Synopsis
Denji is sixteen-year-old boy living in extreme poverty, working to pay off debts left behind by his late father who committed suicide and left his now orphaned son at the mercy of his Yakuza tormentors. Shortly after his father's death, Denji encountered an injured Chainsaw Devil who he later named Pochita. Healing him by feeding him his blood, Denji took Pochita as his pet/weapon to hunt Devils in order to earn money for his debts. Over the years, he'd sold multiple organs, including an eye, a kidney, and a testicle for cash but was nowhere near the amount he needed. His earnings were taken by the Yakuza immediately and he is so poor that he can only afford a single slice of bread for dinner.
At their home in an abandoned shed, Denji often related to Pochita his dreams of a normal life that, while ultimately mundane to most, is luxurious to someone as impoverished as him. One night after one such daydreaming, Denji coughed up blood, and realized that along with his debts he's inherited his mother's heart disease, and likely doesn't have longer to live. His Yakuza bosses suddenly arrive and take him to a warehouse to kill a Devil.
However, it turns out to be a trap; the Yakuza saw Denji's partnership with Pochita and were inspired to try to form a contract with the Zombie Devil, who double crossed them and transformed them into zombies under its control. The zombies brutally killed Denji and Pochita, chopping them up into pieces and dropping them into a dumpster. Denji's corpse however dripped blood into Pochita's mouth, and he drank it…
Some time ago, Denji and Pochita took a lumberjacking job cutting down trees. During a lunch break, Denji considered his mortality. Remembering that some Devils can possess dead bodies, he gave Pochita his consent to take over his body at the time of his death, with the sole obligation of living his life to the fullest in his stead.
Back in the present, Denji awakened to find himself and Pochita revived. Denji initially believed that Pochita fulfilled his promise and possessed his body, but Pochita suddenly spoke: he always loved hearing Denji talking about his dreams. Wanting to save his best friend, he formed a contract with the boy to live out and show him his dreams in exchange for his heart. Denji suddenly emerged from the dumpster, full revived and his previously sold off organs restored, but with Pochita nowhere in sight. Denji then spotted a ripcord protruding from his chest, and realized to his horror that Pochita had saved his life by merging with him.
The Zombie Devil, shocked that Denji had somehow survived, attempted one more attack. Accepting the second chance at life, Denji pulled the cord in his chest as the zombies converged on him... and transformed into a humanoid monster with chainsaws coming out of his arms and head.
Denji then used his new form to slaughter the zombies and kill the Zombie Devil, effectively freeing himself from the debts of the now undead Yakuza. The next morning, Devil Hunters from Public Safety arrived on the scene. In the middle of piles of zombie corpses stood an exhausted Denji, still transformed and disheveled. The Hunters’ leader, a young red-haired woman, approached him and asked if he was responsible with great intrigue. Exhausted by the battle, Denji doubled over and pleaded to be held, which the woman obliged to, causing Denji’s chainsaw form to dissolve. Cradled by the woman, Denji was given two choices: since the woman was there to kill the Zombie Devil, will he be killed in its place as a Devil, or live under her servitude as a human? Denji agrees to the latter when she offered him a delicious breakfast
On the way to Public Safety’s headquarters, the woman, Makima, stops for a snack. A man begged for help because his daughter had been abducted by a Devil. Makima ordered Denji to find the girl while she waited for her snack. Denji ran into the woods to find the girl playing with a friendly-looking Muscle Devil and, reminded of his own friendship with Pochita, offered to let the girl and the Devil run away. Unfortunately, the whole thing turned out to be a trap by the Muscle Devil, who was promptly killed by Denji after making its malicious intentions known. After safely returning the girl, Denji found himself attracted to Makima.
Arriving at their destination, Denji was introduced to his new partner Aki Hayakawa, much to his dismay due to having wanted to be with Makima. While on patrol, Aki assaulted Denji in an alleyway for his unprofessional behavior, a claim Denji was quickly able to deduce was a lie covering for Aki’s own infatuation with Makima. Denji retaliated against Aki by stomping on his testicles, declaring his intentions to continue being a Devil Hunter if it meant realizing the comforts he wasn’t allowed to have before.
After an assignment, Denji took Aki’s accusations of his lack of ambition to heart and decided his goal in life would be to grope (Makima’s) breasts. However, Denji’s plans to be closer to his crush might’ve hit a snag, as due to some experimentation being implemented by Public Safety, Denji was now to be partnered up with Power, the Blood Fiend.
At their home in an abandoned shed, Denji often related to Pochita his dreams of a normal life that, while ultimately mundane to most, is luxurious to someone as impoverished as him. One night after one such daydreaming, Denji coughed up blood, and realized that along with his debts he's inherited his mother's heart disease, and likely doesn't have longer to live. His Yakuza bosses suddenly arrive and take him to a warehouse to kill a Devil.
However, it turns out to be a trap; the Yakuza saw Denji's partnership with Pochita and were inspired to try to form a contract with the Zombie Devil, who double crossed them and transformed them into zombies under its control. The zombies brutally killed Denji and Pochita, chopping them up into pieces and dropping them into a dumpster. Denji's corpse however dripped blood into Pochita's mouth, and he drank it…
Some time ago, Denji and Pochita took a lumberjacking job cutting down trees. During a lunch break, Denji considered his mortality. Remembering that some Devils can possess dead bodies, he gave Pochita his consent to take over his body at the time of his death, with the sole obligation of living his life to the fullest in his stead.
Back in the present, Denji awakened to find himself and Pochita revived. Denji initially believed that Pochita fulfilled his promise and possessed his body, but Pochita suddenly spoke: he always loved hearing Denji talking about his dreams. Wanting to save his best friend, he formed a contract with the boy to live out and show him his dreams in exchange for his heart. Denji suddenly emerged from the dumpster, full revived and his previously sold off organs restored, but with Pochita nowhere in sight. Denji then spotted a ripcord protruding from his chest, and realized to his horror that Pochita had saved his life by merging with him.
The Zombie Devil, shocked that Denji had somehow survived, attempted one more attack. Accepting the second chance at life, Denji pulled the cord in his chest as the zombies converged on him... and transformed into a humanoid monster with chainsaws coming out of his arms and head.
Denji then used his new form to slaughter the zombies and kill the Zombie Devil, effectively freeing himself from the debts of the now undead Yakuza. The next morning, Devil Hunters from Public Safety arrived on the scene. In the middle of piles of zombie corpses stood an exhausted Denji, still transformed and disheveled. The Hunters’ leader, a young red-haired woman, approached him and asked if he was responsible with great intrigue. Exhausted by the battle, Denji doubled over and pleaded to be held, which the woman obliged to, causing Denji’s chainsaw form to dissolve. Cradled by the woman, Denji was given two choices: since the woman was there to kill the Zombie Devil, will he be killed in its place as a Devil, or live under her servitude as a human? Denji agrees to the latter when she offered him a delicious breakfast
On the way to Public Safety’s headquarters, the woman, Makima, stops for a snack. A man begged for help because his daughter had been abducted by a Devil. Makima ordered Denji to find the girl while she waited for her snack. Denji ran into the woods to find the girl playing with a friendly-looking Muscle Devil and, reminded of his own friendship with Pochita, offered to let the girl and the Devil run away. Unfortunately, the whole thing turned out to be a trap by the Muscle Devil, who was promptly killed by Denji after making its malicious intentions known. After safely returning the girl, Denji found himself attracted to Makima.
Arriving at their destination, Denji was introduced to his new partner Aki Hayakawa, much to his dismay due to having wanted to be with Makima. While on patrol, Aki assaulted Denji in an alleyway for his unprofessional behavior, a claim Denji was quickly able to deduce was a lie covering for Aki’s own infatuation with Makima. Denji retaliated against Aki by stomping on his testicles, declaring his intentions to continue being a Devil Hunter if it meant realizing the comforts he wasn’t allowed to have before.
After an assignment, Denji took Aki’s accusations of his lack of ambition to heart and decided his goal in life would be to grope (Makima’s) breasts. However, Denji’s plans to be closer to his crush might’ve hit a snag, as due to some experimentation being implemented by Public Safety, Denji was now to be partnered up with Power, the Blood Fiend.
Chapters
- Dog & Chainsaw
- The Place Where Pochita Is
- Arrival in Tokyo
- Power
Tropes:
- Blood from the Mouth: Denji coughs up a huge mass of blood while trying to go to sleep, which makes him think he's inherited the heart condition that killed his mother. It's unclear if he did or if it was due to his missing organs starting to affect his physical health, but either way it ends up becoming a moot point after Pochita becomes his heart.
- Cooldown Hug: Practically the instant he meets Makima, Denji asks her to hold him as he passes out from bloodloss. He calms down and reverts to his human form as she cradles him.
- Dog Pile of Doom: The zombies swarm Denji right after his pulls the cord on this chest. After a moment, he cuts his way out, revealing his Chainsaw Man form.
- Downer Beginning: The series starts with Denji orphanned, utterly destitute, deep in debt, missing several organs he sold off, and probably dying of a heart disease he has no opportunity to treat.
- Eating the Enemy: Invoked by the Zombie Devil, who decides to makes sure Denji stays dead the second time by having him Devoured by the Horde.Zombie: He has to stay dead if we eat him...
- Eye Scream: Denji buries his chainsaw arm elbow deep into the Zombie Devil's giant head.
- Fed to Pigs: Referenced; the yakuza tell Denji's to continue working for his debt with "Run away and you're pig slop!"
- First-Episode Resurrection: Denji is cut to pieces and Pochita merges with him to bring him back to life, giving him the Chainsaw Devil's power in the process.
- Half the Man He Used to Be: The zombies cut Pochita in half through his mid-section. They left Denji in considerably more pieces.
- Join or Die: Makima openly tells Denji "be my pet or die", but to him an offer of food from a beautiful woman holding him in his arms is irresistible anyway.
- Kick the Dog: Almost literally, given Denji's Animal Motif and the fact they they additionally butcher Pochita when disposing of him. After years of slaving away at their behest, with plenty of Moving the Goalposts, selling his various organs to try and pay off their absurd debt and risking his life fighting devils to give them valuable resources, the Yakuza betray and kill Denji as part of a deal to make their own contract with another devil. The Yakuza leader even highlights how much of a bunch of Ungrateful Bastards they're being about this, admitting that despite his service and all he's done for them, he never really liked Denji, and is glad to be rid of him in a manner that will benefit himself more from disposing of him.Yakuza leader: Denji boy... We're grateful to you, y'know. You're obedient like a dog and you work for cheap treats like one too. Thing is... I hate dogs. Can't stand the smell.
- More Hero than Thou: Were he to die first, Denji told Pochita to take his body over to become a fiend. Pochita instead became his heart, going dormant to bring Denji back to life and in control of his powers.
- Moving the Goalposts: The yakuza keep Denji in their debt by throwing a bunch of fees for his devil hunting bounties, so he's left with barely enough for minimum loan payments. Then eventually, they just straight-up betray him and gladly try to kill him as part of a deal to get the power of a Devil.
- Powers in the First Episode: Denji merges with Pochita to get the power of the Chainsaw Devil.
- Pulling Themselves Together: Pochita brings Denji back to life by extending saw chains to sew his severed body parts back together.
- Rhetorical Question Blunder:Police officer: The fiend target is holed up in a room on the second floor.
Denji: What's a fiend?
Aki: What? Didn't you learn anything in school?
Denji: Nope, didn't go to school.
(Aki stares unnerved) - Social Services Does Not Exist: The yakuza exploit Denji from early childhood to when he was sixteen. There's every implication this was illegal, but no sign of any authority willing to enforce it. When Denji becomes part Devil and cuts his way out of that situation, he's lost all his human rights, letting Makima force him to serve Public Safety under threat of death even though he's still a minor.
- Villain Ball: Pochita is able to revive because some of Denji's blood spilled into his mouth. Given all devils have that power, the Zombie Devil really should have known not to dispose of a devil and human corpse into the same container.
- You Can Talk?: Denji is shocked silent when Pochita, who he'd only known to have the intellect of a dog, starts talking to him mentally when their bodies merge.
