Tatsuki Fujimoto's wildly popular dark horror fantasy epic manga has finally entered the anime medium in 2022 and is currently streaming on Crunchyroll. Fans of the long-running manga know that what's been seen thus far in the show is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the series' general mayhem, tragedy, and narrative eccentricity.
Of the many tropes and dark, recurring themes in Chainsaw Man, few stand out more than its penchant for unexpectedly horrific deaths. Many likable, heroic characters have bitten the bullet in exceedingly cruel fashion since the manga first launched in December 2018.
7 Himeno makes the ultimate sacrifice
Despite her many flaws, it’s hard to deny Himeno’s heroism and dedication to her friends when it matters the most. In one of her more shocking displays of love for Aki, the Devil Hunter is even ready to let Denji die to keep him safe.
In a surprisingly early-on death in the series, Himeno sacrifices herself to save Aki from Katana Man. Summoning the Ghost Devil, Himeno makes a pact with it, borrowing its power in exchange for her body. When the Ghost Devil is on the cusp of slaying Katana Man, his ally Akane Sawatari saves him by summoning the Snake Devil to kill the Ghost Devil. Himeno’s body is nowhere to be seen following the Ghost Devil’s defeat.
6 The Violence Devil Galgali Meets A Violent End
While his Violence Fiend nickname would suggest a brutal, bloodthirsty figure, Galgali is a surprisingly nice, often peaceful character. Abhorring the violence his life so often revolves around, he’s even apologetic and humble when he makes mistakes such as inadvertently hitting Beam in combat.
Despite his kind and polite ways, Galgali is handed an unbelievably horrible death at the hands of an attacking devil wherein his body is horribly maimed by a slew of stabbing projectiles. As if it that wasn’t enough, he’s finished off by being torn apart limb from limb.
5 Beam the Shark Devil Puts Safety Of Others First
One of Denji’s most loyal and protective allies, Beam is a fun, colorful character by the often dark, bleak standards of the series. When it comes to combat, the Shark Devil is frequently depicted as fearless both in his violence towards his foes and in his protection of those he cares about.
Just prior to being ripped apart in Hell, Beam seems oddly unafraid of his own demise, instead focusing on trying to save Denji, even offering his own blood to heal his friend. Beam’s grisly death serves as a harsh reminder of this series’ penchant for brutalizing lovable characters.
4 Reze The Double Agent’s Bond With Denji Sullies Her Mission
Denji falling for Reze turns out to be by design, with the secret Bomb Devil actually serving the Soviet Union. Despite her mission being to assassinate Denji, she ultimately develops feelings for him.
The one assault she does launch against her target isn’t enough to stop Denji from rescuing her from a pack of Devil Hunters looking to take her out. In their final moment together, a forgiving Denji reveals he wants to see her again, likely at the coffee shop she works at. This tender scene is quickly undercut by her surprise death at the hands of Makima, providing yet another tragic loss for Denji to deal with.
3 Pochita Proves To Be A Very Good Dog
Before Denji, Pochita was the embodiment of the Chainsaw Devil. A fortuitous turn of events leads to him having to assume a dog-like form to survive a battle with four devils. From there, Pochita proves to be a loyal and trustworthy ally for Denji.
In one of the most moving moments in the series, Pochita makes the ultimate sacrifice to save his friend during a brutal battle with the Zombie Devil. With a seemingly defeated Denji on the brink of death due to the Zombie Devil’s attack, Pochita sacrifices himself to become Denji’s heart, saving his life. Their final exchange has Pochita request his friend simply live his life to the fullest in what proves to be a key moment for Denji’s character arc.
2 Aki’s War With The Gun Devil Takes A Tragic Turn
This Public Safety Devil Hunter spent a long time trying to take his nemesis the Gun Devil down. It’s a mission of revenge stemming from the Gun Devil’s rampage that lead to the deaths of Aki’s parents and brother. It also leads to one of the most depressing moments in the series.
Aki finally gets some payback during an epic battle with the murderous gun monster. However, when the dust has settled, it’s the Gun Fiend who’s still standing via its possession of Aki’s newly dead body. The Gun Fiend cruelly heads back to Aki’s home with the intent to murder everyone dear to him. Instead, he is ultimately defeated and killed by Denji, one of Aki’s closest friends. The whole reason Aki became a Devil Hunter in the first place was to get revenge on his gun-toting nemesis, making this grim fate all the more cruelly ironic.
1 Power’s Surprise Demise Is Barely Acknowledged
The bond between Power and Denji is one of the most important and moving arcs in the series. As a Devil, Power initially holds little value in human life, but her friendships with Denji and Aki gradually push her to change her tune. The arrival of the villainous Makima ultimately spells doom for Power as the Chainsaw Man obsessive kills her in cold blood.
Denji looks on as, in the blink of an eye, Makima eviscerates Power for almost no discernible reason. Almost adding insult to injury, the story and characters just carry on with very little acknowledgment of Power’s death. It’s a harsh, bleak end for a character whose arc had often proven to be somewhat hopeful before then. For Denji, this served as yet another tragic loss of a friend, highlighting the often dispiriting tone of the series once more.