Written by Tatsuki Fujimoto and serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, Chainsaw Man captivated readers worldwide with its brutal story, rich symbolism, and unpredictable twists. Its unique balance of absurd comedy, raw emotion, and visceral horror made it a cultural phenomenon, trending weekly on social media during its run.
The Public Safety Arc (Part 1) concluded in February 2021 after 97 chapters, later followed by an anime adaptation by MAPPA and the launch of Part 2 on Jump+.
This article will guide you through the entire storyline of Chainsaw Man Part 1 (Volumes 1–11) — including major spoilers.
Setting
Part 1 of Chainsaw Man takes place in an alternate version of Japan around 1997 (confirmed in Volume 9, Chapter 75).
In this world, human fears manifest as Devils — terrifying beings that can possess, kill, or make contracts with humans.
Volume 1: A Fateful Encounter and Contract
Our story begins with Denji, a destitute boy forced to repay his late father’s debt to the yakuza. To survive, he works as a Devil Hunter, accompanied by his loyal pet — Pochita, a small chainsaw-shaped devil.
One day, Denji and Pochita are betrayed and murdered by the yakuza, who are under the control of the Zombie Devil. Before dying, Pochita sacrifices himself and fuses with Denji, forming a new contract:
“Show me your dreams, Denji.”
Reborn as a human-devil hybrid, Denji wipes out the zombies in a bloody rampage. Soon after, he encounters Makima, a mysterious woman from Public Safety. She offers him a choice —
“Be killed as a devil… or live as my pet.”
Hungry, alone, and desperate, Denji chooses to live. When Makima offers him a proper breakfast — something he’s never had — his new life as a Public Safety Devil Hunter begins.
Life Under Makima
Image Credit : shueisha.co.jp
Makima takes Denji under her wing, offering food, shelter, and affection. Enchanted by her kindness, Denji falls hopelessly in love. She claims she can still smell Pochita’s presence inside him, which comforts Denji deeply.
He’s soon assigned to a new team alongside Aki Hayakawa, a stern and disciplined senior hunter, and Power, a chaotic Blood Fiend with the personality of a wild cat. Despite frequent clashes, the three gradually form a dysfunctional yet heartwarming household.
Denji, whose dreams are painfully simple, sets a new life goal — “to touch a girl’s chest.” Power promises to let him do so if he helps rescue her kidnapped cat, Meowy. But it’s a trap: Power sacrifices Denji to the Bat Devil to save her pet.
When the Bat Devil betrays her, Denji fights back, recalling his bond with Pochita. He defeats the devil in a spectacular battle, saving both Power and Meowy. From that point, Aki begins to see Denji differently — not as a nuisance, but as someone with heart.
Power later moves in with them, and Denji finally achieves his dream… only to realize it’s not as thrilling as he imagined. Feeling hollow, he confides in Makima, who gently tells him that true intimacy is about connection, not just physical touch — and tempts him with a new promise.
The Gun Devil and the Endless Hotel
Makima reveals her ultimate goal: to hunt down the Gun Devil, a being so powerful it caused mass casualties worldwide in seconds. The Gun Devil also murdered Aki’s family, giving him a personal vendetta.
To locate it, hunters collect fragments of the Gun Devil’s flesh, which attract one another. Denji, Aki, and Power join Himeno, Arai, and Kobeni on a mission to a hotel where a devil holds one of these fragments.
Inside, the group becomes trapped in an endless loop on the 8th floor — the work of the Eternity Devil. The only way out, the devil claims, is to feed it Denji. Without hesitation, Denji dives in to fight it himself. He drinks its blood to heal and battles relentlessly until the devil begs for death.
Denji’s insane determination earns the team’s respect. Later, during a drunken welcome party, he bonds with Himeno, and the two promise to help each other achieve their romantic goals — Denji’s love for Makima, and Himeno’s for Aki.
But the peace is short-lived.
Assault on Public Safety
A coordinated attack strikes Japan’s devil hunters. Members of the Special Division are gunned down across the country, including Himeno, who sacrifices her life and her contract with the Ghost Devil to save Aki.
Denji is captured by the Katana Man, a hybrid like himself. Yet inexplicably, Makima survives an assassination attempt while traveling to Kyoto — and uses her mysterious power to slaughter the attackers from afar.
Kobeni manages to rescue Denji, and the truth becomes clear: Denji’s heart — Pochita — is the real target.
Training and the Future Devil
Image Credit : shueisha.co.jp
Makima restructures the division and assigns Denji and Power to train under Kishibe, the strongest (and craziest) devil hunter. His brutal methods nearly kill them daily, but they slowly improve.
Meanwhile, Aki makes a new contract with the Future Devil, who ominously declares,
“Your death will be the worst one imaginable.”
Armed with new powers, the squad launches a revenge operation, defeating the Katana Man and bringing him into custody.
Reze: The Bomb Girl
Amid the chaos, Denji starts to live a somewhat normal life — until he meets Reze, a charming girl working at a café. She flirts, laughs, and teaches him what it means to be loved.
But happiness never lasts in Chainsaw Man.
Reze’s true identity is revealed: she’s a Bomb Devil hybrid, sent to assassinate Denji and retrieve his heart.
After a fierce battle involving Beam, the Shark Fiend who worships Denji as “Lord Chainsaw,” Reze is defeated. Before leaving Japan, she hesitates — torn between her mission and her feelings. Denji, waiting for her at their café, never sees her again. She’s quietly killed by Makima, hinting that Makima had orchestrated everything from the start.
International Assassins Arc
Denji’s identity becomes public, and devil hunters from around the world set out to capture him.
From America come the three brothers — one hilariously killed when Kobeni’s car runs him over (earning the car its own fanbase).
Elsewhere, Germany’s mysterious Santa Claus uses the Doll Devil to turn civilians into deadly puppets, while China sends Quanxi, a legendary devil hunter and her harem of fiend lovers.
The conflict spirals into chaos as everyone is dragged into Hell by the Hell Devil, where they encounter the terrifying Darkness Devil. Nearly everyone dies — until Makima appears, effortlessly pulling the survivors back to Earth.
In the ensuing battle, Denji and Quanxi temporarily team up and defeat their enemies. But the cost is enormous.
The Gun Devil Returns
Traumatized by the recent events, Aki becomes fearful of fighting again. Yet Makima manipulates him into contracting with the Gun Devil itself. Soon, he loses control and becomes the Gun Fiend, attacking Denji and Power.
As they fight, Aki hallucinates that he’s playing in the snow with Denji — unaware that he’s killing innocent people. Denji is forced to kill him, fulfilling the Future Devil’s prophecy.
Makima’s True Identity
Image Credit : shueisha.co.jp
Makima Explained: The True Identity, Powers, and Death of the Control Devil in Chainsaw Man
After Aki’s death, Denji falls into despair. Seeking comfort, he accepts Makima’s invitation to live with her. Surrounded by warmth, food, and her dogs, he feels peace — until she murders Power right before his eyes.
Makima reveals everything: she is the Control Devil, representing humanity’s fear of domination. Her goal is to use Chainsaw Man to create a perfect, peaceful world — one without pain, fear, or independence.
But Denji, with Pochita’s help, finds a loophole. He defeats Makima not with brute force, but through cunning and love — in a disturbingly poetic way that only Tatsuki Fujimoto could conceive.
Epilogue
After the battle, Denji takes in the reincarnation of the Control Devil — a small girl named Nayuta — and vows to raise her properly, giving her the love and freedom Makima never had.
Thus ends the Public Safety Arc, a story of blood, desire, and identity — where the line between humanity and monstrosity is constantly blurred.
Themes and Legacy
Chainsaw Man isn’t just about devils and gore. It’s about freedom, control, trauma, and love — and the absurd, painful beauty of wanting simple things in a cruel world.
With its unpredictable tone and raw emotional power, Part 1 established Tatsuki Fujimoto as one of the most daring storytellers in modern manga.
コメント