Makima vs. Asa: Chainsaw Man fans say there’s no contest 

When I think about Chainsaw Man, the first thing that comes to my mind is not the blood, chaos, or the devil. I think about Denji, a boy who simply wanted a normal life, jam on his toast, a warm bed, and someone to love him without strings attached. And while he did get to live out parts of that dream, it was twisted and used against him.

That’s why, from the very beginning, Makima stood out to me not just as a villain, but as the embodiment of manipulation itself. Every time Makima wanted something from Denji, she would dangle happiness in front of Denji, only to rip it away the moment he reached for it. Her presence was frightening in all of Part 1.

Then came Asa Mitaka in Part 2, and I’ll admit, I had hope. She wasn’t Makima. She was awkward, flawed, and angry in a human way. She didn’t seem like someone with an agenda. And yet, now, as the story progresses, I can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. The way she talks to Denji. The choices she’s made. The devil inside her, Yoru, was whispering threats and demands.

While Makima is definitely gone, Asa might just be the new storm that Denji can’t escape. There’s no contest anymore; Makima and Asa, in their own twisted ways, are two sides of the same coin. And poor Denji might never catch a break. With this, I do not wish to imply that all women in Chainsaw Man are evil. But it’s hard not to notice a pattern with Denji.

Denji is not a traditional shonen protagonist. He doesn’t have a noble dream or an unshakeable sense of justice. His goals are embarrassingly simple. A sandwich. A kiss. A place to belong. That’s what makes his suffering so hard to watch. Because every time he thinks he’s found that, it turns out to be another trap.

Because Makima’s actions were so extreme and unforgettable, I feel many fans are still skeptical of putting Asa on the same pedestal as her. But if you spend any time in Chainsaw Man forums, you’ll see a growing consensus: Asa is becoming Makima 2.0. Maybe not in power, but definitely in impact.

In my opinion, their methods are different. Makima was the cold, godlike overseer. Asa is more insecure, conflicted, and emotional. But the result is the same. The main character, Denji, in Chainsaw Man, always gets hurt.

Some fans even argue that Asa is worse because she had the chance to be different. She knew what it felt like to be alone, hated, and misunderstood. She had the capacity for empathy. And still, she chose to weaponize Denji.

Comparing Makima with Asa in depth in Chainsaw Man

Without any sugarcoating, I am aware that Makima was terrifying because she understood Denji in ways even he didn’t understand himself. She knew exactly what he craved: affection, purpose, and family. And she weaponized every part of it.

Meanwhile, when Asa Mitaka entered the story in Part 2 of Chainsaw Man, she felt like a breath of fresh air, but as Asa and Yoru became more aligned, or rather, as their goals started to converge, it started to feel eerily familiar.

Where Makima controlled Denji through affection and dominance, Asa manipulates through moral superiority and pity. And I’m not even sure which is worse. Because at least Makima was honest about the leash she kept Denji on. Asa pretends it’s not a leash at all.

Final Thoughts

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At this point, I don’t think Denji will ever know peace. Not because he doesn’t deserve it, but because the world of Chainsaw Man won’t let him have it. Whether it’s devils, manipulative companions, or his own trauma, there’s always something waiting to drag him back down.

Makima may be dead, but her ghost haunts the narrative in more ways than one. Asa was supposed to be a new beginning, but she’s turning out to be another false promise. Another beautiful lie. When I say that there is no contest between these two characters, what I mean is that both of them are nightmares dressed as dreams.

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