Summary
Chainsaw Mantakes place in an alternate world where fears are real,since it’s repeatedly being terrorized bydevilsthat embody humanity’s fears, no matter how big or small they are. As a result, this intense action/horror series has already featured countless different demonic entities that Denji and the other Devil Hunters have to fight daily.
However, the devils in this series are not the typical horned imps, as they possess some of the most creative, shocking, and disturbingdesignsin the entire anime/manga industry.Chainsaw Man’s creator, Tatsuki Fujimoto, is very good at creating striking character designs that also elevate the narrative, and the following devils are perfect examples of his innate talent.
8Control Devil (Makima)
Meant To Attract The People She Wants To Control
At first glance,Makima’s design may seem generic and boring, seeing as she looks like a regular woman with long, red hair. However, it is quite brilliant in retrospect, because it perfectly complements both her role within the story and her demonic powers. It turns out she’s actually theControl Devil(one of the Four Horsemen), whose main goal is to take control of others, including the legendary Chainsaw Devil.
The fact that the Control Devil looks like a conventionally attractive woman with an alluring personality makes perfect sense, since she intentionally uses these attributes to manipulate others into doing her bidding. However, her colorful red hair and her unique yellow eyes help her stand out and make her human-like appearance seem a lot less bland.
7Blood Devil (Power)
Power’s True Form Is Quite Fascinating
At the beginning of Part 1,Denji meetsPower, the Blood Fiend, which means that she’s a human corpse that was possessed by theBlood Devil. She maintains this appearance for most of the story, until the very end, when she emerges from the Chainsaw Devil’s stomach to help Denji in his fight against Makima, and she finally reveals her true form.
The Blood Devil has one of the most fascinating designs in the series, so it’s a real shame that it appeared so briefly. Her multiple dark-colored limbs, her shark-like head, and her chest and neck made out of organs make her look both disgusting and intimidating, which is very fitting for the being that represents the fear of blood. However, her feminine shape and long hair are reminiscent of Power’s original human form, which is a nice touch that reminds the audience of whom this terrifying monster actually is.
6Aging Devil
A Disturbing Design For One Of The Cruelest Devils In The Series
During Part 2 ofChainsaw Man, Asa and Denji get involved in a fight against theAging Devil,a Primal Fear with no regard for human life, who was making cruel contracts with Public Safety. As the demonic entity that represents the fear of aging, its design is naturally one of the most disgusting and unsettling ones in the entire series.
Needless to say, the most prominent aspect of the Aging Devil’s physical appearance is its old man’s face split in half, which reveals an expressionless demonic face underneath. On top of that, it also has a very fragile, almost skeletal, anatomy that makes it look like a skinny old person, which is a huge contrast to its immense power. Overall, this is a perfect example of what the physical embodiment of aging would look like.
5Gun Devil
A Design So Over-The-Top That It Just Works
TheGun Devilis one of the main antagonists of Part 1, and its existence is constantly alluded to throughout the story. It finally made its on-screen debut at the start of the Gun Devil Arc and, despite only appearing for a few panels, its true form remains in most readers' minds to this day because of how perfectly over-the-top and distinct it looked.
The Gun Devil represents the fear of all firearms, so, naturally, its massive body is entirely made up of different guns, pistols, rifles, machine guns, etc., not to mention it has ammo belt tentacles at the bottom, which is a very nice touch that makes it stand out even more. In any other story, this design would come off as too explicit and/or overwhelming, but it fits extremely well within the atmosphere and themes ofChainsaw Man. Curiously enough, this isn’t even the Gun Devil’s complete form, as this one was made with only 20% of its power.
4Fire Devil
This Long-Awaited Antagonist Shocked Readers With Its Incredible Appearance
Similarly to the Gun Devil, theFire Devilis one of the overarching antagonists of Part 2, as its existence was repeatedly mentioned by multiple characters who had made contracts with it, although many of them believed it was actually the Justice Devil. After so much build-up and anticipation, the Fire Devil finally made its long-awaited manga debut very recently, and its design certainly didn’t disappoint.
The wooden neck and horns, combined with the burning flame on the top, make the Fire Devil’s head look like a lit campfire, which is both a brilliant and a terrifying design concept. On top of that, its unique appearance complements its demonic powers, like granting other people the ability to transform into anything their hearts desire,which is much more creative than the typical pyrokinesis one would expect from the being that embodies the fear of fire.
3Falling Devil
An Elegant But Terrifying Demonic Chef
Another Primal Fear made its debut inChainsaw ManPart 2, and it was none other than theFalling Devil, who represents the innate fear all living beings have of falling, both physically and mentally. Despite embodying such a primitive fear, its human-like design is surprisingly elegant and non-threatening at first glance.
This is because the Falling Devil acts like a chef for other devils, and uses its gravity-defying powers to turn terrified humans into five-star meals that its fellow demonic entities can consume. This is a brilliant twist that sets it apart from the other Primal Fear introduced in the series, not to mention that it is flawlessly reflected by the chef attire, which it can always be seen wearing. It’s also important to point out that the Falling Devil’s body is made out of the mangled corpses of humans that it previously killed, which is a gruesome detail that makes this villain even more terrifying.
2Darkness Devil
One Of The Best Representations Of The Fear Of The Dark In Fiction
The sudden appearance of theDarkness Devilin the middle of the International Assassins Arc is one of the most memorable and shocking moments in all ofChainsaw Man. After all, this devil embodies one of the most primitive fears that’s shared by almost all living beings in the world: the fear of the dark, which means that this is one of the most powerful Primal Fears in the series so far.
Because of this, the Darkness Devil possesses one of the most abstract and complex designs ever seen inChainsaw Man, but it still manages to come off as both disturbing and intimidating. Its main body, with multiple screaming heads and an animalistic horned skull for a head, is already very unsettling on its own, but the one thing that makes this Primal Fear stand out over other devil designs in the series is the massive pitch-black cape on its back that represents inescapable darkness.The Darkness Devil is undoubtedly one of the best characters that Tatsuki Fujimoto has ever designed.
1Chainsaw Devil (Pochita)
The Perfect Mascot Character Can Turn Into An Intimidating Heroic Figure
Unbeknownst to Denji, the cute little animal he grew up with,Pochita, was theChainsaw Devilin its weakest form. With its colorful, adorable, and friendly design, it is no surprise that Pochita became the unofficial mascot of the entire series, and he would go on to be portrayed in countless plushies, figures, toys, clothing, etc. However, as undeniably solid as this design is, it doesn’t even compare to the Chainsaw Devil’s true form.
At the end of Part 1, Pochita takes over Denji’s body and turns into the infamous “Hero of Hell,” the devil that consumes other devils and eliminates their very existence from the universe. This design lived up to his reputation, as his dark color scheme and four arms with chainsaws in them make him look both incredibly threatening and incredibly powerful. Additionally, his long scarf made out of human intestines also gives him a heroic look, since it’s reminiscent of a conventional superhero’s cape. While drawing the Chainsaw Devil’s complex true form must be quite challenging for Fujimoto and his assistants, his appearances in the manga are always a feast for the eyes, and every single one of the panels he’s featured in is a true work of art.
