Chainsaw Man's most-hated character joins a unique club via volume 19 cover

Modified Nov 28, 2024 08:28 GMT

Chainsaw Man volume 19 cover (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto, Viz Media)

Chainsaw Man is quite familiar with using symbolic imagery, more often than not being laced with morbid foreshadowing or dark humor. Recently, the cover of Volume 19 featured Fumiko Mifune, a divisive character, enrolling into a unique yet ominous tradition.

In the Chainsaw Man verse, the "peace sign" seems to have become a dual-sided motif linked to love and death. Iconic characters who flash the peace sign, like Power and Aki, are the ones who truly care for Denji. However, the dark bit comes in when they are unable to survive and accompany Denji on his chaotic journey.

But Fumiko somehow subverts this seemingly grim pattern, given how she is represented on the cover. Several Chainsaw Man fans might dislike Fumiko, but she has managed to survive so far and avoid the fate of those before her.

Disclaimer: The article contains potential spoilers from the Chainsaw Man manga series and has the author's opinion.

Chainsaw Man: The newest volume cover introduces a disliked character into a unique group

Denji sporting the Peace Sign (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto, Viz Media)

To add a little bit of context, the "peace sign" in Chainsaw Man seems to have a symbol with harsh implications. Formed by using the index and middle fingers to shape a V, the sign universally stands as a symbol of peace. But Tatsuki Fujimoto's genius has subtly twisted the implication of sporting the sign, which is seen numerous times.

The purpose of this feature is to decode the potential meaning of this sign in Chainsaw Man and explain how Fumiko avoided its consequences. To put it plainly, those who ever held up the sign were ones who truly loved and cared for Denji.

However, they all seem to end up forfeiting their lives at some point. Power was often seen sporting it and was even seen holding it up in a piece of artwork released to celebrate volume 9 of the manga.

But her time in the series soon came to an end as she sacrificed herself to save Denji. Power and Denji were the ultimate sibling duo, after a bit of a rough start. They had immense love for each other and it was mainly Denji who cared for Power following the Darkness Devil incident. Next, Aki Hayakawa had also held up the sign, seen in artwork featuring child versions of the new Hayakawa family.

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He met his demise when the Gun Devil took over him and made him the Gun Hybrid. What followed was a heartbreaking battle between him and Denji, in which the latter was compelled to end Aki. Initially allotted as his carer, Aki came to accept and care for Denji as he got closer to him. He didn't want the Boy and Power on the Gun Devil mission he was supposed to go for.

Again, Nayuta, the Control Devil's reincarnation, was seen holding up the sign multiple times. In fact, she did so when she first met Denji and introduced herself. They shared a heartfelt, sibling-like bond built on mutual care and understanding. Denji took on a protective and parental role while Nayuta lit up his life and brought purpose to it. However, she too suffered an unfortunate fate.

Finally, on Chainsaw Man volume 19's cover, the disliked Fumiko Mifune is also sporting the same sign. But she has formed in sort of an upside-down manner. Given the previous explanation, Fumiko has survived so far and even revealed her diabolical side (Aging Devil contract).

Additionally, instead of love/care for Denji, she is likely only drawn to him due to him being Chainsaw Man. Other than that, she has exhibited widely inappropriate behavior towards him and didn't move an inch to help him when he was being attacked in the amusement park in the Current Arc.

Final thoughts

Nayuta (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto, Viz Media)

Chainsaw Man's symbolic imagery looks to carry profound and sometimes unsettling implications, and the "peace sign" is no exception. Fumiko Mifune on the Volume 19 cover challenges the established narrative linked to this motif. It offers a rare instance of subversion in the series' tradition of grim fates. Unlike Power, Aki, and Nayuta, Fumiko’s upside-down "peace sign" suggests a deliberate twist.

Fumiko's survival so far complicates the meaning of the "peace sign", highlighting her sketchy and selfish link to Denji. This contrast reiterates Fujimoto's expertise in entangling love, loss, and human complexity.

Her character underscores the gesture's unpredictability in the series. Moreover, although controversial, Fumiko's character deepens the narrative and its dive into relationships and motives, maintaining a thought-provoking story.

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Edited by Tiasha