Like It or Not, Chainsaw Man's Most Frustrating Character Is Now Its Most Interesting
Warning: Contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man Chapter #190Chainsaw Man Part Two has spent quite a bit of time placing its dual protagonists in situations over which they have no control, while shady characters silently pull the strings behind a curtain. For a series that concluded its first half with such a quiet but powerful declaration of freedom from its main character, Denji has been little else but a side character in his story. As Chainsaw Man is thrust into the role of some religious icon, Denji is once again scratching and clawing for a normal life that is so far out of reach.
One character running rampant off-screen to ensure Denji's suffering is the mysterious and divisive Fumiko Mifune. An agent of Public Safety and a self-proclaimed Chainsaw Man fan, Fumiko seems to view the series' protagonist as little more than a means to an end, much like Makima before her. Where that end may lead is still largely unknown, though her gleeful reaction at the opportunity to steal a strand of Denji's hair or even a fingernail suggests the destination isn't a happy one.
Recent chapters have only further shrouded Fumiko in mystery, however, making the series' most frustrating character its most interesting as well. Now shown to have a strange cloning ability in her back pocket, the character who once fled her duty of protecting Denji may just reveal herself to be far more threatening than she seems.
Chainsaw Man's Most Divisive Character Is Now Its Most Interesting
Fans Have a Long-Standing Grudge Against Fumiko
When Fumiko was first introduced into the story in Chapter #136, "Normal Life", red flags were seen from around the globe. Greeting the titular hero with a hearty pat to his midsection, there has never been a moment throughout her time in Chainsaw Man that isn't spent manipulating Denji. Fumiko's initial appearance marked a sudden and jarring shift in the tone of the series, moving the story away from the high school hijinks that defined Part Two in its early goings, never to return.
From the moment of her rocky introduction, the Agent tasked with protecting Denji never quite made the moves necessary to win the audience's favor. She violated him, sang karaoke while he was being attacked, reacted in a horrible manner to his pets being killed, and then fled the premises when the public turned against him. At every opportunity to do anything that might garner some support from the fan base, Fumiko did everything wrong.
As the most recent Aging Devil arc approached its climax, Fumiko appeared again, working with both Japanese officials and the Primal Fear Devil on a nefarious plan to have Pochita erase Aging from existence. During the showdown, she offered her own body as a sacrifice in order to help defeat Chainsaw Man, and fans rejoiced watching Fumiko fall to the floor towards an inevitable death. No one predicted the events to follow, however.
Fumiko's Newly Unveiled Ability Raises Even More Questions
As Fumiko Faded on the Floor, She Appeared Over Her Own Body
To the surprise of every Chainsaw Man fan, Fumiko did not die in the altercation with the Aging Devil. Instead, her random appearance over her own dying body was the key to the main party's eventual victory, taking the Devil by surprise and allowing Yoshida to capture it with his Octopus. From worthless to hero, Fumiko turned the fan base's hatred into confusion, reigniting discussion about who exactly she is.
Author Tatsuki Fujimoto's writing style does not allow for predictability. At the very moment a reader may think they have a grasp on the content, he won't just turn and take his story in the opposite direction, he'll instead do three backflips and then cartwheel somewhere entirely off the pages of his own manga. Fumiko might be a Devil, or she might be contracted to a really powerful one. She might truly be a crazed Chainsaw Man like Makima was, or she could just wander off never to be seen again.
The possibilities for who Fumiko truly is are endless, but one thing is guaranteed: her true nature will not be something that anyone would have expected. The once despised Public Safety Agent is now the series' most interesting character, and will likely demand more focus as the story continues. Chainsaw Man is nearly 100 chapters into its follow-up to the Public Safety arc, and fans have more questions regarding the manga now than they had when it started. It is certain, however, that the answers will be gloriously unexpected.
- Created by
- Tatsuki Fujimoto
- Upcoming Films
- Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (2025)
- First Episode Air Date
- October 12, 2022
- TV Show(s)
- Chainsaw Man
- First TV Show
- Chainsaw Man
- Latest TV Show
- Chainsaw Man
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.
