Contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man chapter #178
Chainsaw Man has always thrived on its unpredictability, and as of the most recent chapter #178, titled, “Gun Goddess”, that remains truer than ever. As Yoru receives yet another power up, devastating the city with an attack courtesy of the Statue of Liberty,Chainsaw Manalso takes the opportunity to highlight its dual protagonists, Denji and Asa. and their devil counterparts.
Yoru, the War Devil, and Chainsaw Man, the Hero of Hell, are currently battling in the open streets of Tokyo, both at their maximum power. And while the fight has been electrically fast, featuring Chainsaw Man’s gory goodness andYoru’s new weapon-arms, author Tatsuki Fujimoto isn’t letting an opportunity to examine his two main characters slip him by.
The two devils, which have fused themselves into Denji and Asa respectively, are symbolic of the characters to which they belong. Though similar in their monstrous states of being,they represent fundamentally different ideals and personalitieswhich make themselves apparent as they fight. Denji, having been humanity’s savior since becoming a Devil Hunter, is flanked by the Hero of Hell, the devil who devils dear most. Meanwhile, Asa, shown to be largely standoffish and mistrusting towards people, is supported by the War Devil, Yoru, who showsno care for human life.
Asa Finally Remembers Who Yoru Really Is
The War Devil’s Terrifying Power Shakes Asa to the Core
Prior toChainsaw Man’s current arc, both Asa and Denji enjoyed somewhat equal time in the series' spotlight. As the story progressed, however, the focus shifted largely to Denji, and Asa’s perspective became less and less prevalent. Becoming mostly disengaged with the surrounding events,Yoru was able to rise to power as Asa went with the flow, strengthening herself from the public’s growing fears of war.
Now, having just launchedwhat is likely the most powerful attackChainsaw Manhas ever seen, Asa becomes terrified, remembering just who it is that she shares a body with. Like Denji and Pochita in the past, a growing relationship between Asa and Yoru was all but promised in Part Two. And though it started out a bit rough, the fearsome War Devil eventually grew to call Asa by her name and even became somewhat considerate of her feelings.
Yoru is not Pochita, though. The hulking, terrifying Chainsaw Man learned to love and feel the embrace of another through his relationship with Denji, the two standing on equal footing in a way that was almost sibling-like. In stark contrast, Yoru and Asa’s relationship is something closer to a struggle for control.Yoru only cares about Asa when it’s beneficial to her, and vice versa, like in a life-and-death situation that puts either in danger. After becoming complacent in sharing half of herself, Asa is now terrified at what Yoru might do.
Denji and Asa Are Fundamentally Different, and Their Devils Reflect That
As Pochita and War Fight, Denji’s and Asa’s Differences Reveal Themselves
Denji,though he may not seem like a great protagonist, has been painted as a hero of the people throughout the majority ofChainsaw Man. This is most evident during his fight with the Aki-Gun Fiend, when commoners on the street fed him blood in order to revive him. Most recently, in chapter #178,that panel is eerily mirrored as the Aging Devil feeds Pochita blood in the same way. However, just one chapter earlier, Chainsaw Man refuses to harm an innocent girl for blood, instead choosing to humorously wave a sign for a blood drive.
Like Denji, Pochita’s main targets are devils, and it can be inferred that the Hero of Hell will turn down the opportunity to feast on the Aging Devil, as doing so would cause the deaths of innocent children, directly clashing with Denji’s morals.In Asa’s case, she’s consistently been cold and callous towards others, and that is reflected in Yoru being an evil, entirely uncaring Horseman of the apocalypse, who’s willing to destroy sections of a major city for her ego-fueled fight. Not only are the two main devils currently clashing, but so too are their human counterparts' ideals.
Trying to predict the events ofChainsaw Manis a bit like trying to change the weather; it isn’t possible. But as more focus is put on the core differences between the story’s two protagonists, it isn’t far-fetched to predict that Asa’s realization of Yoru’s horrifying nature might somehow affect the War Devil’s tirade. A sudden moral shift may just slow Yoru down, allowing for Chainsaw Man to make a swift comeback in upcoming chapters.
Chainsaw Man
Cast
Chainsaw Man follows Denji, a young man burdened by debt, who teams up with his pet devil Pochita to fight devils under the yakuza’s control. Released in 2022, the series portrays Denji’s struggle to achieve his dream of living a simple, peaceful life.
