Chainsaw Man
A dark fantasy manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto. Part 1 (97 chapters) ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2018 to 2020; Part 2 began serialization in Jump+ in 2022. Set in a world where devils exist and are managed by Public Safety Devil Hunters, the story follows Denji, a boy merged with the Chainsaw Devil Pochita. The story is set in an alternate late-1990s history — Part 1 in 1997, Part 2 in 1998.
- Genre:
- 少年漫画 / ダークファンタジー / アクション / ホラー
- Medium:
- Manga / Anime / Film
Chainsaw Man — Timeline18 events
Gun Devil's Global Massacre
In 1984, as global fear of guns peaked following a large-scale terrorist attack, the Gun Devil appeared and killed over 1.2 million people worldwide in under five minutes. The devil was subsequently subdued and its body divided among the world's major powers, becoming a deterrent akin to nuclear weapons.
73Ch. — Explained by Makima around Chapter 73. Stated to have occurred approximately 13 years before the story's present (1997), placing it in 1984.
Denji's Childhood: His Father's Death and Debt
Denji lost his father at a young age and was burdened with the enormous debt his father left behind, enforced by the yakuza. He sold his organs, scraped by as a devil hunter, and lived on the edge of starvation with little hope for the future.
1-2Ch. — Established through backstory in Chapters 1–2. No specific year is stated.
Denji Meets Pochita and Forms Their Contract
While fleeing the yakuza, Denji encountered the near-dead Chainsaw Devil, Pochita, and revived it with his blood. Pochita entered a contract with Denji — promising to become his heart and keep him alive in exchange for hearing Denji's dreams — and the two began working together as devil hunters.
1-2Ch. — Established in Chapters 1–2. The exact timing of their first meeting is not stated.
Denji Killed and Reborn as Chainsaw Man, Recruited by Public Safety
Betrayed by the yakuza, Denji was killed by the Zombie Devil, but Pochita became his heart and revived him, allowing him to fight as Chainsaw Man for the first time. Surviving Public Safety Devil Hunter Makima recruited him into Public Safety Division 4.
1-4Ch. — Introduction arc, Chapters 1–4.
Assigned to Division 4 — Meeting Aki and Power
Assigned to Division 4, Denji teams up with devil hunter Aki Hayakawa and the Fiend Power. Despite Denji's crude motivations, the three form a working unit and carry out missions together.
5-12Ch. — Around Chapters 5–12 (Bat Devil arc).
Eternity Devil: Escape from the Hotel
On a hotel mission, Denji and his team were trapped in an infinite loop on the eighth floor by the Eternity Devil, which desired Denji's heart. Denji fought continuously for over three days, eating the devil from the inside out to force their escape.
13-21Ch. — Eternity Devil arc, Chapters 13–21.
Katana Man Arc: Assault on Public Safety Division 4
Katana Man and Akane — backed by an organization possessing fragments of the Gun Devil — launched a devastating assault on Division 4 in an attempt to take Denji's heart. Denji and Aki were gravely wounded and several colleagues were killed. After training under Kishibe, the two mounted a counterattack.
22-38Ch. — Katana Man arc, Chapters 22–38.
Reze Arc: Encounter and Parting with the Bomb Girl
Reze, the Bomb Devil and a Soviet spy, approached Denji to steal his heart. Despite Denji developing feelings for her, he fought and defeated her as Chainsaw Man. Reze, who had been offered a chance to escape, was killed by Makima before she could return to Denji.
39-52Ch. — Bomb Girl arc, Chapters 39–52.
International Assassins Arc: Global Agents Target Chainsaw Man
Assassins from multiple nations converged on Japan to claim Denji's heart: Santa Claus (Russia), Quanxi (China), Bucky (Germany and the U.S.), and others. Denji, Aki, and Power fought a series of intense battles against these international agents.
53-70Ch. — International Assassins arc, Chapters 53–70.
Dragged to Hell — The Darkness Devil Appears
Dragged to Hell by Santa Claus's devil contract, Denji's group encountered the Darkness Devil — a being said to have existed since the primordial era, born the moment humans first feared the dark. It demonstrated overwhelming power against everyone present.
64-65Ch. — Chapters 64–65. Events taking place in Hell.
Gun Devil Summoned and Intercepted — Makima's True Power Glimpsed
The U.S. President sacrificed one year of the American people's lifespans to summon the Gun Devil against Makima. Makima subdued and absorbed the Gun Devil with startling ease, hinting at her true power. Aki incorporated a fragment of the Gun Devil through a future contract.
71-79Ch. — Gun Devil arc, Chapters 71–79.
Aki Hayakawa: Possessed by the Gun Devil and Killed
Through Makima's machinations, Aki Hayakawa's body was taken over by the Gun Devil, turning him into the Gun Fiend. Denji was forced to fight and kill his friend while weeping. The loss dealt a devastating psychological blow to Denji.
80-83Ch. — Approximately Chapters 80–83 (early Control Devil arc).
Makima Kills Power — Denji's Mind Broken
Makima subdued the hollowed-out Denji, lured Power to his apartment under the pretense of a birthday celebration, and shot her dead in front of him. The double loss severed Denji's contract with Pochita and left him entirely under Makima's control.
84-85Ch. — Around Chapters 84–85 (mid Control Devil arc).
Makima's True Identity: The Control Devil
It is revealed that Makima is the Control Devil, having formed a contract with Japan's Prime Minister. This contract makes her effectively immortal by redirecting fatal wounds to ordinary Japanese citizens. Her long-term goal was to obtain the heart of Chainsaw Man, Pochita.
84-89Ch. — Progressively revealed from around Chapter 84 onward; her identity as the Control Devil is made explicit around Chapters 88–89.
Kishibe's Anti-Makima Squad and Chainsaw Man's Awakening
Kishibe assembled an anti-Makima squad and executed an operation to cast Makima into Hell. During her absence, Pochita fully awakened from Denji's body as the Chainsaw Devil and proceeded to destroy Makima's assembled forces one by one.
86-93Ch. — Chapters 86–93 (late Control Devil arc).
Denji vs. Makima — Final Battle, Makima Eaten
Believing she had defeated Pochita, Makima was deceived — the real Denji had hidden while a decoy bearing Pochita's scent drew her attack. Denji struck with a Blood Chainsaw forged from Power's blood, defeated Makima, and then brought her home and ate her — a singular act that neutralized her immortality and ended her threat.
94-97Ch. — Chapters 94–97 (Part 1 finale).
Nayuta Appears — Denji Tasked with Raising Her
In the Part 1 epilogue, the Control Devil had reincarnated as a Chinese girl named Nayuta. Kishibe entrusted her to Denji before the government could shape her into another Makima, and Denji accepted the responsibility of raising her.
97Ch. — Chapter 97 (Part 1 final chapter) epilogue.
Part 2 'Academy Saga' Begins: Asa Mitaka and the War Devil
In 1998, new protagonist Asa Mitaka enters the story. A withdrawn high school girl, Asa becomes the host of the War Devil Yoru and crosses paths with Denji, who is enrolled at the same school. The Four Horsemen devils emerge as new threats.
98-Ch. — Part 2 (serialized in Jump+), from Chapter 98 onward. Serialization began July 2022.
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