Introduction Arc
Chapters 1-4 / Denji Becomes Chainsaw Man
| Arc Overview | |
|---|---|
| Chapters | 1 - 4 |
| New Characters | Denji, Pochita, Makima, Aki Hayakawa |
| Antagonist | Zombie Devil (Yakuza-controlled) |
| Key Event | Denji merges with Pochita, joins Public Safety |
| Tone | Dark comedy, body horror, introduction |
| Part | Part 1: Public Safety Saga |
Last updated: 2026-06-03
Arc Summary
The Introduction Arc covers Chapters 1 through 4 of Chainsaw Man, establishing the series' dark tone and introducing its protagonist, Denji. Orphaned as a child and saddled with his deceased father's massive debt to the yakuza, Denji lives in abject poverty with his only companion: Pochita, the Chainsaw Devil. Together they hunt lesser devils for meager payments. Denji has sold his right eye, one kidney, and one testicle just to survive, eating nothing but bread scraps while dreaming of a normal life.
The yakuza, seeking greater power, makes a contract with the Zombie Devil. They betray Denji, dismembering him and dumping his remains in a dumpster. Pochita, in a dying act of love, fuses with Denji's heart, granting him the power to become Chainsaw Man with the condition that Denji shows Pochita his dreams. Denji rises from the dumpster, pulls the cord emerging from his chest, and transforms into the chainsaw-headed hybrid. He massacres the Zombie Devil and its army in one of manga's most visceral debut scenes.
Meeting Makima and Joining Public Safety
After dispatching the zombies, Denji encounters Makima, a high-ranking officer of the Public Safety Devil Hunters. Rather than eliminating him as a devil, Makima offers him a choice: die as a devil or live as her "dog." Denji accepts the latter, joining Public Safety's Experimental Division 4. This seemingly simple choice sets the entire series' tragic trajectory in motion.
Makima assigns Denji to partner with Aki Hayakawa, a stoic and serious devil hunter who initially despises Denji's crude and simplistic motivations. Their dynamic, the professional who lost his family to devils versus the hybrid who became one to survive, forms one of the series' core relationships. The arc ends with Denji taking his first official mission, establishing the pattern of devil hunting that defines the early series.
Key Events and Setup
This arc masterfully introduces the series' core themes: the commodification of human life under capitalism, the transactional nature of relationships, and the blurred line between human and devil. Denji's motivations are deliberately simple: he wants to eat good food, sleep in a bed, and touch a woman's chest. This mundane dream, in a world of apocalyptic devils and government conspiracies, makes him one of shonen manga's most unique protagonists. The arc also introduces the concept of devil contracts, the Public Safety organization, and the series' signature blend of ultraviolence and emotional sincerity.
