Warning: SPOILERS for chapter #185 of Chainsaw Man
One ofChainsaw Man’s longest-standing mysteries surrounds the source of Pochita’s devastating power. The series' own rules dictate that a devil isonly as powerful as the concept they represent is feared. Something like the Death Devil would put the Tomato Devil to shame, as the former has the name of a concept greatly feared by all of humanity. And while chainsaws likely conjure a respectful amount of fear from people, they shouldn’t exactly provide the power of the ‘devil that devils fear most’.
Yet Pochita is the Hero of Hell anyway,and one of the most powerful devils that isn’t considered Primal or a Horseman. While the series largely put the mystery of Chainsaw Man’s strength on the back burner throughout Part Two, it seems that the latest Chapter #185, titled, “Stomach in Another World” is finally shedding some light on Pochita’s abilities. And just as fans might have come to expect from Tatsuki Fujimoto, the potential reason is something no one could have expected.
Chainsaw Man’s recent chapters have been strange, but that isn’t anything new for the series. In the middle of the highly anticipated showdown between Yoru and Chainsaw Man, both characters are teleported to the Aging Devil’s world. Aftersome self-reflection on Denji’s part, he begins his grand plan for escape. Chapter #185, however,includes a sudden introduction of previously unexploredChainsaw Manlore, explaining the potential reason for Pochita’s destructive power.
Chainsaw Man Is Powerful For an Unexpected Reason
Trees May Be the True Source of Pochita’s Strength
The most striking pieces of imagery found in Aging’s World, other than the serene landscape backgrounds, are the people who have become horrifically morphed into trees. Identified by the naked man hugging one of those trees as ‘the only way out’,the Aging Devil admits to not being responsible for the tree-people, explaining that they underwent the transformation on their own. And not only are some of the trees actually human, all of them are.
Chainsaw Man Introduces Its Own Version of Domain Expansion In Its Latest Twist
Chainsaw Man’s chapter #180 puts an all-new ability on display, as the Aging Devil uses its own version of Jujutsu Kaiden’s domain expansion.
This revelation that humans are simply capable of transforming into trees is an interesting one, and it calls back to a conversation between Denji and Barem in Chapter #170. When discussingChainsaw Man’s mysterious ability to erase concepts from existence, Denji loudly exclaimed that “Chainsaws don’t have that power… They’re tools for cuttin' down trees!” He was correct at that moment and the statement didn’t seem all that notable, butChapter #185 completely recontextualizes the chainsaw’s true purpose.
If trees are people who are shown to be capable of feeling pain, as they are in Aging’s World, then they would naturally be fearful of things as well. And nothing may be moreworthy of being feared by trees than chainsaws. It’s possible that not only devils and humans feed into the fear that fuels Pochita’s chainsaws, but tree-people do as well. While this theory may seem far-fetched, even by Fujimoto’s standards, it becomes quite a bit more plausible when remembering a comment by Makima in Part One.
Previously Forgotten Series Lore Is Starting To Be Explained
A Comment By Makima Suddenly Holds More Meaning
During full-powered Pochita’s first appearance inChainsaw Man, Makima briefly explained his ability to erase the concept tied to whatever devil he eats. Throughout history, Chainsaw Man has erased several concepts that humanity can no longer remember, including World War II, nuclear weapons, and a sixth sense all humans once had. The important ones, in regard to the events of Chapter #185, are thefour possible conclusions other than death at the end of a person’s life.
The rules of Aging Devil’s world haven’t been fully established, other than no one being able to age while there. Because death isn’t a possibility, it’s possible that people becoming trees after reaching the culmination of thoughtis one of those possible conclusions Makima mentioned. It’s a strange concept but one that Fujimoto has already written into a story, as hisprevious, even weirder manga,Fire Punch, did something similar with its World Tree.
If Pochita had already eaten that possibility, however, it remains uncertain how people are transforming.Chainsaw Manis in the midst of one of its strangest, most unpredictable arcs to date, but it seems Chapter #185 is finally beginning to tie up some of the series' loose ends. Future chapters will likely continue to be just as unpredictable, but it seems that explanations forChainsaw Man’s mysterious world might just come sooner rather than later.
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.
