Manga is a huge industry in Japan. Shonen Jump is a magazine in particular that is home to many juggernauts in Japanese comics, like Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, and Death Note, to name a few. Chainsaw Man is a relatively new series in Shonen Jump. It started in late 2018 and has been a consistent manga in the magazine ever since, with a small break in between the first and second parts of the manga.
Chainsaw Man was so popular that before the first part ended, it was announced that there would be a second part of the manga and an anime adaptation. The second part was just that—a continuation of the story. The anime adaptation was pretty much expected. Popular manga in Japan that sell and perform well usually get animated adaptations to further sales. While the anime was great, I want to focus on the manga and why it is the greatest comic in the magazine and is unlike anything else.
Chainsaw Man’s Compelling Characters
When I think of some of the best stories I’ve ever read, it really comes down to the writing and characters. This could be for anything, whether it’s a show, a book, a game, or a movie. Chainsaw Man has some of the most compelling and well-written characters and plots of any recent manga I can think of. The main characters are well-developed and charming, and even the lesser-used side characters are enjoyable to watch.
What’s even better is the structure. There’s barely one. Chainsaw Man is known for its fast pacing in the first half. Chainsaw Man’s second part really slowed the series down a bit and took its time to develop characters both old and new. This has been a complaint about the series as of late. Many fans have been indifferent to Part 2 and how it has handled certain facets of the series, like the storytelling, the characters, and the overall structure. I’m here to tell these people they’re wrong.
Part 2 Deserves More Love
Part 2 of Chainsaw Man is really interesting to study and dissect. The series was on break for about two years before the second part came out. Part 2 finally rolls around, and it’s completely different. Denji, the main character, doesn’t even show up for a good amount of time at the start. Instead, it focuses on Asa, a new secondary protagonist. She’s really cool and interesting in her own right.
Part 2 kind of has this subversive, almost slice-of-life quality to it. Much of the beginning focused on Asa and her devil-related adventures in trying to find Chainsaw Man. It’s hilarious because Denji shows up out of nowhere. Not really in grand fashion either. Like I said, it’s subversive and almost quiet in comparison to the bombastic, crazy roller coaster ride that was Part 1. And I love it. It’s slower. It doesn’t have nearly as much action, but it makes up for having some stellar character writing and moments. It’s still really enjoyable, and it has some hilarious, laugh-out-loud moments.
The Aesthetic and Heart
So I’ve been talking about it a lot. I’ve mentioned how I love the series’ characters. How Part 2 is interestingly juxtaposed with Part 1. Some smaller things I didn’t mention were how great the art is. The art in this manga has a very unique, scratchy style to it. It’s not the most detailed art style in the world, but it has such a unique aesthetic to it. Playing into that aesthetic is the charm of the series. Chainsaw Man has a very unique element to it that I rarely see in media, whether it’s comics or movies.
It has a ton of heart and feels so genuine. The characters, the story, the art—all of it is done in a way that just feels like the author, Tatsuki Fujimoto, loves what he is doing. The writing treats the audience with a level of respect and understanding that is rarely seen in many shonen manga. Shonen is usually for young, teenage boys. Chainsaw Man feels like it can be enjoyed by anyone. It’s not the most accessible thing in the world; it’s got a lot of violence and inappropriate humor, but if you’re okay with that, the story here is one of the most unique and compelling ones I’ve seen in recent years.
About the Author
Nicolas Scagnelli is a young and ambitious writer. He graduated with a degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing at Binghamton University. As an undergrad, he published over 60 op-eds for the campus newspaper, Pipe Dream. Nicolas has his own personal blog, Lunch with Nick, where he posts daily about various topics ranging from entertainment to music to mental health. Other than writing, Nicolas loves to spend time in the gym, reading, listening to music, and hanging out with family and friends.
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