Manga Review: Chainsaw Man Chapter 155

Mangaka: Tatsuki Fujimoto

Publisher: VIZ Media

The mob is getting more dangerous by the minute. Denji is out of the picture, leaving Nayuta all by herself to defend against it. Of course, she has no problem killing humans, but even Nayuta has her limits, and the crowd is getting rabid.

You’d expect a wild fight scene here, but instead, we are treated to flashbacks of Denji and Nayuta’s life together. We see her move into the apartment, sleep with dogs, and bond. It’s an incredibly warm issue that accomplishes a remarkable amount of development in just a few pages. Of course, Fujimoto can’t let everyone be happy, and these warm scenes are juxtaposed with Nayuta’s thoughts. She struggles with her identity, and there are still pieces of Makima in her that tell her to destroy Denji’s life. It’s a cold hand grabbing the reader’s shoulder from behind, ruining an otherwise warm and sunny day. Then, the last page is a splash of cold water, leaving the reader shivering and alone, fearing what will happen when the next chapter comes in two weeks.

Fujimoto is surprisingly adept at creating warm and sentimental chapters, and that talent shines here. Most of the chapter delves into Nayuta’s thoughts, so there isn’t a lot of dialogue between her and Denji during the flashbacks. Fujimoto creates peaceful art that depicts a home that’s lived in, conveying the necessary emotions for this chapter’s success. It only takes a few panels to accomplish this. One shows a house of cards, while another displays muddled footprints at the entrance.

Then, the little dialogue at the end of this chapter hits hard. It’s a masterclass in emotional storytelling, blindsiding readers who were expecting to witness Nayuta fight for her life throughout the entire chapter.

This might be the strongest chapter of Chainsaw Man’s second saga, and, of course, there is little to no action. It’s quiet and heavy, reminding us of why this manga is so special.