If you were to rank the growing list of great manga that are getting an anime soon by hype, there’s a good chance Chainsaw Man will be high on that list. That popularity is not unjustified, though, and with a blockbuster adaptation on the way, new fans are wondering if Chainsaw Man is worth reading before the anime is released.
Related: Where to Read Chainsaw Man Legally Online for Free
What’s So Good About Chainsaw Man?
You may be wondering why this series about a boy who can turn his body into chainsaws is being hyped up more than most. Well, there are a few good reasons for its level of attention.
In case you’re unaware, Chainsaw Man takes place in a modern world where devils inspired by various earthly subjects threaten humans.
The story follows Denji, a homeless boy who is exploited by the yakuza to become a devil hunter alongside his companion, the dog-shaped chainsaw devil Pochita.
When a job goes wrong and Denji and Pochita are left for dead, they fuse, allowing Denji to take on Pochita’s chainsaw powers. Denji’s then found by the mysterious Makima, who brings him into the Public Safety Devil Hunters government agency as her pet.
Chainsaw Man’s manga originally ran from 2018 to 2020. However, in terms of critical appeal, it was something of a slow burner. It wasn’t until 2021, when print volumes were being released worldwide, that awards and accolades for the series started rolling in.
In 2021, Chainsaw Man won the 66th Shogakukan Manga Award for the best shonen manga. The series also won a Harvey Award in the USA.
What sets Chainsaw Man apart from other big series is its quirky and graphic nature. Tatsuki Fujimoto is regarded as a dark author, particularly from his first published work, Fire Punch, which is a harsh, violent tale.
Fujimoto carried that grim feeling into Chainsaw Man while also adding more typical shounen elements which have helped take him to newfound levels of popularity.
There is also a quirkiness to Chainsaw Man which keeps the series entertaining. Author Tatsuki Fujimoto had previously described it as a “wicked FLCL” – FLCL (Fooly Cooly) is a famously weird manga from the late 1990s that was also adapted into an anime.
Ultimately, it might be this blend of grim tragedy and quirky comedy that makes Chainsaw Man such an engrossing read.
Is Chainsaw Man Worth Reading Before the Anime?
Whether you should read the Chainsaw Man manga before watching the anime will largely be a personal preference. However, if you’re a fan of manga, I would recommend reading the series first.
Chainsaw Man is something of a rarity in that it’s a major anime adaptation where the manga is somewhat complete. Now, it should be stressed that Chainsaw Man Part 2 is coming in the Summer of 2022, but Part 1 ended in 2020.
In this sense, Chainsaw Man provides a complete story that’s out there for you to enjoy. You can also catch up before the series comes back later this year.
On the other hand, if you don’t read much manga, there are many arguments for waiting for the anime.
The adaptation is being handled by MAPPA, who have a great track record with major anime adaptations such as Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen.
It’s rumoured that MAPPA has had the anime in pre-production for a long while, and every indication is that the series will be getting the high-class animation that fans expect.
If you are happy waiting for the anime, then you’ll be able to enjoy a fantastic story for the very first time with everyone else.
However, if you can’t wait that long, the manga is excellently entertaining, so it’s wholly recommended!
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!