History Manga / ChainsawMan

* DarkerAndEdgier: The manga is considerably darker and more cynical than most other works published in ''[[Magazine/ShonenJump Weekly Shonen Jump]]'', due to its usage of violence, gore, nudity, and BlackComedy. The DownerBeginning of the series starts with Denji's father committing suicide due to the huge debt that he has to pay and Denji ending up getting betrayed by the Yakuza who gave Denji said debt to begin with by chopping off all of his body parts. Many people have commented that the manga would be more at home in a {{Seinen}} magazine. The manga would later move to the online publication ''Shonen Jump +'', which allows for darker and more explicit content than ''Weekly Shonen Jump'' does, but it still stands out in this regard.

* PosthumousCharacter: Along with the handful of Part 1 characters returning alive along with Denji, one ''deceased'' Part 1 character still has a heavy influence on the plot -- [[spoiler:specifically, Makima, as Barem and the other members of the Chainsaw Man Church are still devoted to her and are attempting to finish what she started]].

...Until [[FusionDance Pochita merges with Denji's body]], offering his heart in exchange for getting to finally see Denji realize his dreams of a happy life. In the process, Denji gains a [[ThePowerOfBlood blood]]-based HealingFactor and the ability to [[HenshinHero transform]] into some sort of [[HumanDemonHybrid Human-Devil Hybrid]] that can [[SpontaneousWeaponCreation grow chainsaws out of his head and limbs]] by [[TransformationTrinket pulling a new ripcord in his chest]]. After slaughtering the Devil that killed him, Denji is discovered by the government's public safety Devil Hunters, and their boss, a mysterious woman named Makima, offers Denji a choice: be hunted and die as a Devil, or become her pet and hunt other Devils for her.

** [[FingerGun Finger Guns]]. Three major antagonists (Bomb Woman, [[spoiler:the Darkness Devil]] and [[spoiler:Makima]]) all display an ability that resembles a finger gun; Bomb uses it to direct her explosions, [[spoiler: Darkness can seemingly crush and twist people's bodies by pointing at them, and Makima can shoot invisible bullets from her index finger]].

''Chainsaw Man'' is a NewWeird BlackComedy [[ShonenDemographic Shonen]] manga written by Creator/TatsukiFujimoto, author of ''Manga/FirePunch'', following Denji's new life after becoming the [[TitleDrop eponymous]] "[[SomethingPerson Chainsaw Man]]". ''Part 1'' was serialized for 97 chapters from December 2018 to December 2020 in ''Weekly Magazine/ShonenJump''. A ''Part 2'' began serialization on the more freeform ''Shonen Jump+'' digital platform on July 13th, 2022. The manga has been officially translated with a simultaneous Japanese and English release available [[https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/titles/100037 here]] and [[https://www.viz.com/shonenjump/chapters/chainsaw-man here]]. A light novel titled ''Literature/ChainsawManBuddyStories'' was released in Japan in 2021 and translated to English in July 2023.

** A locked door with [[NothingIsScarier something horrid]] behind it. The most notable example being a mysterious door in Denji's dreams that Pochita begs him to never open. [[spoiler:It eventually revealed to have been a sort of mental barrier that protected Denji from remembering that he actually killed his father in self-defense.]]

* BigBadEnsemble: Part 2 has multiple powerful villains causing problems, primarily [[spoiler:the Famine Devil]], the mysterious Justice Devil [[spoiler:who is actually the Fire Devil]], the Great King of Terror [[spoiler:AKA the [[MortalityPhobia Death Devil]]]], and even [[spoiler:[[VillainousLegacy Makima's lingering influence]]]].

* GreaterScopeVillain:
** The "Great King of Terror" mentioned in the Prophecies of Nostradamus. [[spoiler:Whether this figure is a Devil, human, or a hybrid is unknown, save that their appearance spells TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt. The threat it poses is so great that the Famine Devil, one of the Four Horsemen, wants to stop it (if only because it'll take away her favorite pastimes). This figure is later revealed to be the Death Devil.]]
** [[spoiler:Despite Makima's death in Part 1, the Weapon Devils attempt to carry out her legacy and alleged goals to use Chainsaw Man. Barem in particular seeks revenge against Denji for stopping Makima's plans.]]

* BigBadEnsemble: Part 2 has multiple powerful villains causing problems, primarily [[spoiler:the Famine Devil]], the mysterious Justice Devil, the Great King of Terror [[spoiler:AKA the Death Devil]], and even [[spoiler:[[PosthumousCharacter Makima]]'s lingering influence]].

* GreaterScopeVillain: The "Great King of Terror" mentioned in the Prophecies of Nostradamus. [[spoiler:Whether this figure is a Devil, human, or a hybrid is unknown, save that their appearance spells TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt. The threat it poses is so great that the Famine Devil, one of the Four Horsemen, wants to stop it (if only because it'll take away her favorite pastimes). All clues and statements given so far point to this figure being the Death Devil.]]

* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler:Makima wants to use the Chainsaw Man's RetGone powers to erase humanity's biggest fears from existance and create peace on earth.]]

* FantasyGunControl: Strict gun control exists worldwide thanks to the Gun Devil, which was created by a wave of gun-related crimes that inspired fear that strengthens devils, and whose massive body count only served to heighten fear of guns (and devils) even more. In the aftermath, strict gun control policies and media manipulation wereenacted to remove guns from public thought in order to restrain its power. Even then, contracting with the Gun Devil still allows one to get guns, [[spoiler:though this is a lie, as most guns, supernatural or no, are now used by governments for state-sponsored violence, while using the Gun Devil as a scapegoat.]]

* BigBadEnsemble: Part 2 has multiple powerful villains causing problems, primarily [[spoiler:the Famine Devil]] and the mysterious Justice Devil.

** Chapter 143 features the return of [[spoiler:Quanxi]], the first ''major'' character in Part 1 to return aside from Denji himself. [[spoiler:Samurai Sword, one of the series' first major villains,]] returns in the following chapter.

* GreaterScopeVillain: The "Great King of Terror" mentioned in the Prophecies of Nostradamus. [[spoiler:Whether this figure is a Devil, human, or a hybrid is unknown, save that their appearance spells TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt. The threat it poses is so great that the Famine Devil, one of the Four Horsemen, wants to stop it (if only because it'll take away her favorite pastimes).]]

* SoftReboot: Although Part 2 keeps the same world as Part 1 and follows an implied SequelHook about the HorsemenOfTheApocalypse, it's otherwise a heavy departure. The original protagonist has become a {{deuteragonist}}, [[AscendedExtra a few minor character became regulars]], the other three apparent surviving members of Part 1's cast have thus far been unseen, and only two other major Part 1 characters reappeared much later. The focus of the plot has changed from Public Safety to Denji and Asa's high school.

** [[spoiler:Makima]] getting shot in the head in Chapter 22.

* KickTheDog: In order to goad Denji into re-embracing Chainsaw Man [[spoiler: Barem burns down his apartment, including his dogs.]]

* PeripheryDemographic: In-universe; in Chapter 29, Denji and Power can be seen reading ''Magazine/CoroCoroComic'', a {{kodomomuke}} magazine for children.

A stage show is scheduled to be in production from September-October 2023, known as ''CHAINSAW MAN THE STAGE'', featuring anime voice actress veteran Creator/AyaHirano as Makima.

** Chapter 143 features the return of [[spoiler:Quanxi]], the first ''major'' character in Part 1 to return aside from Denji himself.

* SoftReboot: Although Part 2 keeps the same world as Part 1 and follows an implied SequelHook about the HorsemenOfTheApocalypse, it's otherwise a heavy departure. The original protagonist has become a {{deuteragonist}}, [[AscendedExtra one minor character became a regular]], and the other three surviving members of Part 1's cast have thus far been unseen. The focus of the plot has changed from Public Safety to Denji and Asa's high school.

* ProductionThrowback: One of Nayuta's demands in a deal with Denji is that they can eat ice cream every day. In [[Manga/NayutaOfTheProphecy the oneshot Nayuta is from]], she gets sad when her brother explains they won't be able to eat ice cream as often.

* WhamLine: Denji's introduction to the Chainsaw Man Church takes a ''wild'' left turn when the tour guide explains why the members are almost all high school students.
-->'''Nobana''': The adults' mental faculties are diminished because of an American Ultraviolet Ray Weapon in Japan's air!

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: In Chapter 134, the Copycat Chainsaw Man makes a television appearance in his human form to encourage recruitment for the Church of Chainsaw Man. While many believe him and join almost immediately, the next chapter points out how there are still people understandably skeptical of the Copycat's claims, especially when he refused to transform to prove he's the real deal.

* RuleOfScary: Devils run on this, becoming more powerful the more humanity at large fears something. For instance, very few people unironically fear tomatos or chickens, putting the corresponding Tomato Devil and Chicken Devil very low in the heirarchy, whereas a loud, sharp and gruesome thing like a chainsaw or a tool of civilian murder like a gun are feared by many, granting their corresponding devils, Pochita and the Gun Devil, incredible power. Primal fears, such as darkness or heights, manifest in some of the most dangerous Devils in the series.