Chainsaw Man’s Fearsome Devils Outshine Other Villains

The Primal Devils found in Chainsaw Man represent an extraordinary tier of villains. These figures encapsulate humanity’s deepest fears, including darkness, falling, aging, and death, proving to be as terrifying as they were crafted to be.

Currently, we have encountered three of these formidable beings: the Darkness Devil, the Falling Devil, and the Aging Devil, with the anticipated appearance of the Death Devil poised to play a significant role in the unfolding narrative. Each has demonstrated the reasons for their notoriety and the fact that they haven’t undergone the conventional life-and-death cycle commonly faced by Devils.

High Stakes of Primal Devils in Chainsaw Man

Before diving deeper, it’s essential to grasp the essence of the Primal Devils. As noted earlier, they personify the fundamental fears that lie within the human psyche—darkness, falling, aging, and death. These fears are innate, historical, and powerful, which is why these entities are often referred to as “transcendent”beings that invoke dread not only in humans but also in other Devils and Fiends.

Due to their overwhelming might, Primal Devils have never undergone the cycle of death and rebirth that characterizes other Devils. Instead, they maintain their identities across the ages and continue to exist in Hell. Consequently, Chainsaw Man has generated substantial anticipation surrounding the influence and fear associated with these terrifying figures, which has certainly paid off.

In most series, villains are typically introduced with built-up excitement that often wanes over time. Often, they meet an early demise or gradually lose their threatening presence with each encounter. However, this is not the case in Tatsuki Fujimoto’s work, where the Primal Devils remain imposing and relevant on the darker side of the narrative.

Several instances throughout the series illustrate this assertion. To start, the Darkness Devil made its chilling debut in chapter 64, showcasing its terrifying abilities by effortlessly dealing with the Devil Hunters in Hell. Faced with such overwhelming power, the only course of action for the hunters was to escape.

Following that, the Falling Devil emerged in chapter 122, featuring a striking design reminiscent of a chef’s uniform disturbingly adorned with mangled human remains. True to her culinary theme, she communicates in a chef-like manner, and her very presence on Earth triggered global gravity disturbances. Further, she rampaged through the town in pursuit of Yoru/Asa, even targeting Chainsaw Man later on. This confrontation is a testament to the extraordinary strength of the Primal Devils, requiring Fami’s intervention to halt her chaos.

Lastly, the Aging Devil, introduced in chapter 173, is currently part of the storyline. Although the Aging Devil has not yet engaged in full combat, its ability to easily obliterate Yoru’s finger bullet by aging it to dust signals serious implications for future confrontations. This is particularly significant considering Yoru had previously inflicted severe damage on Pochita.

Concluding Remarks

Through Chainsaw Man, Fujimoto has effectively captured the essence of the Primal Devils. Additionally, their unique designs serve a purpose beyond mere aesthetics, as each reflects different themes. For example, the Darkness Devil’s appearance represents the form of darkness itself, embodying a fearsome entity from Hell.

Similarly, the design of the Aging Devil evokes a sense of gerascophobia, an intense fear of bodily changes over time. Those afflicted with this condition often avoid mirrors, explaining the Aging Devil’s association with reflective surfaces and its grotesque appearance—emaciated flesh coupled with a visage reminiscent of an aged individual’s face, yet balanced by smoother features except for a gaping mouth.

Whatever the portrayal of the Death Devil turns out to be, it’s clear that Fujimoto will respect its moniker as “The Great King of Terror,”and its design is sure to carry significant meaning. This ability to exceed expectations and fulfill the anticipatory tension is a hallmark that distinguishes the Primal Devils in Chainsaw Man from typical villains.

Source