Part 1: Public Safety Saga



Part 1 of Chainsaw Man, subtitled Public Safety Saga, is the first installment of the Chainsaw Man series, and is succeeded by Academy Saga. Denji is the protagonist and Makima is the main antagonist. The Gun Devil's agents are the villainous faction of this part.

This part introduces the world of Chainsaw Man, Denji's contract with Pochita, and the war between the Chainsaw Devil and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

It was originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from December 2018 to December 2020 and was collected into eleven volumes by Jump Comics.

In 2022 the first season of the anime adaptation released, covering Part 1 up to the Samurai Sword Arc.

From September to October 2023, a stage play adaptation of Season 1 began playing exclusively in Japan.

The Part 1 manga was officially released in English from 2020 to 2022.

Crunchyroll Description
''One day, as he was living his miserable life trying to pay off the debt he inherited from his parents, he got betrayed and killed. As he was losing his consciousness, he made a deal with Pochita, and got resurrected as the “Chainsaw Man”: the owner of the Devil’s heart.''

Introduction
Denji and Pochita become friends and start taking devil hunting jobs to earn money. On one of their jobs the employee manipulated by a Zombie Devil tricks them and kills them. In order to save Denji, Pochita becomes his heart and Denji turns into Chainsaw-man and slaughters the Zombie Devil and his zombies. Makima from the Public Safety Devil Hunters arrives at the scene and notices the uniqueness of Denji and takes him into her squad. Upon arriving in Tokyo, Denji is put to work with Aki Hayakawa, who at first tries to make Denji quit, but fails and ends up living with him. Later another member of their squad is introduced, a fiend named Power, and upon seeing she is a girl, Denji gets hyped to work with her.

Finding the Bat Devil
Denji is teamed with Power and go around the city, where she slaughters a Sea Cucumber Devil and causes a bit of trouble for them. Later Power reveals that her cat was kidnapped by a devil and that Makima recruited her before she was able to save her cat. Denji then strikes a deal with her to save her cat in exchange of Power letting him touch her boobs.

Power then led Denji to the devil that took her cat but knocked him out beforehand and presented him to the devil in order to get her cat back. The Bat Devil then drank some of Denji's blood and regenerated his arm back. Then instead of returning the cat, he ate it whole and then ate Power too. As the Bat Devil tried to fly away and attack citizens, Denji grabbed his leg and went with him and transformed into Chainsaw Man to fight him. He quickly cut the Bad Devil's arm again and proceed on beating him. The Bat Devil tried to fight back and blew Denji away with his attack, but Denji was able to get back up and continue fighting him. Denji kept cutting the Bat Devil until he killed him and saved Power and Meowy. In that moment a Leech Devil, the girlfriend of the Bat Devil appeared and attacked Denji. Due to the blood loss Denji wasn't able to completely manifest as the Chainsaw Man, but he still started fighting the Leech Devil. As Denji was about to lose and be eaten by the Leech Devil, Aki Hayakawa arrived and used his Fox Devil to eat the Leech Devil and save Denji.

Waking up in the hospital, Aki was interrogating Denji to learn of the events that occurred, but Denji protected Power. Later Makima made Power live with Aki and Denji and their daily room-mate troubles appeared. Power then called Denji, to fulfil her promise for saving her cat. She gave him three squeezes for saving the cat, killing the Bat and protecting her from Aki. After squeezing them, Denji felt unsatisfied and troubled for a while. Makima noticed he was feeling down and confronted him to tell her why. After hearing him out, she told him that the naughty things feel better when you know your partner and proceed of touching his hands, letting him touch her ear, biting his finger and then letting him touch her breasts, which really excited Denji. Then using the situation, she requested from Denji to kill the Gun Devil and for that, she will grant him one wish. Makima then explained who the Gun Devil is and what he has done, as well as how they can track him down by finding people who have fragments of his flesh. Then they received a request for devil-extermination for unknown devil at Morin Hotel and Makima's squad was dispatched for the task.

Morin Hotel Mission
Arriving at the Morin Hotel, Aki Hayakawa understood it wasn't the Gun Devil as the Gun Devil's flesh they have didn't react strongly. Himeno then she will reward the one who kills the devil with a kiss on the cheek and Denji got excited for a moment, but then remembered Makima's promise, so he was no longer interested, but after Himeno says she will tongue kiss him, he got excited again. Inside the hotel Denji was eager to find the devil, but Hirokazu Arai was trying to prevent him so that Himeno doesn't have to kiss him. Then a head walked out from a room and tried to attack Kobeni Higashiyama, but was quickly taken down by Himeno and Power. As the group proceeded to inspect the hotel, they noticed that no matter how many floors they climb or go down, they are always on the 8th floor. Realizing they are stuck on the 8th floor, they stopped in one of the rooms to try to think of a way out. After some time, they realized that the devil they killed has gotten bigger and is still growing. The Eternity Devil then spoke and told them that if they give him Denji to eat, he will let them out of the Hotel. Kobeni then tried to attack Denji but was neutralized by Himeno and Aki. Aki then tried to use his Fox Devil but couldn't since they were completely cut out from the outside, so Himeno used her Ghost Devil to attack the Eternity Devil, but that only made him grow bigger. As Kobeni started to panic again, the Eternity Devil grew bigger and revealed he gets bigger from fear. Aki then tried to use his sword but was stopped by Himeno's Ghost Devil. In that moment Arai and Kobeni attacked Denji, but Aki protected him with his body, and Kobeni stabbed him instead. Seeing Aki bleeding, Himeno panicked that she may loose another partner. Getting annoyed by everyone, Denji decided to go and be eaten by the Eternity Devil and then jumped towards the devil.

Denji then was eaten by the Eternity Devil, but soon after that emerged as Chainsaw Man from the devil and started fighting him. As Denji was losing lots of blood fast, his chainsaw's retracted, so he drank the awful Eternity Devil blood to make them appear again. Himeno remembered a conversation in her past as of why some of her partners died and that they need to be crazy enough to fight devils. Seeing the crazy fight that Denji had with the devil, she though he crazy enough to kill the Gun Devil. As Denji was about to lose, using her Ghost she turned his cord again to activate him. Three days later, Denji was still fighting the Eternity Devil, while the group was feeling really exhausted. The Eternity Devil then revealed his weak point and giving up from the pain and wanting it all to end. Little disappointed that it this was all, Denji killed the devil.

As the group finally got out of the hotel, Denji passed out from exhaustion. Himeno then suggested a 4th Division party and everyone to go and drink. Later the group went drinking together with all members of the 4th division. The new members Denji, Arai and Kobeni introduced themselves. There Himeno reminded Denji that she will give him her kiss later that night. Unfortunately for Denji, when she gave him the kiss, she had too many drinks and threw up in his mouth and Denji had to spend the night in the toilet. Later Denji passed out and was carried by Himeno in her home. As Denji woke up and wanted water, she gave him water with a kiss. Being quite drunk she didn't realize she carried him there, but then she offered him to have sex with her. As he agreed and Himeno started taking his clothes off, she found a lollipop that Makima gave him, and which reminded Denji of her and he decided to not sleep with Himeno. In the morning Himeno and Denji had breakfast, where they agreed they will help each other, and set up Denji with Makima and Himeno with Aki.

On the way to Kyoto, in the train, Makima was attacked and shot in the head by Gun Devil's henchmen.

Attack of Katana Man
While on various cases, all of the Special Division members got attacked by Gun Devil's henchmen using guns, killing almost all. In the same time Denji, Power, Himeno & Aki Hayakawa are in a restaurant eating, where the Katana Man explains his connection to Denji before shooting him in the head and then proceeding at shooting at others. Aki quickly uses the Fox Devil, but the Katana Man transforms and comes out of the Fox Devil. Aki then engages him, stabbing him enough times to activate his Curse Devil, supposedly killing the Katana Man, but a woman named Sawatari comes up and brings Katana Man back on his feet, who then cuts down Aki. Being fatally shot, Himeno decides to give all of her to her Ghost Devil in order to fight the Katana Man. As the Ghost Devil was winning over the Katana Man, Sawatari used her Snake Devil to eat the Ghost Devil. In Himeno's final moments, she pulls Denji's cord, turning him into the Chainsaw Man. As they fight, more henchmen appear shooting at Denji. He then decides to use one as a shield, but Katana Man not carrying for him, he cut both Denji and the henchman in half, ending the fight.

In the mean time, Makima's train was about to arrive in Kyoto as she stood up and killed all the henchmen that previously shot her. Stepping out of the train, she was waited by two Kyoto members, Kurose and Tendo. Understanding the situation she requested 30 convicts with life sentence to be brought to her on the nearby highest altitude shrine. Using the life of the convicts and her ability, she started crushing the Gun Devil's henchmen one by one, leaving only Sawatari and Katana Man alive and then left towards Tokyo. Sawatari and Katana Man tried to still finish their mission and take Denji upper half body, but then Kobeni Higashiyama showed up questioning them if they were responsible for the shootings. The Katana Man exhausted and unable to transform started shooting at her, and Sawatari used her Snake Devil, yet Kobeni managed to cut the Katana Man's arm and take his gun, then shoot him in the back. As she ran out of bullets, she used Denji as a shield. Seeing that she can't win, Sawatari took Katana Man and escaped with a van. Arriving in Tokyo, Makima met Madoka, a survivor from the 4th Division who delivered a message to her from the higher ups and then handed down his resignation.

Later, Denji and Power were visiting Aki in the hospital while he recovers. Makima then took them to Kishibe, a Devil Hunter from Special Division 1, who agreed to take them and train them. As Power is semi-immortal and Denji immortal, Kishibe training was brutal, and he was constantly nearly killing Power and killing Denji. In the mean time, Aki was visited by Kurose and Tendo, and after realizing the Fox Devil won't come out again, they asked him if he wanted to stay and team up with more powerful devil or quit the job. As Aki agreed, they left him to recover, while they prepare the paperwork. When Aki recovered, Kurose and Tendo brought up Aki to where the Public Safety keeps the captured Devils. There Aki met the Future Devil and upon seeing Aki's future, the Future Devil decided to form a contract with him, so that he can see that future himself. Elsewhere, after another training, Kishibe was explaining to Denji and Power that their new mission would be to capture the Katana Man and Sawatari, but if they fail, he will have to kill them for real. Later Kishibe was speaking with Makima, saying he cannot train them anymore and knowing what Makima is as long as she is on humanity's side, he will overlook what she does. The Katana Man and Sawatari were preparing their defenses against the upcoming new Special Division 4 attack, keeping large number of zombies on the lower floor of the building they were.

As the New 4th Division attack, the Zombies are quickly dispatched by a group of Devils. Aki moves into the building, and confronts Sawatari, who summons the Ghost Devil to attack him. Aided by the memory of Himeno, Aki faces the Devil without fear, meaning it is unable to sense his presence. With the advantage, he decapitates it, before Kobeni puts a knife to a distracted Sawatari's throat.

Meeting Reze
Some time later, Denji begins a romance with a woman named Reze, who is actually the Bomb Woman, a Hybrid spy for the Soviet Union, sent to capture him. Though returning his affection, she attacks the city, with the Division barely saving Denji. After recovering, Denji fights her, and accepts a proposal to leave Japan together; before they can reunite, Makima secretly captures her. Denji's fight with the Bomb Woman reveals his existence to the world.

The Hunt for Denji
The Division learns that four assassin groups are targeting Denji: Chinese hunter Quanxi; a mysterious enemy of Makima called "Santa Claus"; three American brothers; and a Russian woman teaching a pupil, Tolka. Denji is outfitted with a security detail. Though the brothers are repelled, and Quanxi initially stalls, Santa Claus uses their Doll Devil powers for a large horde attack. After a follow-up by Quanxi, Tolka's master reveals herself as the true "Santa Claus", and has all parties transported to Hell, where they are attacked by the Darkness Devil. Santa Claus makes a contract with the Darkness Devil that empowers her.

Gun Devil Attacks
Makima retrieves the group from Hell. Quanxi, revealed as a Hybrid, helps Denji defeat Santa Claus; Makima dispatches her afterwards. After Denji recovers, Makima reveals that the Gun Devil is actually a geopolitical asset, with many factions controlling pieces of it. As Aki begs Makima for Denji's safety, the president of the United States orders the Gun Devil to attack Japan and kill Makima. Revealed to be the Control Devil, Makima confronts the Gun Devil and wins. Aki dies in the attack, and the Gun Devil takes his body as a Fiend. Denji is attacked by the Gun Fiend, and, helped by civilians, kills it; Aki's death devastates him. While seemingly consoling him, Makima kills Power, revealing herself responsible for Denji's losses, having plotted to void his contract with Pochita by crushing his dreams of a normal life.

Makima vs. Denji
Kishibe attacks her, supported by the Hell Devil, and she calls for "Chainsaw Man" to save her. Controlling Denji's body, Pochita assumes his true form and dispatches it. Makima explains her goals: to use Pochita's power to eliminate concepts from reality by eating their respective Devils to create a world without suffering; to this end, she was empowered by the government with immortality. Fighting the Chainsaw Man using the brainwashed Hybrids, which include Katana Man, Reze, and Quanxi, she wins, as Denji's heroic deeds have weakened Pochita. Power reforms from a remnant of her blood, escapes with Chainsaw Man, and, mortally wounded, restores Denji's will to live, having him promise to find her when she is reborn in Hell.

Invigorated by public support for him, Denji confronts Makima and defeats her; to bypass her immortality, he eats her body. Kishibe later reveals that Makima was annihilated, but the Control Devil resurfaced in the form of a little girl, now named Nayuta. He asks Denji to care for and look after her, and Pochita reaffirms this mission in Denji's dreams. Later, Denji enrolls in high school and continues fighting devils under the public eye.

Chainsaw Man: Buddy Stories (2021)
Light novel in the Chainsaw Man series by Tatsuki Fujimoto. The novel is written by Sakaku Hishikawa, with Fujimoto providing bonus illustrations and was released in November 2021.

It focuses on Power, a self-proclaimed master detective, and her assistant Denji take on a mysterious case! What is the relationship between Kishibe and Quanxi when they were partners. It shows how Himeno and Aki met and what happened in their first mission together. In addition to the above three "buddy" themed stories, a bonus story, Denji, Power, and Aki's Dream Trip to Enoshima is also included.

The light novel released in English in July 2023.

Trivia

 * Various scenes throughout the first OP reference shots from various movies, referencing Tatsuki Fujimoto's love of film:
 * The scene of the main cast frozen in the city references Reservoir Dogs.
 * Denji cradling Pochita in a graveyard references The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
 * Kishibe pointing a gun references Pulp Fiction.
 * Chainsaw Man and Katana Man's clash references Sadako vs. Kayako.
 * Galgali taking off a shoe references No Country for Old Men.
 * Denji and Aki backing out of a driveway references Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
 * Kobeni and Hirokazu's table antics reference Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.
 * Denji looking horrified as Power laughs references Joyū Rei (Don't Look Up).
 * Angel Devil sitting on stairs references Jacob's Ladder.
 * Aki and Himeno on the rooftop references Constantine.
 * The scene of the main cast at a bowling alley references The Big Lebowski.
 * The font used for Power's name on her pin-up references Thor: Love and Thunder.
 * The scene of Power knocking over a giant gold ball references Fight Club.

Continuity

 * It's revealed that Makima is the Control Devil, a member of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It's said that the four of them fought Pochita in Hell, but Pochita disappeared before it could be killed. This is how he met Denji, and then started their contract.
 * Before Power is killed, she tells Denji that she will return from Hell and wants to be defeated by him so they can be buddies again.

Gallery
"To be continued in the Academy Saga."