Shōnen manga has followed a relatively strict formula throughout its long and storied history. The well-natured and heroic protagonist sets off on a journey in hopes of achieving some grand dream or goal, making friends along the way. Characters like Naruto, Goku, and Luffy all fit the archetypal mold, sticking close to a set of core values and beliefs, and acting on their innately good instincts.Shōnen Jumpprofited from this formula across countless generations, spawning new role-models with every other new series released. And thenChainsaw Man’s Denji came along.
Crude, crass, selfish, and vulgar, Denji is the protagonist of some ’90s stoner movie, scooped up and dropped onto the pages ofShōnen Jump.Chainsaw Man,on initial release, was a shock to the system of the manga world, andcaused a new movement of protagonists that operated strictly in the gray areas, following Denji’s lead. The idealistic heroes like Naruto, with resolves of steel and unbreakable ethical codes, were ushered away by a boy wielding chainsaws.
Though he may get a bad rap, or go about things a little differently, it would be unfair to call Denji anything but a hero. His ideals are a bit misguided and his morals somewhat loose, but nevertheless, he is the Devil Hunter most fit for the job. Like other, more typical main characters, he puts himself through endless torture and pain, has died on countless occasions, loses loved ones, is consistently betrayed,and still, despite everything, protects others. Denji isn’t just the new-age shōnen protagonist, he might even beShōnen Jump’s new greatest hero.
Denji Doesn’t Just Have a Tragic Backstory, He Has a Tragic Life
The Audience Suffers Alongside Denji
One of shōnen’s most common tropes isthe protagonist with a tragic backstory. Naruto’s past and the circumstances surrounding his birth, as well as the difficulties he faced throughout life make his heroism all the more impressive. A more modern example is Tanjiro fromDemon Slayer, who, despite what happened to his family, is one of the warmest and kindest protagonists in recent years.Denji, though an unconventional hero, is not free from this trope either.
What separates the teenage Devil Hunter from the rest of the pack, however, is that he doesn’t only have a tragic backstory, but a tragic life. The world ofChainsaw Manis cold, brutal, and unfair. Unlike other heroes of the genre, who often struggle off-screen in their pasts and heal over the course of their journeys,the audience suffers in real-time right alongside Denji. His father’s death and being left in the care of the Yakuza is tragic. His struggle to live with Pochita and his death at the hands of those very same yakuza is also tragic.
But the tragedy does not stop at Chapter #1. Power’s, Aki’s, and Nayuta’s deaths destroy Denji. The betrayal from Reze and Makima both scar him deeply. The audience sees it all and time and time again,Chainsaw Man’s hero rises to his feet and reenters the fight. Other shōnen protagonists suffer early, and enjoy growth and redemption over the course of their stories. Denji is traumatized constantly, and finds ways to remain Denji each and every time.
When a little girl was in need of help in just the series' second chapter, he was ready to risk running away from Public Safety with her, knowing it would mean his death. When Santa Claus sent human dolls to kill Denji, he hesitated to fight back, not wanting to hurt anyone. When Aki was possessed by the Gun Devil, Denji killed his own brother figure to protect the innocent lives around him. He may not act like a typical shōnen protagonist,but despite every horrific thing that happens to him throughout the series, Denji is still a hero.
Despite Everything, Denji is Denji
Denji’s Personality is Unchanging, Though His Growth is Undeniable
Tragic backstories aside, shōnen heroes are also typically somewhat static characters. While they may improve physically, or change in very minor ways,most will remain relatively the same in terms of their overall character. Naruto’s personality may change as he ages, but his ideals remain largely intact throughout the series. The best example of a static anime hero isDragon Ball’s Goku, who in personality, values, and role, never really changes throughout the entirety of the story.
Denji is not a static character. ThroughoutChainsaw Man, his ever shifting goals, values, and worldvieware just as integral to the plot as the Devils he has to fight. But much like the tragic backstory, Tatsuki Fujimoto mutates the static character trope, allowing Denji to both fit in with his shōnen counterparts while standing out from the crowd. Despite all he endures, and the growth that takes withinChainsaw Man’s protagonist, Denji’s personality is largely unchanging.
I Thought Chainsaw Man’s Denji Was A Terrible Protagonist But I Was Wrong, & Here Is Why
Many anime fans believe Denji is a terrible protagonist, but they are missing a lot from Chainsaw Man.
Throughout his quest to touch boobs, and get together with Makima, only to then spurn Makima to take care of Power, and finally avenge his family by killing the woman he loved, Denji’s growth is undeniable. Yet throughout all of it,his goofy personality remains in juxtaposition to the jaded Devil Hunters with whom he works. Compared to the other static heroes who define the genre in whichChainsaw Manexists, Denji does their jobs and then some.
Chainsaw Man’s Latest Chapters See a Return to Form for Denji
Denji Has Finally Bounced Back in Chainsaw Man Part Two
Though Denji always bounces back from whatever horrible thing may happen to him,Chainsaw ManPart Two has not been kind to the series' protagonist. Before he was even able to process the deaths of his found family members, he was given a sister to raise, only for her to also then be killed. In any other series, Denji would be the perfect candidate to become the villain, constantly punished by the world around him for simply being alive. But instead,recent chapters have seen Denji not only recover, but reenter the fight with conviction.
Now working side-by-side with Pochita, realizing that family can be found at every turn, Denji takes on the Aging Devil after proclaiming that this time, he’ll be the one to get Asa out of the mess they’re in.Chainsaw Manis not a run-of-the-mill shōnen manga, choosing to subvert or transform the genre’s tropes at every turn. And Denji, unlike other protagonists,does not become a hero in the battles that he wins, but rather in the losses he suffers.
Very few main characters inShōnen Jumplive in a world as cold as the one found inChainsaw Man, yet Denji always remains firmly in the role of the hero, regardless of how horrible his life may be. It may seem outlandish that someone with a personality like that of the chainsaw-wielding protagonist might be a better hero than some of shōnen’s most iconic characters,but Denji is making a strong argument. The battle with the Aging Devil is well underway, and fans won’t want to miss Denji saving the day once more in upcoming chapters.
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.
