Who is the Ear Devil? Everything we know about Chainsaw Man’s latest victim, explored

The fandom has been abuzz since Chainsaw Man consumed the Ear Devil in chapter 172, erasing an important concept from the series. However, it should be noted that the Ear Devil actually first appeared in chapter 171 as a rather unremarkable devil, contrary to what some fans may believe.

Despite the primary focus of chapter 172 being on the extreme destruction caused by the Hero of Hell after seeing Nayuta’s supposed death, the removal of ears from the series has emerged as the standout point of the chapter.

Please note that this article contains spoilers for the Chainsaw Man series.

Chainsaw Man: The Significance of the Ear Devil’s Death in the Manga

Despite the insignificance of the majority of the newly added devils in the Special Division, the squad that was defeated by the Hero of Hell included the Ear Devil, which, true to its name, represented the fear of ears. As a result, Chainsaw Man consumed this devil, effectively eliminating ears from existence in the Chainsaw Man universe.

This deletion eliminated a crucial form of communication in the narrative. It is worth mentioning that the Ear Devil was not at all noteworthy, as it had not been introduced or mentioned in part 1 of the manga or prior to chapter 172. The devils in the Chainsaw Man series play a significant role in the plot and serve as the fundamental source of power in the series.

While Fujimoto has left many questions surrounding the behavior of devils in hell unanswered, one thing has been confirmed: there is a devil for every conceivable concept.

Devils are beings whose names and identities are closely intertwined. In the human world, devils are reborn in Hell upon their death, and in turn, they are reborn in the human world if they die in Hell. However, Chainsaw Man’s ability prevents this cycle from occurring.

To be consumed by him would result in the disappearance of the concepts embodied by the devil, ultimately leading to the erasure of the devil itself. This has been observed in the existence of devils such as the Blood Devil, Bat Devil, and Gun Devil, who embody tangible objects and fearsome concepts feared by humanity.

This is also related to the presence of original devils such as the Darkness Devil, who possessed enough power to effortlessly defeat Makima, one of the Four Horsemen devils, as darkness is a fundamental fear among mankind.

Despite the Ear Devil’s nondescript appearance and behavior, along with a lack of characterization, it can be determined that it was a weak devil that embodied an essential concept.

Final Thoughts

Chainsaw Man as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Despite being a devil, Ear Devil’s weakness can be explained by the lack of fear towards ears in large numbers. It is unknown whether the Public Safety Department intentionally allowed Chainsaw Man to consume a devil that represented such a crucial concept or if it was a result of poor planning.

Despite Yoru’s previous warning about the dangers of consuming the Ear Devil, it ultimately resulted in a deadly confrontation between him and the Hero of Hell. Yoru had mentioned the possibility of Chainsaw Man regurgitating the concepts he has devoured. However, the manga is currently on hiatus and the release of chapter 173 is scheduled for August 6, 2024.

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