Following 2022's hugely popular anime, many new fans are turning to the Chainsaw Man manga. If that’s you, we’re here to explain if Chainsaw Man’s manga is finished or ongoing so you know what to expect.
First published in 2018, Chainsaw Man has developed a huge following in Japan and abroad thanks to gore-filled action and quirky characters.
However, Tatsuki Fujimoto has also created an unusual narrative, which makes the series' status a little more complicated.
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Is Chainsaw Man Over? Latest Status
The Chainsaw Man manga is currently ongoing, but it's a bit different to your average manga serialization.
So far, Chainsaw Man's manga has been split into two distinct 'parts', each with a largely different cast.
Chainsaw Man Part 1, starring Denji, concluded after 97 chapters in December 2020. Part 2, the beginning of which is promoted in the trailer above, commenced in July 2022 and is ongoing, with around 50 chapters published.
Currently, the Chainsaw Man manga's release schedule can vary. Usually, chapters are released weekly, but every so often, there will be a two-week break. A potential reason for that is explained below.
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Was Chainsaw Man’s Manga Actually Finished With Part 1?
For some fans, Chainsaw Man felt finished at the end of Part 1, and the second part is more akin to a sequel, with a new protagonist in Asa and a different setting.
The first part is certainly enough of a completed story and will be what the Chainsaw Man anime focuses on covering for a long while.
However, Tatsuki Fujimoto revealed in an interview with BFMTV (in French) in March 2022 that he had the second part planned from the end of the first, so Part 2 can legitimately be classed as a continuation of the story.
Also, while Asa stars at the beginning of Part 2, Denji becomes increasingly involved as the story progresses, at times taking over as the main protagonist.
So, if Part 2 was planned as a continuation of the story, why the long break between the end of Part 1 and the start of Part 2?
In the aforementioned interview, Fujimoto mentions the stress of producing a weekly series, and how much he wanted to work on one-shots, a format in which he is notoriously skilled.
After Chainsaw Man Part 1 concluded, Fujimoto produced two hugely successful one-shots: Look Back and Goodbye, Eri.
There was also new Chainsaw Man content between Part 1 and Part 2. A full-colour version of the manga was released, while Fujimoto also provided art for a light novel spin-off – Chainsaw Man: Buddy Stories.
Perhaps Fujimoto always had the next part of the manga in his mind, but as a mangaka exploring his craft – Chainsaw Man was only his second serialization – he maybe felt it important to step away and rediscover his inspiration through different stories.
Now refreshed after successful one-shots, Fujimoto is ready to put his ideas into the world of Chainsaw Man once more!
Discover: Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Best Manga, Ranked
When Might Chainsaw Man Come to an End?
It's unlikely that Chainsaw Man will end anytime soon. Part 2 has felt like a slow burn, and while a potential ending can now be envisaged, it feels like there's a lot of development needed to actually reach that point.
Right now, we can only speculate on how long Chainsaw Man has left to run based on Fujimoto's past work.
Considering that Fujimoto's previous weekly serializations – Part 1 and Fire Punch – both ran for around 80-100 chapters, Chainsaw Man Part 2 may only be just beyond the halfway mark.
If Fujimoto continues to release Chainsaw Man on a weekly release schedule, and his latest story runs for a similar length as his previous, that means Chainsaw Man Part 2 should end at some point in 2024.
Beyond that, however, who really knows? There could be much more Chainsaw Man to explore yet!
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