Chainsaw Man is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto. Its first arc ran in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from 2018 to 2020, and its second arc in the Shōnen Jump+ app and website from 2022 to 2026. The chapters were collected in 24 volumes. The story is set in an alternative late 1990s where Devils, creatures born from human fear, are hunted by specialist operatives, and it has drawn strong critical praise for its storytelling, characters and dark humor.
Story and setting
The series takes place in an alternative late 1990s where the Soviet Union still exists. Devils arise from collective human fears and grow stronger as those fears spread. Devil Hunters contract with them to gain their powers. The main character, Denji, is a poor teenager who merges with a dog-like Chainsaw Devil and gains the ability to turn parts of his body into chainsaws. He later joins a government agency that fights Devils, and the second arc follows Asa Mitaka, a student bound to the War Devil.
Publication and adaptations
In North America the manga is licensed in English by Viz Media for print and digital release. An anime television series produced by MAPPA aired from October to December 2022. An anime film, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, premiered in September 2025, and an anime adaptation of the Assassins arc has been announced. By June 2026 the manga had more than 36 million copies in circulation.
Reception and awards
The manga won the 66th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōnen category in 2021 and received the Harvey Award for Best Manga from 2021 to 2023. Critics have generally praised its storytelling, characters and dark humor, and its violent scenes are often highlighted as a notable part of the work.