WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man Chapter #90, by Tatsuki Fujimoto, Amanda Haley and Sabrina Heep, available in English from Viz Media now.
Chainsaw Man has been far from reserved with showing off the power that the Chainsaw Devil possesses. While Makima's seemingly endless list of abilities -- including immortality and capabilities as the Control Devil -- position her at the top of the series' most dangerous list, the adorable Pochita might warrant even more fear than her.
As Makima continues her blood-soaked mission to gain control over the Chainsaw Devil, we've learned some critical details surrounding the mysterious Pochita. The series began with a fusion between Denji and Pochita, creating a human/Devil hybrid and, from that point on, we didn't see much of the Devil dog. Aside from sporadic cameos in Denji's dreams, it wasn't until recently that the truth behind his cute appearance was revealed.
Pochita & the Chainsaw Devil's Near-Death Form
Makima explains that the Chainsaw Devil suddenly vanished at the height of their last battle, and she couldn't find him. By taking on a "near-death form," the Chainsaw Devil could remain hidden, with that form being Pochita. The reason Pochita is so adamant about avoiding dying to Makima is the exact reason she is so desperate to defeat him. Makima is the Control Devil, which allows her to control those viewed as lesser than herself. So, if she can beat Chainsaw Man, then she'll be able to exploit his powers however she sees fit.
Aside from the obvious chainsaw-sprouting appendages, the titular Devil's real power is the ability to erase the names of those he's consumed. When a Devil's source of strength is the fear they garner, having their name removed from public consciousness renders them incapable of reviving since that fright no longer exists. Given Pochita's cuddly approachability, it's hard to imagine that he possesses such a frightening skill, and worse, is so unassuming despite that.
Pochita's Reviving Power
The recent revival of Power is a standout moment that highlights a similarity between Pochita and Makima. When Makima asks someone to do something for her or controls them, her hypnotic eyes are often spotlighted. Reminiscent of that, as Pochita asks Power to save Denji for him, he exudes a strange calmness. Whether he's cooly confident or completely nonchalant, there is something off-putting about Pochita while he offers himself to Power so she can be resurrected.
Though Makima virtuously claims she'll use the Chainsaw Devil's ability to create a better world for humanity by ridding it of painful struggles, like war, death and hunger, it's hard to take that at face value when looking at her previous actions. Still, the fact that Pochita's power is so coveted and feared speaks volumes about how dangerous he can be. Even if Pochita is well-intentioned, the mystique surrounding him is enough to stir some unease.
"Better the Devil you know than the Devil you don't" is an oddly fitting idiom that encapsulates what makes Pochita a scary prospect. With Makima, we know what she is after, even if her intentions afterward are unclear. Pochita's requests -- asking Denji to live on and show his dreams and wanting Power to save Denji -- could be as genuine as they seem. After calmly shrugging off Power's instant turn back to Makima's side, what Pochita does next could define where the Devil dog sits among Chainsaw Man's most terrifying Devils.
