Chainsaw Man Vol. 1 (Panini) – The Manga That Destroyed Me (In a Good Way)

I was already obsessed after watching the 12 episodes of the MAPPA anime and coming out of the Reze Arc movie theater with my brain melted. Then I decided to start the manga from scratch with the Brazilian Panini edition (chapters 1–7) and… man, it’s another level of crazy.

The Story is Simple and Genius at the Same Time

Denji is a broke kid who kills devils to pay off his yakuza debt. His only friend is Pochita, a devil-dog with a chainsaw on its face. When the yakuza betrays him and turns him into mincemeat, Pochita makes the ultimate pact: becomes Denji’s heart and turns the boy into Chainsaw Man.

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Then Makima appears. Vol-1-3

Makima is literally the most dangerous and perfect woman in fiction. She picks up the dying Denji, offers him food, a home, and the promise of “one day letting him fulfill any wish” (read: touch her boobs) and recruits him for the government’s devil-hunting squad. All with the fakest and scariest smile in manga history.

And there’s Power. Vol-1-4 Power lying blatantly and no one cares because she’s an icon

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The blood devil, horns on her head, ego the size of Japan, and zero sense of hygiene. She enters Volume 1 already yelling she’s the best, lying that she killed the Sea Devil, and turning Denji’s life into an even more insane circus.

What Makes the Manga Experience Unique (Compared to the Anime)

Both the anime and manga are phenomenal, but they offer different vibes. The anime’s fluid animation and killer soundtrack hit hard in real-time, while the manga lets you pause and soak in every gritty detail at your own pace.

  • Fujimoto’s art is dirty in just the right way. The blood splatters feel raw and unfiltered.
  • Denji’s internal dialogues are way more pathetic and funny on paper.
  • The “zombie with chainsaw on head” scene in Chapter 1 is absurdly more gore in the manga.
  • Makima has an even more oppressive presence in black and white – those double pages of her are pure mind control.

Verdict

The Panini Volume 1 is perfect. Great printing, good translation (keeps the slang and Denji’s crude humor), paper that doesn’t bleed, and a beautiful cover with spot varnish.

If you’ve seen the anime and the movie and haven’t read the manga yet, run. This volume is just the appetizer for the wonderful hell that comes next.

Rating: ⭐ 8.2/10 (and the series only gets crazier from here on out)