Warning: SPOILERS for Chainsaw Man chapter #182
Chainsaw Manhas never been a stranger to shocking twists and turns, and the newest chapter #182, titled, “Cute”, appears to be proving that notion. Many characters have met grizzly ends throughout the series, but none left more of a lasting impact on fans thanthe deaths of Aki and Power in Part One. However, the gaping hole left by their absence inChainsaw Man’s second part may just have been filled, as both have finally returned to the story nearly 100 chapters after their last appearances.
Denji, who has been in a near catatonic state sincethe death of Nayuta, receives a rather wholesome pep talk from Asa while the two remain trapped in the Aging Devil’s world. She offers some of the wisdom Denji once shared with her during the Falling Devil arc, in a surprisingly wholesome moment between the dual protagonists. The kind words seemingly have a profound effect on Denji, who then suddenly vomits up the semi-digested carcass of the Snow Devil, eaten by Pochita during Chapter #174.
Aki and Power Make Their Grand Comeback in Chainsaw Man
Denji’s Found Family Returns For the First Time In Part Two
As snow begins to fall in Aging’s world, Denji’s gaze is fixed on the ground in front of him, before a sudden cut shifts focus to a boat. Looking over the railing are his old found family members, Aki and Power. Whether they’re an illusion of the mysterious Aging world or just appearing through a flashback of one of Denji’s old memories remains to be seen. Regardless,Chainsaw Man’s two most beloved lost characters have finally made their grand reentrance to the story, and are likely to provide Denji with some help once more.
That chapter signaled one of the major moments between the three characters in Part One, showcasing how close they had become despite a rocky beginning, before setting off a chain reaction that ended in tragedy. Aki’s subsequent request to be withdrawn from the Gun Devil mission alerted Makima that her plan for tearing down Denji had been working smoothly. Now, as Denji is once again riddled with despair, whether it be physically or through a flashback, Aki and Power will likely provide him with the love he’s sorely missed since their departure from the story.
Though nothing has been outright confirmed, if this vision is truly just a flashback, it could have major implications for the story going forward. Chapter #182 marks thefirst time Denji has ever thrown up something that Pochita has eaten, and if his memories of Aki and Power were erased alongside the Snow Devil, the theory thatPochita was targeting concepts directly related to Denji’s past traumaholds up. And Snow wasn’t the only devil that he feasted on.
Chainsaw Man Didn’t Just Change Shonen Forever, It Completely Upended Everything I Thought I Knew About The Genre
Chainsaw Man pushes shonen to its absolute limits, and forced me to reconsider the kinds of stories the genre is actually capable of telling.
Pochita also devoured the Bitterness and Octopus Devils, pointing toward Yoshida’s eventual return whenever Octopus comes back up. Bitterness is a little more ambiguous, though it can be related to Denji’s memories of Reze, whom he shared coffee with that he described as bitter.Reze, another belovedChainsaw Mancharacter, has been absent from the story for even longer than Aki and Power, and may be the next to return toChainsaw Man’s pages.
It remains to be seen if Aki and Power will play any role going forward in Part Two, outside of being just a painful memory for Denji. Regardless,Chainsaw Man’s two most beloved lost characters have finally made their grand reentrance to the story, and are likely to provide Denji with some help once more.
Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Manis a dark fantasy manga created by Tatsuki Fujimoto. The series follows Denji, a young man who merges with his devil-dog Pochita to become Chainsaw Man. He joins the Public Safety Devil Hunters to fight devils threatening Japan. The series explores themes of violence, power, and survival. Since its debut in 2018,Chainsaw Manhas gained immense popularity, leading to a critically acclaimed anime adaptation.
