Chainsaw Man Chapter 223 Manga Review

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While Chainsaw Man is often categorized as a shonen battle manga, it’s never really focused on typical fight scenes. The series uniquely mixes drama, horror, comedy, and action, often turning shonen tropes on their head. However, with Chapter 223, “Ultimate Armor,” it’s become clear that the final battle of Part 2 is the most traditionally shonen-style fight Chainsaw Man has presented so far.

Yoru’s recent power increase is so significant that even Pochita couldn’t win against her. The only way for Chainsaw Man to defeat the War Devil is for Denji and Pochita to fully merge, creating a new form called “Denji Man.” Chapter 223 of Chainsaw Man showcases this transformation for the first time, marking a small advancement in the story but a massive increase in the overall power level.

Fujimoto Reveals The First Look at Denji’s New Chainsaw Man Transformation

Chapter 223 of Chainsaw Man continues the story immediately after the major revelation from the previous chapter. We get the clearest view yet of Denji’s transformed appearance, though fans still haven’t seen everything. The chapter focuses on Yoru’s shocked reaction to discovering that Denji’s new form is red.

The new Denji Man form appears to share the red color scheme of Denji’s original Chainsaw Devil transformation, unlike the all-black look of Pochita. Looking back, this is a great addition. While the new armor and extra eyes on Denji Man are neat, they didn’t quite make this form stand out from Pochita’s simpler design. The red coloring is exactly what Denji Man needed to improve his appearance, though unfortunately, fans will have to visualize it until Fujimoto releases a full-color image.

This chapter highlights not only Denji’s new appearance, but also his ability to control Pochita’s powers, which adds a refreshing dynamic to the fight scenes. Fujimoto skillfully balances the intense action with more subtle moments, making this battle feel truly unique and impactful.

Okay, so Chapter 223 of Chainsaw Man… it wasn’t perfect, the humor felt a little off and the tension between Asa and Yoru hasn’t quite peaked yet. But honestly? It feels like a huge step forward in making the fight between Chainsaw Man and Yoru truly feel like the epic finale to Part 2! You know what was missing this whole time? It seems like all we needed was Denji back in the mix. It just clicked!

Denji Weaponizes The Power of Friendship Against War

When Denji gains control of Pochita’s power, the battle quickly shifts in his favor. Although he often seems clueless and childish, Denji is actually quite intelligent, particularly when fighting for his life. In chapter 223 of Chainsaw Man, Denji uses his supposed “genius brain” to take advantage of Yoru’s biggest flaw: her strong desire for companionship and friendship.

Yoru often acts like a cruel, war-loving character, but she’s always had a hidden compassionate side – that’s what made her so interesting. This kindness was especially clear during her first battle with Pochita in Chainsaw Man Chapter 176, when she received her Tank and Gun gauntlets. Even though she considered her creations her possessions, Yoru initially struggled with the idea of using them as weapons.

Yoru later told Pochita that unlike her, he hadn’t learned to rely on others, and she now considered other Devils like family. Denji quickly understood this newfound compassion was Yoru’s vulnerability, and he exploited it by binding many of her closest allies to himself as a sort of protective shield. Even now, Yoru doesn’t realize that her understanding of friendship stems from her time sharing a body and feelings with Asa. Despite still acting like a Devil, Yoru’s weakness is a result of the human side she’s developed as Asa’s host.

It’s notable that Yoru criticizes Denji’s fighting style as “unfair,” considering the terrible things she’s already done in the fight. This mirrors the idea of “war crimes” – even though war involves violence, there are still rules countries try to follow to maintain a semblance of order. This hypocrisy is actually the War Devil’s biggest flaw. It’s clever writing that keeps the chaotic battle feeling grounded and consistent with the story.

Yoru’s New Moon Weapon Pushes The Limit on Chainsaw Man Powerscaling

When Denji tries to connect with Yoru by asking if she feels pain, the story seems to be heading in a familiar direction for shonen manga—appealing to the villain’s emotions is a common tactic. However, the author, Fujimoto, isn’t abandoning the series’ signature weirdness, which is clear from the increasingly over-the-top power levels we’re seeing in this fight.

The latest chapter of Chainsaw Man, number 223, ends with a massive cliffhanger. After getting upset with how Denji is treating her friends, Yoru launches an incredibly powerful attack—even stronger than her Nuclear Punch. The chapter’s final image shows a crack appearing on the moon, right next to the American flag planted during the 1969 moon landing.

Okay, so everyone always debates the moon landing, but in the world of Chainsaw Man, it’s totally confirmed—and it’s a huge problem for Denji! Apparently, because America planted a flag on the moon, and Yoru sees herself as the owner of America because of its history of war, she now thinks she owns the moon too! This means her next attack is almost guaranteed to be a Moon Sword, and that’s going to send Chainsaw Man into space – something we haven’t seen since Pochita launched his heart from orbit way back in Part 1. The series has already gotten incredibly epic, reaching cosmic levels, but honestly, I don’t think we’ve even seen the peak of what it can do yet!

Fujimoto Uses Chainsaw Man to Perfectly Parody Classic Powerscaling Tropes

Chapter 223 of Chainsaw Man, titled “Ultimate Armor,” feels like a classic setup for author Fujimoto to twist familiar shonen manga conventions. The current battle has already become a humorous exaggeration of escalating power levels with Yoru’s immense strength, and it now appears to be building towards a commentary on the “power of friendship.” However, Chainsaw Man is also known for its honest portrayal of human feelings, so any take on friendship tropes will likely be complex and nuanced.

Yoru often criticized Pochita for fighting battles alone, pointing out that she had teammates to depend on. However, Pochita’s decision to let Denji take control shows she’s learned to rely on others too. This makes their fight a meaningful turning point for Pochita’s character. She’s usually been a supporting figure in the story, sometimes feeling more like a plot device than a fully developed character, and this moment allows her to truly grow.

From the beginning, Chainsaw Man has been a story about the power of friendship, starting with the connection between Denji and Pochita. The author, along with other popular manga creators, is known for twisting familiar story elements. While Chainsaw Man often feels like it breaks the mold, chapter 223 shows that it actually relies on many classic themes found in traditional shonen manga.

It’s actually a good thing these stories still connect with people decades later. They tap into core truths about what it means to be human, and that’s exactly what Fujimoto aims for with Chainsaw Man. Even with all the wild battles, Chainsaw Man remains a deeply human story.

You can currently read the Chainsaw Man manga on Viz Media, Manga Plus, and the Shonen Jump app.

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2025-12-16 23:09