.
==Recessional of the Red Dragons==
Laughing Bull was met up by Jet and Trudy before the left Mars and met their recruits on Earth. He had some gruesome news from the visions of the bonfire he received from the spirits. The universe would be destroyed if the 2 guardian stars should merge, both Swimming Bird's (Spike's) and Striking Snake's (Vicious'). The red and blue stars should cause the combined dwarf to collapse on itself then explode into a supernova, thus Spike's effects from Vicious' volatile bloodlines shall remain irreversible and his erratic actions would destroy the universe. He knew of the Van's secret black arts as he knew of their new leader, Kim Yokushimo; he was once a member of the Van and taught the shamanistic arts to them, though Kim corrupted them and was forced out by Mao Yenrai. No question since LB looked similar to the Van and had similar customs to them.
Distraught, Trudy received her destiny as the visions shown her as the Wandering Star, a bright star in a moving, gathering constellation. LB gifted her the star pendant and to protect her heart against harm. He jokingly said only her wandering mind shall figure out her true calling.
==A Trip in Paradise==
Laughing Bull was only seen close to the end as Trudy stumbled into his camp. She became despondent after Jet and Faye confessed they were working for Takeshi and Lyn behind her back! He did convince her that she must return to Tharsis and forgive them eventually; good thing she returned with Spike and Julia before the dust storm hit.
==The Tribal Ceremony==
He was one of the those chosen to participate in the annual Tribal Ceremony. So far, he has attended three of them in a row, guiding the other tribesmen as he subtly beats on his tablas and chants to them.
== Gallery ==
Tribal.jpg|Laughing Bull tapping on his tablas amongst the teepees and the crowd
TribalCont.jpg|Laughing Bull beating on his usual tablas in the 2nd ceremony
TribalCeremony3.jpg|Laughing Bull attending the 3rd ceremony beating on the tablas and drawing in more tribesmen
== Trivia ==
* Michael Gregory was the same voice actor who played Volt Krueger in the PS2 game, The Bouncer.
* He does has some interesting names for his acquaintances. Swimming Bird was Spike due to his cunning and versatility, Rolling Rock was Jet because of his sternness, Striking Snake is Vicious cause of his toxicity and cunning as a corrupt official and described himself as a snake, and Trudy as the Wandering Star for her wandering mind and her destiny to save the universe from the Red Dragons.
Category:Characters
Category:Characters borned in the 21st Century
Category:Animated
Category:Anime
Category:Anime Characters
Category:Indians
Category:Native Americans
Category:Cowboy Bebop Characters
Category:Advisors
Category:Magic Users
Category:Old character
Category:Drummers
Category:Singers
Category:Tribesmen
Category:Brainwashers
Category:Characters in The Tribal Ceremony
Category:Characters in Recessional of the Red Dragons
Category:Characters involved in Ikran's Showitious
Category:Characters favorited by TheIkranRider
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Category:Sonokinetic
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