Chainsaw Man volume 18's cover could be setting up both Nayuta and Reze's returns

Modified Jul 31, 2024 10:30 GMT

Chainswa Man: Nayuta and Reze's return is almost confirmed (Images via Studio MAPPA)

Chainsaw Man chapter 172 revealed the carnage that Denji can unleash by simply letting go and becoming the Hero of Hell. This entire transformation was a direct result of Barem presenting Denji with the supposed "proof" of Nayuta's death. A few differences between the actual face of Nayuta and the head presented in chapter 171 made many fans believe that Nayuta's death was a ploy.

Recently, a few fans noticed how the cover art of Chainsaw Man volume 18 might be foreshadowing Nayuta's survival. Although this theory has been deemed rather unlikely by the fandom, many fans have also argued that Reze's pending return and Nayuta's survival might be integral to Denji's return to humanity, especially after the events of chapter 172.

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for the Chainsaw Man series.

Chainsaw Man: Reze and Nayuta's survival is integral for Denji's own return

Nayuta as shown in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Nayuta's actual fate has been a huge point of discussion in the fandom ever since Fujimoto used her to facilitate Denji's breakdown. Although chapter 171 revealed that Nayuta was seemingly eliminated and used to bargain with Denji, this eventually led to Denji losing control and assuming his Hero of Hell form.

While Nayuta was missing in the manga for several chapters and only her head was revealed in chapter 171, many fans noticed that Nayuta's face lacked a certain mole under her left eye.

This eventually led many fans to believe that the Nayuta on display for Denji was simply a fake created to unleash the Black Chainsaw Man. Recently, the Chainsaw Man volume 18's cover art provided fuel to this theory due to its rather convenient imagery of Nayuta standing in the middle of a field while posing with a victory sign for the camera.

Chainsaw Man as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

While considering the cover art in a vacuum serves no actual purpose towards strengthening the argument of Nayuta being alive, it should be noted that combining it with brief dialogues from part 1 of the manga can actually entertain that idea. All of the devil hybrids that were once under Makima's control have returned to the story, with Barem and Katana Man taking active roles in it.

Reze being the only exception to the rule only implies that Fujimoto might be deliberately keeping Reze's status hidden for a plot point later down the line. Reze had previously mentioned that she had an arrangement that could keep Denji hidden away from the Public Safety Department in a school somewhere in Japan. While this location was not revealed, it is probable that Reze made her way to this safe house after being freed from Makima's control.

Makima as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Given the fact that Denji is very important to Reze and Nayuta being one of Denji's only anchors to a normal life, it is very possible that Reze somehow took Nayuta away to her safe house. While the imagery of the volume 18 cover art has been interpreted by many fans as a way of saying farewell to Nayuta, many other fans have also noticed how it resembles a picture that will be sent to Denji to prove Nayuta's survival and well-being.

Even Makima had mentioned how there was a farm somewhere that she visited regularly and was fond of. It is very possible that Nayuta somehow reached this farm, and the cover art is just proof of that. Denji is inarguably at his lowest point in chapter 172, with him giving up and becoming the Hero of Hell.

Reze as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

There is no longer a plot device other than his utter defeat or Nayuta's return that could bring back Denji from his Hero of Hell form. Since Reze's reintroduction in the story is almost guaranteed, it is probable that Nayuta's survival, along with Reze being alive, will be revealed simultaneously to bring Denji back to sanity.

Final Thoughts

While the theory has a mildly convincing argument behind it, all of it falls apart if Fujimoto decides to no longer bring Denji back to sanity and just have him eliminated at the hands of Asa to continue the story. The Chainsaw Man manga is currently on a break and will return on August 6, 2024, with chapter 173.