WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man #75 by Tatsuki Fujimoto, Amanda Haley and Sabrina Heep, available in English now from Viz Media.
At long last, Chainsaw Man has revealed the Gun Devil in its terrifying entirety. The massive Devil debuts in a six-page spread in Chapter #75, amid the names of victims from one of its attacks. While this grizzly introduction is on par with what we've heard about the Gun Devil so far, it's hard not to make a comparison between its menacing appearance and Denji's chainsaw form. Though the two seem leagues apart in both manner and power, the pistol-headed Devil could serve as a glimpse at Denji's future.
Chainsaw Man follows Denji, a destitute young man whose heart fuses with his dog-like Devil friend named Pochita, which allows him to sprout multiple chainsaws from his limbs. He is then tracked down by the Public Safety Devil Hunters, an organization he joins after forfeiting his freedom for a steady stream of food, a comfortable place to sleep and a compulsion to follow Makima, the enigmatic leader of Division 4.
For a Devil, their strength is directly linked to how feared they are. As general fear of them began to rise, humans started to mass-produce guns as a way to combat them. However, this only caused a spike in both a fear of guns and Devils alike, a combination that made the Gun Devil particularly formidable. In an apparent attempt to diminish humans' rising concerns, every nation implemented firm gun laws with added restrictions on news coverage of violent crimes.
Though initially, we believe that everyone was aiming to destroy the Gun Devil, the truth, as Makima reveals, is that it "had already been taken down by someone else and was in an unconscious state." Its body then divvied up among various nations who, through fear-mongering, are all vying to strengthen their portion of the Gun Devil. By gaining control of the Devil itself, they can exploit its power for their ends.
Similarly, Denji and the Chainsaw Devil seem to inspire both fear and respect, with Beam -- the Shark fiend -- even referring to him as "Lord Chainsaw." This isn't the only time there have been hints of a dangerous power at play within Denji. Much like the Gun Devil, Denji's heart, or the Chainsaw's, is consistently pursued, with it being a central target during the International Assassins arc. These attempts indicate that people view Denji as a threat and likely aim to control him in a way not unlike the Gun Devil, with the Future Devils' words to Aki seemingly corroborating that fear.
Aki, who began the series hating all Devils, has developed a soft spot for Power and Denji. The trio has experienced plenty together, including a harrowing encounter with the Darkness Devil that had profound effects on them. This budding friendship is why Aki initially attempts to have the three of them removed from the Gun Devil mission. Still, following Makima's denial of the request, they all remain a part of it. To add to the situation, the Future Devil then shows Aki a vision where Denji kills both him and Power.
The Future Devil describes the vision to Aki as a soon-to-come, inevitable future where "You and Power will be slaughtered by Denji. After that, the Devil that Devils fear most shall appear." If it does happen, the deaths of Aki and Power would have massive implications for the plot and profoundly affect Denji. Especially if the Devil in reference is the Chainsaw Devil, then the death of Denji's friends could serve as a catalyst that pushes him closer to the Gun Devil.
The most enticing unexplained detail, though, is the mysterious door that haunts Denji through a reoccurring nightmare. From behind the strange door, he can hear Pochita, the dog-like Chainsaw Devil he fused with, calling to him, saying never to open it. Even if Pochita is intentionally keeping itself locked away in a reverse Naruto/Kurama situation, it does seem like only a matter of time before whatever power is sealed away could break free.
While the Gun Devil and Denji are both encompassed by reverence and fear, it's not too late for the Chainsaw to forge his own path. If he can use the trajectory of the Gun Devil as any indication, then Denji must be wary of those around him. Even if Denji is poised to become the series' most daunting Devil yet, exactly how his fate plays out is still within his hands (or chains, rather).