Chainsaw Man (Episode 12) – Katana vs. Chainsaw
Division Four attacks without any reservation quickly taking care of the zombies in the basement. Power and Denji push on, searching for the grandson of the Yakuza boss that made Denji’s life a living hell!
Chainsaw Man (Episode 12) – Katana vs. Chainsaw
What happened?
Power and Denji rode the elevator up the building as the fiends took care of the zombies. Aki was already engaged with Sawatari who controlled the Snake Devil and appeared to have use of the Ghost Devil now. When the elevator doors opened, Power ran out attacking like a possessed person… Denji simply closed the door and continued to climb the building. He came out and found the Katana Man and a couple of Yakuza thugs. They told him that they should let them kill him after what he did to the boss. Denji didn’t think so.
Strangely, the Ghost Devil released its grip on Aki as he had a flashback to the time Himeno convinced him to have his first cigarette. She quickly took it back when she learned that he wasn’t old enough, promising to hold onto it until he was ready. The Ghost Devil opened a hand to reveal the cigarette with the words “easy revenge” written on it. Aki remembered that the Ghost Devil was blind and could only see based on fear. If he showed no fear, he would be able to walk up its back and slice off its head, which he did.
Denji’s fight with the Katana Man flew across the city and onto a speeding train. Katana Man used his speed attack and took off both of Denji’s arms. He charged up for one more attack and then flew towards Denji’s head, just as Denji had predicted. Turned out Denji can make a chainsaw from his legs too which he used to slice Katana Man in half. Unfortunately, that didn’t kill him but it gave Denji enough time to restrain him until Aki showed up. Once Aki was there, Denji suggested they took turns kicking him in the nuts to get him back for Himeno. It was a crazy idea, but Aki was game!
What did you think?
This was a fantastic ending to the first season. I was a little concerned that the fight was over too soon, but the nut-kicking certainly made up for that. I couldn’t stop laughing, especially when Aki stood up and prepared to take the first shoot. The scene with the Ghost Devil was particularly interesting to me. I was still hoping that Himeno would come back, but I felt like this was the Ghost Devil fulfilling its contract with her. Himeno gave everything to ensure that Aki would survive. Even after the Snake Devil took control, Himeno’s wishes were followed. A contract is unbreakable after all.
Then, we had the scene after the ED, which was wonderfully tied into the actual episode where we saw Denji’s dream. There is a closed door that he has not been able to open and this time he heard Pochita telling him not to open it. This is fascinating as it implies that there is something that Denji has forgotten or that has been locked away from him. Could that be his human heart? His emotions maybe. It’s possible that when Pochita became his heart, he locked away Denji’s emotions so that he could cope with being the Chainsaw Man.
This show has been great and I can’t wait for a second season. At least, I have the manga to keep me going as there doesn’t appear to be a timeline for season two. It’s not even been announced yet!
Episode Highlights
Other reviews in the series
Manga
- Volume 1 – Dog and Chainsaw
- Volume 2 – Chainsaw vs. Bat
- Volume 3 – Taste of a Kiss!
- Volume 4 – The Gun is Mightier
- Volume 5 – Minor
- Volume 6 – Boom Boom Boom
- Volume 7 – In a Dream
- Volume 8 – Super Mess
- Volume 9 – Bath
- Volume 10 – A Dog’s Feelings
- Volume 11 – Go Get ’em, Chainsaw Man
- Volume 12 – Bird and War
- Volume 13 – Spoiler
- Volume 14 – I Wanna See Penguins!
| English Title | Chainsaw Man |
| Japanese Title | Chainsaw Man |
| Medium | Manga |
| Volumes | Ongoing |
| Author | Tatsuki Fujimoto |
| Artist | Tatsuki Fujimoto |
| Genres | Action, Devils, Horror, Supernatural |
| Demographic | Shounen |
Anime
- Season One
- Episode 1 – Dog & Chainsaw
- Episode 2 – Arrival in Tokyo
- Episode 3 – Meowy’s Whereabouts
- Episode 4 – Rescue
- Episode 5 – Gun Devil
- Episode 6 – Kill Denji
- Episode 7 – The Taste of a Kiss
- Episode 8 – Gunfire
- Episode 9 – From Kyoto
- Episode 10 – Bruised & Battered
- Episode 11 – Mission Start
- Episode 12 – Katana vs. Chainsaw
| English Title | Chainsaw Man |
| Japanese Title | Chainsaw Man |
| Medium | Anime |
| Released | Fall 2022 |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Animation Studios | MAPPA |
| Genres | Action, Devils, Horror, Supernatural |
| Demographic | Shounen |
You might also like…
I had to read your review before I figured out what the cigarette message was all about. When I watched the series it made no sense.
It helped that I had read this part in the manga as it was fairly quick in the anime. Glad I could clear that up for you.