Chainsaw Man Chapter 221 Manga Review

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Tatsuki Fujimoto is on a winning streak! Following the huge success of Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc in theaters around the world, the film is now a contender for an Oscar nomination. It’s ironic, then, that the latest chapter of the Chainsaw Man manga, Chapter 221, titled “Safe Battle,” explores a situation where no one actually wins.

The final fight between Yoru and Pochita is getting more and more extreme. Yoru has already shown incredible power, like forming a sword out of the entire state of Michigan in Chainsaw Man Chapter 221. However, none of these abilities seem to matter anymore, because the idea of death itself has been removed, making even the War Devil’s most powerful attacks ineffective.

Chainsaw Man’s Final Battle Puts America to Good Use

Chapter 221 of Chainsaw Man begins with a weapon quickly shrinking down, and it’s revealed to be Yoru’s new Oregon Sword. The previous chapter ended with Yoru trying to create a Michigan Sword using the powers of Michigan, but chapter 221 doesn’t actually show the completed Michigan Sword.

Fujimoto might have simply made a mistake and intended to create a sword from Oregon, not Michigan, especially since we never see what the Michigan Sword actually does. Even if the Michigan Sword existed, it probably wouldn’t have been much different from the Oregon Sword, which is just the word “Oregon” appearing on a sword with “USA” written on the handle, so fans likely didn’t miss out on anything significant by not seeing it.

It’s amusing to see Yoru with the “Oregon” design, but it feels a little bland. It would have been more interesting if the design included something connected to Oregon itself, like a famous landmark. Hopefully, the colored version of the manga will use the blue and gold from the Oregon state flag.

Yoru doesn’t limit her powers to weapons based on single states in Chainsaw Man 221. After using the Oregon Sword, she draws on the energy of Virginia, unleashing a potentially devastating new attack called Nuclear Punch. This makes sense, as Virginia is a state with a strong history in nuclear power – it was home to the very first nuclear power plant, built in 1957. It appears the author, Fujimoto, did some research into American history and economics for this part of the story, and it’s creating some compelling possibilities.

Eating the Death Devil Made It Impossible for Yoru to Beat Pochita

Despite ongoing criticism, Chainsaw Man remains funny. The character Fumiko is a running joke, while Yoru continues to gain power by draining the life force of Americans – a tactic that now allows her to be present in almost every state.

When Yoru wipes out Oregon’s population to fuel her abilities, Fumiko’s reaction feels like a playful nod to the audience, acknowledging how over-the-top this battle has become. Having Fumiko observing events worldwide is a clever storytelling technique, offering a more realistic perspective on what is arguably the largest Devil battle in Chainsaw Man history. As she previously documented Michigan’s erasure, it’s great that Fumiko continues to be involved, and hopefully the story finds more inventive ways to utilize her role.

Beyond Yoru gaining more power, the most significant development in Chainsaw Man Chapter 221 is finally explaining what happened to the Death Devil. Eliminating death was always part of Yoru’s scheme to create a world of constant fighting, but Pochita acted on it prematurely. In Chapter 219, Yoru even told Pochita it wasn’t the right time, when he first consumed Lil D. Yoru worried in Chapter 219 that without Death existing, they wouldn’t be able to determine who was the stronger of the two.

The latest episode of Chainsaw Man reveals why Pochita’s concerns were valid. When Yoru slices Pochita in half with her powerful Oregon Sword, she believes she’s won, but Pochita instantly recovers. While Pochita has always been able to heal quickly, usually an attack like that would require him to consume blood to fully recover. However, because of Death’s influence, no one can permanently die, which explains why Yoru’s attacks can’t truly destroy Pochita.

The idea that neither character can truly die has made the final fight in Chainsaw Man surprisingly harmless, which fits with the title of Chapter 221. Because Pochita and Yoru are both immortal, their battle feels a bit meaningless overall. As Yoru points out, it’s as if there’s no real ending or stakes to their fight anymore!

Chainsaw Man 221 Teases the Real Impact of Lil D’s Death

The battle between Pochita and Yoru could potentially last forever, but it’s visually stunning while it happens. The artwork in this chapter is exceptional, with several large panels beautifully showcasing the fast-paced action. Despite the incredible scale of the fight, the artist effectively portrays its immensity by alternating between wide shots of the city and close-ups of the powerful blows exchanged between the two devils.

In the final moments of Chapter 221, Yoru unleashes her most powerful attack, the Nuclear Punch, on Pochita. However, the story hints that the damage from such a powerful blast might not be as devastating as expected. It seems likely that no one will be killed, though this doesn’t mean the situation is without danger or consequence.

It was always expected that even without death, war would still cause suffering. While people might not die from Yoru’s attacks, they could be left with terrible, lasting injuries. Someone who survives being cut in half, for example, would be in immense pain, and conflict could quickly become even more brutal in a world where no one can truly die.

Chainsaw Man’s Breakneck Pacing Makes Manga Break Weeks Hit Even Harder

The conflict between Yoru and Pochita might not have a clear resolution, but the current battle could lose its appeal quickly. While enjoyable so far, chapter 221 of Chainsaw Man suggests that if the fight continues at this pace for much longer, it risks becoming repetitive and boring.

After a two-week pause, the latest chapter of Chainsaw Man, number 221, didn’t deliver the big impact many fans expected. It’s a good chapter, but the wait for it felt a little long. Considering the demanding weekly schedule for manga artists like Fujimoto, a break is definitely deserved. However, with only 13 pages and minimal dialogue, this chapter feels a bit short. On a phone or tablet, you can read the whole thing in about six swipes.

I’ve noticed the last couple of chapters felt a little flat emotionally, probably because we haven’t seen much of Asa and Denji. They usually bring a relatable, human element to even the wildest fights. This latest chapter, 221, really tried to build tension through the action alone, but it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Yoru, as a character, isn’t compelling enough to carry things on her own; she really shines when she’s interacting with Asa, providing a nice contrast.

The manga’s current pacing feels slow, largely because its chapters are shorter than those in most other popular action series. Issue 221 of Chainsaw Man perfectly illustrates why reading Part 2 week by week can be a struggle. Each chapter doesn’t offer enough new development to make the wait worthwhile, leading many to feel that waiting for the collected volume would be more satisfying during this storyline. And with the concept of death now removed, fans might have to wait indefinitely for this conflict to conclude.

You can read the Chainsaw Man manga on Viz Media, Manga Plus, and the Shonen Jump app. Chapter 222 is coming out on Tuesday, December 2nd.

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2025-11-26 03:12