From comedy to cringe: Has Chainsaw Man lost the balance with Denji’s pervy antics?

Few manga walk the razor’s edge between raw brutality, pitch-black comedy, and heartbreaking sincerity quite like Chainsaw Man. Tatsuki Fujimoto has always written Denji as a mess of contradictions: a boy raised in poverty and abuse who still chases the simplest human pleasures. It’s what makes him feel real.

But in recent chapters of Part 2, particularly around Chapters 211 and 212, fans have begun to wonder if Fujimoto has pushed Denji’s “pervy antics” too far. When a chapter is half dedicated to underwear gags and the next ends with Denji having indecent thoughts, the question arises: has Chainsaw Man lost its delicate balance between comedy, tragedy, and horror? Or are these moments, uncomfortable as they may be, still serving Fujimoto’s larger thematic goals?

From the start, Denji’s immaturity has been central to his character. Chainsaw Man: Part 1 introduced him as a boy whose dreams extended no further than eating toast with jam and maybe being in a relationship.

The comedy worked because it contrasted so violently with the bloody horror unfolding around him. Denji could be fighting for his life against Katana Man one moment, then celebrating afterward because he finally got a kiss.

This constant swing between absurdity and brutality made Chainsaw Man stand out. The “pervy” jokes weren’t just cheap gags, as they highlighted how stunted Denji was as a person.

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Why Chainsaw Man: Part 2 feels different

Fast forward to Chainsaw Man Part 2, and the tone has shifted. Denji is older, a pseudo-parent to Nayuta, and thrust into the strange push-and-pull of his relationship with Asa/Yoru. But his desires haven’t matured at the same pace.

Chapter 211 dedicates nearly half its length to Denji gawking at Asa’s panties. Then Chapter 212 closes with him wanting to continue having mature thoughts. On paper, this is consistent with his character; he’s always been driven by hormones and bodily instincts. But in practice, these sequences feel heavier, less comedic, and more frustrating to some readers.

Why? A few reasons:

1. Repetition without escalation – In Part 1, every “pervy joke” escalated or twisted the narrative. Him getting his first kiss was immediately undercut by vomit. His dream of touching a woman was manipulated by Makima. Each joke had consequences. In Part 2, the gags sometimes just sit there.
2. Clash with darker themes – Part 2 has leaned harder into themes of manipulation, grooming, and exploitation. Multiple female characters use Denji’s desires against him. When you frame his immaturity within those contexts, it’s less “ha-ha funny” and more “deeply uncomfortable.”
3. Reader fatigue – Few readers have started to feel like the joke has been played out, so it’s not funny anymore. Denji gawking at women made sense when he was 16 and newly experiencing freedom. But when entire short chapters, already limited in length, spend half their pages on gags, it feels like the narrative momentum stalls.

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The case for not changing Denji

On the flip side, there’s a strong argument that Denji shouldn’t change too much. His entire character arc is about resisting the roles people try to force onto him. He’s been a dog for Makima, a hero for Public Safety, a father for Nayuta, and now a pawn for Asa/Yoru. But at the core, he insists on living life for his own simple desires.

If Denji suddenly matured into a responsible, thoughtful young man, would he still be Denji? Or would that betray the point of his character, that even in a world of devils and death, sometimes all a boy wants is to hold a girl’s hand and live a stupidly normal life?

In this light, the cringe-inducing moments aren’t a failure. They’re a stubborn reminder that Denji will always be Denji, no matter how much the story around him changes.

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Why fans are calling for a time skip for Chainsaw Man

One of the most common fan suggestions has been just time skip. Push Denji forward a few years so his immaturity doesn’t feel so stagnant. Give him growth without erasing his flaws.

It’s not an unreasonable request. Chainsaw Man thrives when it evolves. Part 1 went from street-level Devil fights to cosmic battles about control and destiny. Part 2 has introduced high school life, political intrigue, and philosophical dilemmas. But Denji himself risks becoming static if his horniness remains the only consistent note being hit.

A time skip could let Fujimoto explore Denji’s desires in more mature, nuanced ways, showing how trauma and lust evolve with age, rather than recycling the same gag.