Fujimoto's latest missed opportunity in Chainsaw Man is his worst yet

Chainsaw Man chapter 180, titled "Aging's World," was released on October 15, 2024, and features the much-anticipated attack of the Aging Devil against both Pochita and Asa. Although the Aging Devil was introduced in chapter 173 of the manga and attacked Pochita multiple times, its actual powers remained obscure, leading to widespread fan speculation.

The Aging Devil remarked that Yoru and Pochita were too immature and needed to grow up. Given that both Denji and Asa have trauma related to their parents, the primordial devil could have simply increased their age, forcing them to relive their parental trauma by resembling their parents. The absence of such a plot point, which could have explored an integral aspect of both characters's trauma similar to Fujimoto's other works, might have been a huge missed opportunity, according to many fans.

Disclaimer- This article contains spoilers for the Chainsaw Man series.

Chainsaw Man: Fujimoto might've missed a golden opportunity by sparing Denji and Asa

Denji as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Denji and Asa served as the protagonists for Part 1 and Part 2 of the series, respectively. Although many fans were apprehensive about Asa's introduction in the earlier chapters of Part 2, her story shared many similarities with Denji's, particularly in relation to parental trauma and feelings of loneliness.

Denji's father plays a crucial role in his life, as his death cascades into a much worse situation for Denji. Denji killed his alcoholic and abusive father in self-defense, and his father's death continued to bind him to the Yakuza due to the debt he had inherited.

Yoru as shown in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Asa's mother had a very different case, dying while saving Asa from being crushed by a car years before the main story's events. Denji and Asa now only have their self-image and identity as two of the possessions they have left intact.

Given the Aging Devil's ability to manipulate aging and its dominion over mirrors and reflections, it could have easily exploited both main characters' trauma by replacing their reflections with those of their parents.

This could have led to a much more compelling narrative about their identities as humans and their overcoming of trauma, which has been a running theme throughout Chainsaw Man and many of Tatsuki Fujimoto's works.

Hero of Hell as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Denji became completely incapacitated after Nayuta's death was revealed, leading to the emergence of the Hero of Hell, while Asa began to realize the danger and true nature of Yoru as a devil, who currently inhabits the same body. The exploration of their identities, intertwined with their trauma, could have led to a very compelling narrative, developing both characters simultaneously.

Final Thoughts

Chainsaw Man chapter 181 will be released on October 22, 2024, and will focus on the dynamics of the new reality that the Aging Devil has sent Asa and Denji into. This new reality has already been established as an inescapable prison governed by the Aging Devil.

Given that only one human has ever escaped from this dimension, it is highly likely that the next few chapters will focus on exploring and uncovering this character. Denji's current status is also unknown, which is sure to become a major plot point later.

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About the author

Anupam is an anime and manga writer at Sportskeeda. Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Logistics & Transportation, Anupam has simultaneously gained professional experience of almost 2 years as a content writer, having worked previously for Otakukart and Sportslumo.

Being part of the anime fandom for over a decade, Anupam believes his greatest strength lies in theorycrafting around animanga series and predicting their plots. His personal experiences have guaranteed him detailed knowledge about the reputation, reception, and plot points of several anime, which he combines with extensive research to report on a topic. They have also taught him the significance of respecting and accurately reporting on community sentiments attached to a particular series, which has now become a non-negotiable part of his writing process.

Anupam’s favorite artist is video game designer Hideo Kojima, whose ability to nonchalantly embed deep messages in his games he deeply admires. When not debating fresh anime theories, Anupam can be found reading or playing combat games.

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Edited by Bharath S