Chainsaw Man vol. 7

Denji has survived his encounter with the Bomb Devil and is still dealing with the heartbreak from it when this volume opens.  So it’s a good thing that Makima is on hand to offer to take a trip with him, Aki, and Power to Enoshima.  At least, that was the plan until news of the Chainsaw Devil’s existence is broadcast around the world on the news.  Now every nation (and by “every” I mean America, China, and Germany) wants him for their own — or just to keep him out of Makima’s hands.  This leads to Denji getting his own personal guard, who are determined to keep him alive no matter what.  It’s a major bummer for our protagonist.  Until Aki reminds him that the trip to Enoshima hasn’t been cancelled, just postponed.  Which means that the trip will be back on if Denji can just kill all of the people coming to get him!

For a series that thrives on finding creative things for its cast to murder (and be murdered by), the Devil Hunters we encounter are kind of a mixed bunch.  America has a backwoods trio of brothers, China has a swordswoman with some “friends” (who will likely become very popular once the anime arrives) and Germany has Santa Claus.  He’s not named for his “jolly old elf” looks, but for the fact that he likes kids.  Seven volumes in and it should be clear to all by now that mangaka Tatsuki Fujimoto has the series’ formula well in hand here.  We get some well-executed action scenes and some darkly comic and/or cynical dialogue to punctuate things.  It’s all still working for me.

There are, however, a couple of standout moments in this volume.  The less said about the first, the better, since the person it happens to doesn’t see it coming either.  The second is much more interesting in terms of the overall plot.  Let’s just say that “Mad Dog” Kishibe is really keen on biting the hand that feeds him.  That’s probably not a good idea, given that we’ve seen what those hands are capable of doing.  Though, any guy who is capable of reining in both Denji and Power probably has a fighting chance achieving his goals.  Probably.