Chainsaw Man Review

Background

On March 24th of 2026, the popular manga series Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto ended with 232 chapters. The story follows 16-year-old Denji, a broke orphan who kills devils alongside his best friend, the chainsaw devil Pochita. He does this to pay off the debt to the yakuza his late father left behind. When he’s betrayed and murdered by the yakuza he’s working for, Pochita gives him his devil heart, allowing him to be reborn as Chainsaw Man. To avoid being hunted by the leader of the Public Safety Devil Hunters, Makima, he becomes one himself, and he gets to live the “life of his dreams”. The series began serialization in December of 2018 in the weekly Shōnen Jump, quickly becoming one of the most popular new manga series. With over 35 million copies sold, an ongoing anime adaptation in 2022, and a movie earning about $162.9 million worldwide, its commercial success is undeniable, making the recent ending highly anticipated. 

Review

Chainsaw Man features many lovable and hateable characters that are consistently well-written. Fujimoto’s skill in creating an uncomfortable, erratic, and intense horror in extremely relatable characters is on full display in Chainsaw Man, making it some of his best work. His tragic stories are his speciality and part of his genius. This manga showcases this talent through the physical and mental struggles Denji must overcome, as he is continuously manipulated by those around him. Fujimoto’s writing style also makes the readers feel attached to the characters, due to his complex understanding of humanity and realism. For example, the main character, Denji, portrays many characteristics of a typical teenage boy. Readers often relate to him because of their similar age, which deepens the emotional impact and enriches the reading experience. Another thing to praise this manga for is the story beyond what is shown. Fujimoto creates a unique world populated by various devils, many mentioned rather than depicted, effectively making the reader curious about the world of Chainsaw Man. Although there are many positive things about Chainsaw Man, all stories have their flaws. The most prominent flaw, which has received very negative feedback from other fans is the ending, which feels unfinished and as if many of the characters did not develop at all, despite character development being one of Fujimoto’s greatest strengths. Many readers were left with a bad taste in their mouths and wanted more. The story can also be a little confusing to follow at times, with the second saga specifically feeling very fast-paced. Furthermore, in the second saga, one could argue that the quality of writing slowly deteriorates, focusing less on the main characters and any form of character development. Overall, Chainsaw Man is still a must-read and one of the best newer manga. It's a horrifying story with characters that keep you invested, resonating with readers despite the controversial ending.