Chainsaw Man Ends One of Its Best Arcs Yet With a Defeat Not Even Denji Called
Chainsaw Man's latest chapter marks the ending of the weirder and more exciting arc since the beginning of part 2, the Aging Devil Arc. The Aging Devil made its appearance in chapter #173, and the arc was filled with absurdity, comedy, and worldbuilding, showing the clash with Chainsaw Man with the third primal devil in the story. The fight finally saw its end in Chainsaw Man chapter #190, thanks to a team effort that left readers shocked.
Chainsaw Man’s chapter #189 continues the battle between the Aging Devil and Pochita, as Denji and Asa are trying to escape from the ageless realm now with the help of Yoshida. However, in Chainsaw Man chapter #190, Fumiko’s unexpected help served to overwhelm the Aging Devil, culminating the battle in one of the most anticlimactic and funniest endings of an arc in Shōnen’s history.
The Aging Devil is Defeated in a Bizarre Sequence of Events Led By Denji
Chainsaw Man’s Latest Chapter Closes the Aging Devil's Arc in the Best Possible Way
While Denji was the mastermind of the fight, by previously figuring out the way to return to their world was through his stomach, in CSM chapter #190, the octopus devil’s power increases thanks to Fumiko. Fumiko allows Yoshida to use Ink on a bigger scale, producing a black smokescreen that surprises the aging devil. The devil lets its guard down long enough to be dragged into its own world by the “Cicada Guy,” the man that welcomed Denji and Asa, whose name is unknown. This allows Yoshida to negotiate a deal with the Aging Devil to cease all future attacks and return to their world.
The deal was quickly accepted by the aging devil once it learned that the alternative was an eternity with Denji. However, this ending is anticlimactic and leaves many unanswered questions, since the chapter ends with the characters returning to a weird and mundane state of normalcy as Denji, Asa, Yoshida, Fumiko, and Fami are in a café as if nothing happened. The world is still in chaos, and Denji is casually sitting with Fumiko and Fami, who are responsible for Nayuta’s apparent death, yet this ending is not only hilarious but goes in line with the absurd nature of Chainsaw Man’s story.
The Aging Devil's Arc’s Ending Is a Perfect Representation of What Makes Chainsaw Man Great
Chainsaw Man is Building Up the Biggest Fight in the Story
Even though the ending of the Aging Devil arc doesn’t address the previous conflicts in the story, the fact that they used a side character like the “Cicada Guy” as the MVP in the success of Yoshida’s plan and the chapter finished in a gag with the former minister of finance being left in the ageless realm—just like he wanted for the world—shows the unpredictableness that fans love about Chainsaw Man. This has been confirmed in an interview by Da Vinci Magazine with the author Tatsuki Fujimoto that it was his primary objective while crafting the story in part 2.
Do you know of the movie The Big Lebowski? That movie really made me think, "What even was that?" when I was done watching it. Nothing was resolved; wasn't everything pretty meaningless? But still, the protagonist had development, and the story progressed; there was this sublime absurdity that I loved. I want Chainsaw Man to give the reader that kind of aftertaste too. – Tatsuki Fujimoto
While Chainsaw Man still has many pending mysteries, the story is paving the way before the appearance of the last of the Four Horsemen, the Death Devil. Also, with Yoru having gained more power after sacrificing Tank and Gun Devil and Denji overcoming his mental break,CSM’s upcoming arc could finally introduce the Death Devil as the final villain in the story. Moreover, it could confirm the Prophecy of Nostradamus, since the world in the series has already fallen into an irredeemable violent state, which creates anticipation for the upcoming chapters of Chainsaw Man.
Source: Da Vinci Magazine, Interview transcribed by flightofangels on Reddit.
- Created by
- Tatsuki Fujimoto
- Upcoming Films
- Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (2025)
- First TV Show
- Chainsaw Man
- Latest TV Show
- Chainsaw Man
- First Episode Air Date
- October 12, 2022
- Cast
- Kikunosuke Toya, Tomori Kusunoki, Shôgo Sakata, Ai Fairouz, Mariya Ise, Kenjiro Tsuda, Shiori Izawa, Reina Ueda
Chainsaw Man is a dark fantasy manga created by Tatsuki Fujimoto. The series follows Denji, a young man who merges with his devil-dog Pochita to become Chainsaw Man. He joins the Public Safety Devil Hunters to fight devils threatening Japan. The series explores themes of violence, power, and survival. Since its debut in 2018, Chainsaw Man has gained immense popularity, leading to a critically acclaimed anime adaptation.
- TV Show(s)
- Chainsaw Man
