Chainsaw Man: Is Makima evil or good? Explored

Makima appeared in Part 1 of the Chainsaw Man series, and her introduction in the story made fans hopeful about Denji’s future. An air of mystery cloaked her, calmness spread from her, and she wielded power. She came into the protagonist's life and presented him with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but as the story progressed, something about her felt wrong. The readers began questioning her character: Is Makima good, or is she the real villain of the story?

Initially, from her first impression, Makima was portrayed as morally ambiguous at best, but later it is revealed that she is pure evil in Chainsaw Man. Her character introduction can be described as perfect misdirection.

Because she saved Denji and is framed as almost divine, she pulls him out of hell and into society. Denji, who has never known kindness, becomes obsessed with her. And honestly, so do the readers.

In addition, she appeared to have everything under control in a world that was constantly spiraling into chaos; no one doubted her for the longest time. But there were subtle red flags that should have started raising doubts, especially as Makima starts showing signs of manipulative behavior.

Denji was offered faux freedom. Makima managed his housing, his chance at affection, and his sense of purpose. She also treated him like a dog and viewed him as a lesser being. Denji is so emotionally starved that he isn't able to see the red flags. And to be fair, neither did many of the fans.

Makima is ultimately revealed to be the Control Devil, one of the primal fears that embody humanity’s deepest psychological terrors. She doesn’t just want peace, she wants obedience. The peace she offers is not liberation but submission. And she does this all under the mask of being composed and righteous.

Fans were horrified to realize that they, like Denji, had been charmed by a monster. And that’s the genius of Fujimoto’s writing: he made us complicit. He made us feel what Denji felt. Makima’s eventual exposure wasn’t just a plot twist; it was an emotional gut punch.

Makima’s actions in Chainsaw Man were all over the place

To make things complicated, her actions in Chainsaw Man were all over the place. Makima believed that peace could be achieved only by controlling humanity, and her actions depicted her belief. This twisted logic makes her one of the most compelling antagonists in modern manga.

The reason why it was difficult to determine whether she was for or against evil was that her actions were not from a personal vendetta. She wanted to create a world without war, fear, or chaos. But in trying to remove pain, she also removed freedom. She dehumanized people into pawns.

And in the path of her achieving the goal, Denji was placed in the middle of the crossfire. Denji was not just her tool; he was her toy. She needed his Chainsaw Man form to erase devils and remake the world, but to make him compliant, she broke his spirit. She created false hope, fake affection, and conditional love. That’s emotional abuse at its worst.

Final thoughts

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Makima in Chainsaw Man was not just plain evil; she was rotten to the core. At first, fans admired her. She was cool, confident, and competent. Many even shipped her with Denji, not realizing how dark the dynamic truly was.

Makima is one of the most iconic antagonists in recent anime and manga for a reason. She left a scar on Denji’s soul and the fans. She took the promise of love and used it as a weapon. Her legacy isn’t just in her crimes, but in the way she exposed the vulnerabilities of those around her.

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