Gun Devil: Gun Devil may return to Chainsaw Man but not in the way fans expect

Gun Devil may return to Chainsaw Man but not in the way fans expect

Modified Aug 04, 2024 13:30 GMT

Gun Devil (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto, Viz Media)

Initially, Chainsaw Man focused heavily on the immensely powerful and terrifying Gun Devil. Nearly every Public Safety Devil Hunter wanted to be credited with taking it down. Aki Hayakawa had pledged to kill it given what it had done to him and Makima lured Denji into this as well, promising to grant him a wish if he managed to kill the Gun Devil.

However, as the series progressed, it was gradually revealed that the Gun Devil could not be truly killed. Moreover, with it scattered across the world, it continued to exist. In the Gun Devil Arc, Aki becomes the Gun Fiend and ends up in a tussle with Denji.

The latter managed to win but the battle left an everlasting impression on his already damaged psyche. Now, about 172 chapters in, the Gun Devil may make a return but in an unexpected fashion.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

Chainsaw Man: The Gun Devil could return, but in an unlikely manner

Gun Fiend (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto, Viz Media)

The last major appearance of the Gun Devil came during the Gun Devil Arc in Chainsaw Man. As revealed previously, parts of the Devil were scattered throughout the world, i.e., 20% were in America's hands, 28% with the Soviets, 11% possessed by China, 4% by other countries and the remaining 37% were held by Devils as flesh pieces.

The President of America contracted with America's 20% to kill Makima, thus summoning the fearsome creature. After a failed attempt at killing Makima, the Gun Devil's remnants possessed the corpse of Aki Hayakawa and they became the Gun Fiend. Denji then engaged in an intense battle with it.

This is where the theory weaves in. As Denji fought the Gun Fiend/Aki, author Tatsuki Fujimoto likened it to a snowball fight between Kid Aki and Kid Denji. The pair engaged in a bloody and destructive battle as simultaneously their child versions threw snowballs at each other. The entire scene showed that Denji was holding back massively before finally delivering a killing blow.

Chainsaw Man vs Gun Fiend (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto, Viz Media)

The theory mentioned here states that we might just see the Gun Devil again, but not as a threat, but rather as a painful reminder to Denji. In a series of shocking events, Aki was the one to become the Gun Fiend and as predicted by Future Devil, died at Denji's hands.

At the other end, Denji had to destroy something that he held so dear. Aki and Power were like family to him. Despite whatever they had been through, the trio always stuck together. Having to destroy a part of that "ripped" out Denji's heart. As seen in the chapter, he was trying his hardest to wake Aki up until he had no choice.

So, if and when the Gun Devil returns, Denji will likely have an agonizing flashback. Moreover, following the Gun Devil Arc, there is no confirmed information on the other bits of the Gun Devil. With the fear of guns being universal, the Gun Devil can likely never truly die unless consumed by Chainsaw Man.

Final Thoughts

Makima (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto, Viz Media)

Considering how far we have progressed in the story, the scales tip towards the unlikelihood of the Gun Devil making a return. The above-mentioned points fuel a theory which further enforces this statement, that in the event the Gun Devil does return, it will be more to haunt Denji than to cause a real threat.

This is not to say that the Gun Devil was harmless. It did cause widespread destruction and even against Makima, laid waste in a part of Japan. But then again, the purpose of the Gun Devil was probably to create a typical Shonen villain, with the twist being that it died immediately.

Whatever the case may be, these are just speculations that will receive answers with time as each chapter is released.