Shonen Jump’s Most Popular Dark Manga Is Still Stuck on the Same Tired Trope

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Many popular action manga (shonen) follow a similar pattern: a hero with big dreams who actively works to save the world. However, Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto breaks this mold with its main character, Denji, using a very different approach. What makes Chainsaw Man stand out from other shonen series is largely due to Denji and how unconventional he is. The series keeps relying on this unique approach to its protagonist, and it’s time for Denji to grow and evolve as a character.

Many action anime heroes strive for grand ambitions, but Denji, who grew up in poverty, simply wanted a normal life. Once he could afford regular meals, his biggest wish became having a girlfriend and a romantic relationship. Since becoming a devil hunter and achieving basic stability, he’s often made questionable choices driven by this desire. Throughout the story, women have exploited Denji’s feelings, and the most recent events show him making another significant decision based on his impulses, a decision that could have catastrophic consequences for the world.

Chainsaw Man Continues Its Old Trend With Its Main Character

Denji has repeatedly fallen victim to manipulation due to his desires, happening not just once or twice, but three times throughout the story. First, Makima and Reze took advantage of this weakness, leaving him deeply traumatized. You’d expect those experiences to have helped him avoid similar manipulation in the future, but Yoru managed to exploit him just the same, drawing him into a plan that culminated in a major fight against the War Devil. Though it initially seemed like Denji won, a recent development revealed he’s once again acting on impulse, completely changing the situation.

In chapter 229, “Nightjar and Asa,” Denji found Yoru severely injured and shared his own blood with her to help save her. When she questioned his actions – why he’d potentially forfeit the fight – he revealed he did it because she’d previously offered to be intimate with him if he consumed a powerful devil. This moment highlights Denji’s personality: he’d risk everything, even the world’s fate, for the chance at a romantic connection, despite her promise being potentially unreliable.

This storyline feels predictable and stale because it relies on a plot device we’ve seen many times before, and it isn’t adding anything fresh to the story. It’s currently unclear what will happen next, and we’ll find out Yoru’s plans for Denji in the next chapter. If Denji isn’t secretly using this situation to trick Yoru and win, Chainsaw Man risks becoming less original by repeating a worn-out idea that doesn’t advance the plot.

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2026-02-19 19:11