This article contains spoilers for Chainsaw ManBased on a manga of the same name, written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto, Chainsaw Man is a shonen anime that premiered in October, and was one of the most anticipated anime of 2022. With outstanding voiceovers, visually aesthetic scenes, and fighting sequences, fans have been at the edge of their seats waiting for the newest episodes to drop. The series follows Denji, an impoverished young boy, who makes a deal with Pochita, the Chainsaw Devil, which allows him the ability to transform certain parts of his body into chainsaws. Eventually, Denji joins a government agency called the Public Safety Devil Hunters, which fights devils to protect the world. Makima is the main antagonist that Denji has to face during the Public Safety Saga. Yet this hasn’t stopped fans from obsessing over Makima. So, who exactly is Makima? What powers does she hold? And what exactly is her true motive? Let’s take a closer look.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Who Exactly is Makima?
Media LinkCrunchyroll
Makima’s first appearance in Chainsaw Man is quite misleading. She appears as a beautiful woman in her mid-twenties with light red hair. Through her first interaction with Denji, it seems that she’s gentle, caring, and friendly. In addition, from Denji’s perspective, she’s the first person to treat him with kindness and like he’s a human. She leaves so much of an impact on Denji that he immediately develops romantic feelings for her not long after their first encounter.
However, as the saying goes: “looks can be deceiving”. It is soon revealed that Makima’s kindness is only surface level. Behind the facade, she’s Machiavellian, calculating, and cunning. As a senior member of the Public Safety Devil Hunters and the leader of Tokyo Special Division 4, an experimental unit, Makima has a lot of authority. In addition, as she’s a Control Devil, which makes her the literal embodiment of control and conquest; she wields a lot of power. And she knows exactly how to use this power. She thinks of people around her as “dogs”, whom she can manipulate and use to her advantage. In addition, Makima deems herself as a “necessary evil” to justify her actions and doesn’t fret over the consequences of her actions.
What is Makima’s True Goal?
Media LinkCrunchyroll
Not long after she’s introduced, it is revealed that Makima is an extreme fan of Chainsaw Man, the “Hero of Hell”. She is fascinated by his ability to consume the embodied concept of a devil, wiping it out in the process. In addition, devils consumed by the Chainsaw Man could not be reincarnated. The Control Devil aims to control Chainsaw Man to create an ideal world without fear and death. Throughout the initial arc, she’s seen trying to manipulate Denji through promises of romance and even goes as far as threatening him with extermination for disobedience. However, it’s not Denji that she’s interested in. It’s Pochita, the Chainsaw Devil and the original Chainsaw Man, that she’s after.
Chainsaw Man was known as “The Devil that Devils fear the Most’’ due to his ability to erase devils by consuming them. Prior to becoming Denji’s heart, Pochita was a truly terrifying and powerful being. Makima believes that Denji isn’t worthy of the power he’s been granted by Pochita and simply wishes to use him to her advantage. Her ultimate goal is to lead a happy life with Pochita, which is interesting given that she’s a control Devil and is incapable of forming meaningful relationships.
Is Makima Part of the Four Horsemen?
Much like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Christian mythology, the Four Horsemen in Chainsaw Men are a group of dangerous devils. They’re the only devils in existence that remember the names of the devils that have been erased by Pochita. The group consisted of the Control Devil, War Devil, Hunger Devil, and Death Devil. Makima is already revealed as the Control Devil and the main antagonist in the first arc. Yoru is introduced as the War Devil and is the main villain that Denji faces in the second arc. So far, it seems that the Four Horsemen are the ultimate baddies that Denji has to face. Makima being part of the group just goes to show how powerful and dangerous she is.
What Abilities Does Makima Possess?
Much like the other devils, Makima possesses common abilities such as regeneration, super strength, and the ability to form contracts with humans. However, Makima is no ordinary devil; she’s a Control Devil and a part of the Four Horsemen, meaning she’s incredibly powerful. In addition to the common abilities, Makima has some abilities that are unique to her alone. Perhaps her most iconic of powers is her ability to control and command, which is very much in tune with her character, with her being the Control Devil and all. Her ability allows her to control not only animals but also humans. It allows her to manipulate humans into forming devil contracts with her. Manipulation is another one of her abilities, through which she forced her former enemies to become friendlier towards her. Her ability to control goes as far as allowing her to control even the dead. In addition, she has the ability to steal the powers of other devils and attack others using invisible force, making her quite a force to reckon with.
What is Makima’s Weakness?
What makes Makima truly frightening in the series is that she’s practically undefeatable. Her contract with the Prime Minister of Japan makes it almost impossible to kill her. As per the contract, Makima works for the government and in return, any fatal damage done to her body is transmitted to random Japanese citizens. In one particular scene, she’s shown to have been hit by a bullet in the head but instantly stands up with no visible wounds. Prior to the attack on the Gun Devil, it’s been revealed that she’s been killed twenty-six times and still managed to survive each attempt. However, Denji is able to defeat her when he discovers that Makima is able to recognize people by their scents; only Makima had only memorized the scents of people she was interested in. As she did not remember Denji’s scent, he’s able to ambush her and eventually consume her. Denji’s act of cannibalism was less of an attack, and more of an act of love, where he becomes “one with her”. Thus, bypassing the conditions of the contract she had made with the Prime Minister.
Does Makima Die?
In Chapter 97 of the manga, Pochita and Denji are able to defeat and kill Makima. Many believed that this would be the last of the Control Devils. However, that’s not the case. Only devils that are consumed by Pochita are erased and prevented from reincarnation. The Control Devil is saved from this fate as it is Denji who consumes her and not Pochita. She is reincarnated as a young Chinese girl named Nayuta. Unlike Makima, Nayuta seems to have no apparent bad intentions, which saves her from being a threat to Denji and Pochita.
