Chainsaw Man proves Makima made Public Safety what it was yet again in chapter 172

Modified Jul 29, 2024 23:23 GMT

Chainsaw Man proves Makima made Public Safety what it was yet again in chapter 172 (Image via MAPPA Studios)

Earlier this week, fans saw author and illustrator Tatsuski Fujimoto’s flagship Chainsaw Man manga series return with one of its most highly anticipated releases of part 2 thus far. Fans were particularly excited about the issue as it would mark Pochita’s next combative encounters with Public Safety’s Special Divisions following the return of his Hero of Hell form.

Thankfully, fans did get to see Pochita wipe the floor with not just one but two full Special Divisions of Public Safety, which are elite units made up of a mix of humans, Devils, and Fiends. The Chainsaw Man manga first introduced these groups in part 1 alongside Makima, with Makima leading her own Special Division 4 throughout the first stage of the series.

Yet Chainsaw Man fans have also realized that Makima’s Special Divisions were much more effective in general, even if her iteration of Special Division 5 specifically met a similar fate against Pochita. While this is accurate, the difference lies not within each Special Division’s composition or skills, but in Makima’s presence and contributions to Public Safety, which are now absent in part 2.

Public Safety is a shell of its former self without Makima, and Chainsaw Man part 2 continues to prove it

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To establish why Makima was Public Safety’s secret sauce in Chainsaw Man part 1, a good starting point is comparing Special Division 4 to Special Divisions 5 and 6 (as seen in part 2). At its best, Special Division 4 was equal in total numbers to part 2’s Divisions 5 and 6 combined and had roughly a third of the two group’s total members at its worst.

Yet, even with lesser numbers, Special Division 4 was still seemingly able to achieve more than part 2’s Division 5 and 6. This suggests that Makima was what made the Special Divisions specifically work rather than their hybrid approach to squad building by blending human handlers with Devil and Fiend subordinates. This is further supported by the role Makima was shown to play in Special Division 4, seemingly always stepping in and saving them at the last minute.

This rings true in part 1 from the Katana Man arc onward, with Makima always seemingly having a major role that only she can play, which directly leads to Special Division 4 being saved. In the Katana Man arc, it was her confronting the Yakuza for info on Katana Man and co, while in the Bomb Girl arc, she prevented Reze from meeting with and running away from Denji. This continued in part 1’s arcs until Makima’s true identity as the Control Devil was revealed.

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Further supporting this idea of Makima being integral to Public Safety’s success is that, as of this article’s writing, she is still the only Chainsaw Man character seen interacting with Public Safety’s higher-ups. This reinforces the idea that she played a special, integral, and unique role within the organization, further supported by her contract with the Japanese government, which effectively made her immortal.

As for how the manga’s second part has proven Public Safety’s decline since Makima’s death and departure, Asa Mitaka/War Devil Yoru and Famine Devil Fami’s successful breakout of Denji is a key reference. With a very loose plan and finding an ally in Quanxi at the breakout’s final stages, they achieved what likely would’ve been impossible to do if Makima was still a part of Public Safety (even if they are two of the Four Horsemen Devils).

Chainsaw Man Church’s growth also further reinforces this, with Public Safety not doing anything about the group until it was too late. Throughout part 1, Makima was characterized as cunning, cautious, and planning to a fault when it came to dealing with her enemies. There’s little to no doubt that under her watch, the Church wouldn’t have been allowed to grow into anything close to what fans have seen it become throughout part 2’s events.

There’s also the fact that Public Safety has been generally shown to be a shell of its former self throughout part 2 in several ways. This includes the introduction of Fumiko Mifune, who is vastly inferior to prior Agents like Himeno and Aki Hayakawa in terms of skill and dedication.

With all of this in mind, it’s clear that Public Safety is struggling to find its footing without Makima by their side, emphasizing her importance to their operations.