The continuing tales of Horny Scott Pilgrim™ and his band of nutters is turning out...to be a very good time? There's some growing pains still - Denji's constant boob dialogue gets a little one-note during the opening chapters, and as much as I respect the shit out of Fujimoto's decision to

Spoiler

kill Bat

in about 10 pages (take note, every other Shonen Manga), there's a definite sense of anticlimax to the fight.

So why oh why does this rough-around-the-edges manga have me so intrigued to keep going? We're getting to the heart of some very typical Shonen elements now by introducing the guild of devil hunters, and yet very little here feels rote. Denji's existential despair at discovering that touching boobs makes for an unfulfilling primary motivation is a nice self-aware progression of his character. It lessens the stupidity of his aggressive horniness by suggesting that maybe, just maybe, Fujimoto knows what he's doing. But right now, it's the other characters that are really bringing Chainsaw Man to life. Power is a terrific spin on the Asuka-esque rebellious archetype, Makima continues to be ethereal and domineering in a way that makes her a very eerie threat (to the reader, at least), and the rest of the gang - nuts though they may be - crackle with energy. I don't know if I can say for definite that Volume 2 makes enormous strides over the first Volume in terms of raw quality, but I left it more excited than ever about the future of this series. That has to speak for something.

The story has begun to develop a bit more. I think Power is my favorite character, she is hilarious, and really doesn't give AF. Her backstory is also interesting.

This still hasn't given a firm idea where the series is going, but there is at least an overarching enemy being searched for which is interesting.

I plan to keep reading there is enough here that I am sold.

So this volume felt messier and like a gore-for-the-sake-of-gore type manga. I really enjoyed Denji's backstory in the first volume, but now he's overshadowed by a myriad of new characters.



Character introduction

Like Bleach, it can be tough to keep up with the characters in the beginning - but the stark difference here is that Chainsaw Man decided to blast about five characters' backstories with a blunderbuss at the reader at the same time.



Even though I enjoy the new motley bunch, I'm really not that emotionally invested in them versus the kids from Promised Neverland, where I wanted to keep the main cast safe as a Mamma Bear from the beginning.

Style, Contrast and Individuality

The art style is acceptable and clean, but lacks anything that stands out as memorable. I feel as if the mangaka was going for a Soul Eater-type style, but the emotions plastered on their faces are lacklustre. Here's a shot from the manga versus a shot from Bleach:





So make up your own minds on stylisation there.

The story and plot

These are...okay, The plot is still only a foundation with no structure, but the story has progressed. Denji now works with other agents in killing demons, and the action is fun to scroll through. The character development complements the story arc. As usual fan service always grates at my eyes. I want stories, not boobs.

An okay read - it was perfect for me since I was emotionally and physically exhausted and didn't have to do much thinking.

P.S. One scary fact is this manga went all Corona virus on our asses



Edit: Format

I don’t have much to say but this series is super cute and I really am enjoying it. I already have the remaining volumes that have been published already.

4.5☆

This story is so unhinged, I am loving it. Very intrigued by Aki's backstory