After Denji finally came to terms with Nayuta’s death, Chainsaw Man chapter 171 saw the return of the Hero of Hell. The chapter was brimming with symbolism revolving around the themes of death and rebirth.
The panel showcasing the Hero of Hell surrounded by debris and labeled as “Paradise”has sparked much conversation. Although fan interpretations may vary slightly, the general consensus is that it represents Denji’s once tranquil existence being irrevocably shattered and his descent into hell.
Warning- This article contains significant spoilers for the manga Chainsaw Man.
Chainsaw Man Chapter 171: The Destruction of Denji’s Life
Despite some fans noting that Part 2 of Chainsaw Man has been lacking direction and has not lived up to the series’ usual strong points of writing and tension-building, others have argued that this is simply a phase in the “Fujimoto Cycle.”
The “Fujimoto Cycle”has been coined by numerous fans to describe the pattern of Fujimoto’s storytelling, in which seemingly ordinary arcs gradually escalate into unsettling tension, often only becoming apparent to fans months after reading.
Part 2 revolved around Denji’s struggle to embrace his true self rather than solely identifying as Chainsaw-Man. Throughout his journey, Denji discovered the importance of finding worth in aspects of life beyond his alter ego.
Chapter 171 revealed the depths of Denji’s despair as he had lost everything – his home, his pets, and Nayuta, his last remaining family member. The events that followed saw Denji completely transformed into the Hero of Hell, embodying Pochita, as he stood amidst the ruins of what was once Paradise.
The lone panel symbolized the complete destruction of all that Denji cherished and all that gave him purpose, resulting in his transformation from “Denji”to the “Hero of Hell.”
Similarly, the clever use of imagery in chapter 171, where Denji’s gut transforms into an intestine that strangles Yuji and eventually becomes the Hero of Hell, is another example of Fujimoto’s brilliance. The intestine symbolizes an umbilical cord, connoting the cycle of life, death, and rebirth that is prevalent throughout the series.
The lone image of the Hero of Hell surrounded by debris symbolizes the downfall of Denji’s once idyllic existence, known to him as “paradise,”and his transformation into the Hero of Hell. This solitary panel also reflects Denji’s namesake, “Tenshi,”meaning angel in Japanese, as it portrays his eventual loss of identity and the emergence of Pochita.
**Final Thoughts**
The Hero of Hell form was previously seen in Part 1 of the manga. Despite its absence for almost 100 chapters, Chapter 172 will unveil whether this form has undergone a power boost through the Chainsaw-Man church’s storyline. The highly anticipated Chapter 172 is scheduled for release on July 23, 2024, and will be accessible for reading on Shueisha’s MANGAPlus platform.
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