Returning with yet another vice, Chainsaw Man chapter 140 explores religion.
Continuing Denji's woes in Part 2, he dispassionately listens to Sword Man's tale of the Chainsaw Man Church, glossing over the fact that teenagers used violence to take over a former cult. Fan-favorite Kobeni's younger brother, Nobana, who last appeared in Chapter 117, is reintroduced as a tour guide and religious devout. The chapter evolves with Denji's short-lived interest in the religion before Nobana's conspiracy theory leaves him apathetic again.
"Adults' mental faculties are diminished because of an American ultraviolet ray weapon in Japan's air," and America bears responsibility for "the current system of getting married after you become an adult," according to Nobana. Fujimoto's fixation on America may have been comedically disconcerting for many fans but shouldn't come as a surprise. Chainsaw Man contains vast inspiration from American media -- Tarantino films, notably, and further evidenced by a recent reference to A Clockwork Orange. The anime's opening song was also filled with American movie references.
Chainsaw Man's Religion May Have Deeper Purpose
The ridiculousness of Nobana's claims may serve to disguise, or be the biggest indication of a future plot line, teasing the future of teenage delusions that gives rise to a fearsome new Devil. The connection between human fear and the birth of Devils is well-known and Nobana's openness suggests the delusion is widespread. Nobana departs, scared of this seemingly new character by the chapter's end, and leaves question marks over Kobeni's involvement in his life. This new character, Barem, was actually introduced in Part I as the Flamethrower Devil and one of Makima's pawns.
Vices in Chainsaw Man are a recurrent theme, spanning sex, intimacy, smoking, or the many habits that characters find hard to beat. Denji's continued fall in and out of them remains a controversial, and often painful trigger for fans who believe his trauma should have served as a final lesson learned. Others maintain that this is the exact reason Denji's mistakes are logical. Chapter 140 shows that without the constraint of marriage, Denji may have yet again thrown away his pride like he often did in Part I, or as recently as Chapter 137. While escaping for now, Chapter 140 onwards indicates a collision course for Denji and Asa, one of his most normal bonds so far.
Chainsaw Man is available to read via VIZ and MangaPlus.
