This article includes spoilers
for the “Chainsaw Man” manga. Reader discretion is advised.
“
Chainsaw Man ” Chapter 171 is a huge turning point for the manga. The
second part built little by little until the big bombshell of Chapter 167 took
everyone by surprise. Since then, creator Tatsuki Fujimoto hasn't taken
his foot off the gas. Chainsaw Man isn't all about bloody fights,
outrageously explicit scenes, and a youthful sense of humor.
Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga is also known for its
deeper themes, and that was more evident than ever in Chapter 170, when Barem
Bridge served Nayuta's head to Denji on a silver platter. This caused
Denji to have to face the harsh reality of what really happened to his little
sister, but in the most recent chapter, Denji gives in to his darkest impulses
to fight a ghost from his past. .
Barem Bridge's plan to turn Denji into
the “real Chainsaw Man” definitely works and does him no favors. No
one has any control over Denji at this point in the series, other than the late
Nayuta. The only person who could influence him is Asa, but given his fight
with Yoru after his infamous romp with Denji in Chapter 167, it's doubtful the
War Demon can be of any help in this situation.
With no one to stand in Denji's way, the
author lets the beast out for the first time in 70 chapters. In
one of the most brutal “Chainsaw Man” scenes in years, Denji rips off the
Flamethrower Demon hybrid's head, while Denji's own insides emerge from his
body and wrap around his neck. This scene multiplies Chainsaw Man's
body horror tenfold and makes the shock of seeing Nayuta's disembodied head
seem insignificant in comparison.
But did you know that the episode had
inexplicable censorship? There is a notable difference
between the Japanese version and the international version of the chapter that
fans quickly discovered. It turns out that in the Japanese version we
can clearly see how Denji pulls the cord on his chest to become Chainsaw Man
again , but in the international version this small panel does not
appear, instead Asa's reaction to his transformation is shown.
- On
the left, the Japanese version, on the right, the international version.
What is the point of this change between
versions? Some believe that Tatsuki Fujimoto made a last-minute change
that was not reflected in the international version of the chapter (since
Manga Plus receives the chapter several hours or days in advance to prepare the
translation), but was in the Japanese version. Still, the impact of this
chapter has been more than welcome.
While previous installments dropped major bombshells
that raised hype for the series dramatically, the most recent chapter of
“Chainsaw Man” definitely feels like the chapter this entire sequel wanted to
lead toward. If Fujimoto had withheld or avoided the conflict for a few
more episodes, he could have greatly harmed the series.
Source: @kalingaddynastyon Twitter
