Chainsaw Man. If you haven’t heard of it, either you are not an anime fan or haven’t paid close attention to one of the breakout anime of 2022 and indeed of this decade. However, the popularity of Chainsaw Man goes back further. First released in 2018 Chainsaw Man has been a mainstay in the Shonen Jump.
The edgy storylines that combine horror and high school romance with fearless action put it closer to a Seinen age range. Despite its (or possibly due to) uncompromising embrace of gore-filled action with complex but likeable characters, Chainsaw Man has seen its reputation rise steadily in the anime world. However, its standing is only getting stronger with a steady release of new volumes that add to the story.
For some time now Jujutsu Kaisen has been ruling the roost as far as top manga for fans. Reinforced by its awesome popularity in the anime scene, often ranking among the top anime of the time, it is no surprise that Gege Akutami’s creation would hold the top spot. But then came Chainsaw Man. The manga was released around the same time as its now closest competitor.
Since its release the Denji and his dog-like Chainsaw demon have captured the fascination and horror of fans. Despite being categorized as Shonen with high school-themed storylines with coming-of-age romantic escapades; Chainsaw Man delves into some serious stuff. The enemies Denji and Co have to deal with are no joke and there are real stakes with deadly consequences. However, amidst the carnage the story manages to keep its balance.
Chainsaw Man – Teenage Drama Amidst Chaos and Bloodshed
The thing about Shonen anime is that the writers must cater to the hot-blooded (often horny) teenager who is reading it. The action, the explosions and varying levels of gore are all fine. But what draws young minds in is the suspense. The slow buildup towards a potential, but generally unforthcoming climax. This is where Chainsaw Man shines.
It knows its target demographic. It knows what lights up young readers. Particularly those who have too much time on their hands, and, if one is to be a bit cynical, not too much of a social life. But then again this is all a part of growing up and that is a niche the Shonen manga seeks to fill. And Chainsaw Man for its big action and horror does not miss the trick.
Getting to the Top and Staying at the Top – Two Different Things
There is no question that the popularity of Chainsaw Man manga was significantly boosted when the anime hit the screen. Akin to Jujutsu Kaisen, the anime and manga feed off each other’s success. And now that the first season of Chainsaw Man has concluded it is up to the writers to keep the story going. The challenge from a manga perspective is that there is only that much ‘action’ you can pack into pages. Thus maintaining reader intrigue comes down to plotting and narrative.
In the case of Chainsaw Man, the manga especially in recent volumes have shifted their gaze towards the interpersonal dimension. With a lot of teenage drama and coming-of-age issues. And given its rating, this strategy seems to be working. As readers appear to be hooked but for how long.
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