Well, that was sad.
In Chainsaw Man’s 123rd chapter, Fujimoto gives readers yet another look at a traumatic moment from Asa’s past—this time it is brought on courtesy of the latest devil’s spooky powers. This is another short chapter, but it effectively delivers a cool devil, and emotional pain, and sets the stage for an exciting battle.
During the previous chapter (Read our review here), we saw tons of people jump off of their balconies to their death, only to form into a grotesque pile of bodies in the shape of the latest devil. There has been a lot of speculation as to who this devil is, and that is finally revealed here (Won’t be revealed in this review to avoid spoilers). The revelation makes complete sense, as it is a common fear that is grounded in the likes of nearly every person from a young age. In Chainsaw Man tradition, that powerful fear has led to a powerful devil.
Following the devil reveal and some really neat panels featuring its preferred aesthetics, we are forced to watch a flashback with Asa and the cat that she saved at the expense of her family. Of course, Fujimoto made it tragic, and we are now looking at a protagonist with sadness that rivals Denji’s. Horror does well when there are human characters that are worse than monsters, and Fujimoto creates a character that is easy to despise with only a few panels. It’s an emotional gut punch that shapes who Asa is while also staying relevant to the current devil encounter.
The final bit of this chapter focuses on some action and how the new devil kills. Asa’s internal conflict is putting a damper on War’s ability to defend them. Watching everything turn upside down in the final few panels is a treat, then the chapter ends on yet another cliffhanger.
Waiting for one to two weeks between chapters is brutal, but Chainsaw Man simply demands to be read. It’s as compelling as any comic right now, and Fujimoto has given the series so much depth during this second saga. We have reviewed a lot of manga over the last week, but this is the easiest one to recommend. Keep on reading.
Chainsaw Man Chapter 123
Like It
The Good
- The new devil rules
- Asa is an easy character to empathize with
The Bad
- Jesus, can anyone just be happy in this comic?