The Chainsaw Man fandom had high hopes and numerous theories for chapter 178, but mangaka Tatsuki Fujimoto exceeded all expectations in an exciting new direction. Released on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, this chapter introduced the Gun Goddess, an enormous skeletal figure wielding a rifle-like appendage, summoned by the War Devil, Yoru.
In Chainsaw Man chapter 178, fans witnessed the Gun Goddess unleash a single, unaltered index finger attack on Pochita in Japan, providing context for the loss of index fingers among 400,000 Americans. The level of destruction caused by this attack rivals the devastation seen from the Gun Devil, underscoring the immense power of the Gun Goddess.
This revelation also serves to illustrate the uncharted complexities within the Chainsaw Man power system, as the Gun Goddess represents what appears to be a new category or class of Devil that fans have yet to encounter.
Gun Goddess’ introduction hints at an exciting new realm of Chainsaw Man abilities and powers waiting to be explored
The primary implication of the Gun Goddess’ introduction in Chainsaw Man is the notion that a single fear can give rise to two separate entities: a Devil and a Goddess. This concept aligns with the enormous fear surrounding guns within the series’ universe. The reliance on anti-Devil weaponry has led to a surge in gun-related crime, catalyzing the emergence of both the Gun Devil and the Goddess as noted in chapter 178.
This development raises additional questions about the series’ power dynamics. What level of fear is necessary to give life to a Goddess? How do they differentiate from Devils? Are they merely a subset of a larger category? Can they enter into contracts as Devils do? Is it through a contract that Yoru, as a Devil, exerts control over a Goddess? Did Yoru create the Gun Goddess in a manner similar to her claim of being the Gun Devil’s mother?
While these inquiries stem from speculation, definitive aspects can be gleaned from the Gun Goddess’ introduction. Firstly, it is evident that this entity is not to be confused with the Gun Devil. Notably, the Statue of Liberty is located in New York City, and within the series, the American president utilized remnants of the Gun Devil to summon part of it to confront Makima.
Assuming that 20% of the Gun Devil’s flesh was destroyed with the demise of the Gun Fiend Aki Hayakawa, it stands to reason that the entity before us cannot be the Gun Devil. Additionally, the form assumed by the Gun Goddess bears no resemblance to the Gun Devil summoned by the American president. Furthermore, none of the signature abilities associated with the Gun Devil were exhibited by War Devil Yoru or the Gun Goddess.
Chainsaw Man enthusiasts can also ascertain that the Gun Goddess was confined within the Statue of Liberty. This may offer hints about the origins of Goddesses, indicating that they could emerge from concepts revered by humanity, in contrast to Devils that arise from fear. This would clarify why members of the National Pistol Association of America sacrificed their index fingers.
Moreover, it’s possible that Goddesses symbolize certain attributes linked to their place of imprisonment. The Statue of Liberty is deeply tied to the American Revolutionary War, a connection underscored by the real statue’s tablet, which bears the date of the Declaration of Independence’s signing. In Fujimoto’s narrative, this tablet also includes the date of the Storming of the Bastille from the French Revolution.
Both revolutions heavily involved firearms and remain significant events in world history. This may provide insight into how the reverence for guns has given rise to the Gun Goddess, as symbols often associated with freedom and independence when interpreted through a specific perspective. This also might suggest why Goddesses are typically held captive in grand structures like statues.
However, much of this remains speculative as of the writing of this article, with the sole confirmed fact being the existence of the Gun Goddess and the context surrounding its introduction. Fortunately, with no hiatus following chapter 178, fans can anticipate further revelations when the series resumes with chapter 179.
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