The opening chapter introduces Denji, a penniless teenager slaving to repay his dead father's debt by hunting devils alongside his chainsaw-dog Pochita. A brutal betrayal leaves him dead in a dumpster, until Pochita's sacrifice resurrects him as something far stranger.
Summary
Buried under his late father's debt, Denji scrapes by as a hired devil hunter for the yakuza, killing creatures like the Tomato Devil for scraps of pay that barely cover food. His only family is Pochita, a small chainsaw devil he once rescued and bonded with through a blood contract, the very deal that first made him a hunter. He clings to humble fantasies of jam on bread and one day dating a girl, even as he coughs up blood like the mother he lost.
A fresh job turns out to be a trap. The yakuza who hold his debt have been converted into puppets by a Zombie Devil, and they cut Denji and Pochita down before dumping the boy's body in the trash. There his spilled blood reaches Pochita, who honors an earlier promise: should Denji ever die, the devil could claim his corpse and live out his dreams. Instead, Pochita mends the broken boy and becomes his new heart.
Denji climbs out of the dumpster reborn. Yanking a cord that now juts from his chest, he sprouts blades, shreds the Zombie Devil's horde, and destroys the devil itself. The carnage draws Makima, who recognizes at once that he is neither fully human nor devil. When he reverts to human form in her arms, she offers a stark choice: die by her hand or live as her kept pet, fed and housed. The promise of jam-topped bread is all it takes for Denji to accept.
Key Events
The chapter establishes Denji's crushing debt, his partnership with Pochita, and the blood contract underpinning his abilities. The Zombie Devil's betrayal kills him, triggering Pochita's pivotal sacrifice to become his heart and birthing Chainsaw Man. Denji's first transformation wipes out the zombie horde, and Makima's arrival ends the chapter by recruiting him into her service as her so-called pet, launching the series proper.
Notes
Published as Inu to Chensō, or "Dog & Chainsaw," this is the debut chapter of the manga, opening the Intro arc and later adapted into the first anime episode. Early draft panels from the chapter went on display at a 2022 exhibition of Tatsuki Fujimoto's work in Angoulême, France, several of them differing from the published version.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in Chapter 1 of Chainsaw Man?
Chapter 1 introduces Denji, a penniless teenager hunting devils for the yakuza to repay his dead father's debt alongside his chainsaw-dog Pochita. The yakuza, turned into puppets by a Zombie Devil, kill him, but Pochita sacrifices himself to become Denji's heart, resurrecting him as Chainsaw Man.
What is the title of Chainsaw Man Chapter 1?
Chapter 1 is titled Inu to Chensō, meaning Dog and Chainsaw. It is the debut chapter of the manga, opening the Intro arc, and was later adapted into the first anime episode.
How does Denji become Chainsaw Man in Chapter 1?
After the Zombie Devil's puppets kill Denji and dump his body in the trash, his spilled blood reaches Pochita, who mends the broken boy and becomes his new heart. Denji climbs out reborn, yanks a cord from his chest to sprout blades, and shreds the Zombie Devil's horde.
When was Chainsaw Man Chapter 1 released?
Chapter 1 was released on December 3, 2018, in Issue 2019-01. The 54-page chapter opens the first collected volume of the manga.
Who does Denji meet at the end of Chapter 1?
The carnage draws Makima, who recognizes that Denji is neither fully human nor devil. She offers him a stark choice, to die by her hand or live as her kept pet, and the promise of jam-topped bread is all it takes for Denji to accept.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Chapter 1? The Chainsaw Man Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Chainsaw Man anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to MAPPA and the Chainsaw Man Movie Project.
- Game pages: official promotional artwork, credited to the licensed publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Tatsuki Fujimoto.
Official resources:
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