Makima. Just saying the name usually sparks an immediate reaction from anyone who’s actually read the Public Safety arc. She’s the face of the Chainsaw Man Control Devil, and honestly, she’s probably one of the most terrifyingly well-written antagonists in modern manga history. Most villains want to blow up the world or become a god, but Makima? She just wanted to fix everything. That’s what makes her so dangerous. She didn’t see herself as a monster; she saw herself as a savior with a very specific, very twisted version of "love."
If you’ve spent any time in the Chainsaw Man fandom, you know the vibe. People are obsessed. But if we strip away the memes and the "barking," what we’re left with is a literal embodiment of one of humanity's deepest fears: the loss of agency. The Control Devil isn't just a powerful entity. It’s a conceptual nightmare.
The Reality of the Chainsaw Man Control Devil
Let’s get into the mechanics of how this thing actually works. In the world of Tatsuki Fujimoto, a Devil’s power is directly proportional to how much people fear the concept it represents. Everyone is afraid of being controlled. Whether it's by a government, a boss, or a toxic partner, the fear of losing your will is universal. This is why the Chainsaw Man Control Devil is naturally one of the Four Horsemen, alongside War, Famine, and Death.
She’s broken.
Makima’s specific power set is basically a cheat code. She can control anyone she deems "lesser" than herself. It’s a purely subjective hierarchy. If she thinks she's better than you, you’re her puppet. It doesn’t matter if you’re a human, a Devil, or a Fiend. Once she’s got you, you’re basically a hollow shell doing her bidding. This is how she managed to assemble the Special Division 5, using the powers of the Snake Devil, the Angel Devil, and even Reze (the Bomb Girl) like tools in a shed.
The way Fujimoto illustrates this is unsettling. It’s not always about flashy explosions. Sometimes it’s just Makima standing on a beach, pointing a finger, and saying "Bang." Or it's the invisible ritual where she uses human sacrifices to crush people from miles away. It feels cold. It feels inevitable. That’s the point. Control isn't loud; it's a quiet, suffocating pressure.
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Why Makima Wanted Pochita
There’s a huge misconception that Makima just wanted to rule the world. She didn't. Her goal was actually weirdly "altruistic" in a psychopathic way. She worshipped the Hero of Hell—Chainsaw Man. Specifically, she wanted his power to erase concepts from existence.
Think about that for a second.
If the Chainsaw Man Control Devil could harness Chainsaw Man’s ability to eat Devils and erase them, she could effectively delete things like war, hunger, and death. She wanted to create a "perfect" world. But a world managed by her would have no free will. It would be a world of pets. She even says it herself: she loves humans the way humans love dogs. They’re cute, they’re loyal, but they aren't equals.
The Contrast Between Makima and Nayuta
When Makima finally went down—thanks to Denji’s bizarre, desperate "love" involving a chainsaw made of blood and a literal dinner plate—the Control Devil didn’t die forever. Devils reincarnate in Hell, and when they die there, they come back to Earth. Enter Nayuta.
Nayuta is the reincarnation of the Chainsaw Man Control Devil, but she’s a clean slate. This is where the story gets really interesting in Part 2. Kishibe handed her to Denji because he knew that if the Control Devil isn't raised with love and a sense of equality, she’ll just become another Makima. It’s the ultimate "nature vs. nurture" experiment.
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Nayuta is bratty. She’s demanding. She still has that inherent "I am superior" streak, but she’s being raised by a guy who lives in a cramped apartment and eats bread with too much jam. She’s learning to be a person instead of a concept. Watching her navigate high school and her weird brother-sister bond with Denji is a massive shift from the cold, calculated manipulation of the Makima era. It shows that even the most "evil" concepts in the series can be shaped by human connection.
The Symbolism Most People Miss
People focus a lot on the "domination" aspect, but the Chainsaw Man Control Devil is really about the tragedy of isolation. If you view everyone as beneath you, you can never have a friend. You can never have a peer. Makima was the loneliest character in the entire series. She wanted to be close to Chainsaw Man because he was the only thing she felt might be equal to her, or at least powerful enough to give her what she lacked.
- She couldn't remember faces she considered inferior.
- She used her sense of smell to identify people, because names didn't matter to her.
- She built a wall of "dogs" to hide the fact that she was totally alone.
When you look at it that way, her defeat isn't just a "good guys win" moment. It’s a pathetic end for a being that had everything but the one thing she actually wanted: a hug from someone who wasn't a subordinate. Denji gave her that, but only by consuming her, which is just about the most Chainsaw Man ending possible.
The Impact on the Series
The presence of the Control Devil changed how we view Shonen antagonists. Usually, we expect a villain to show their cards early. Makima played the long game. For dozens of chapters, readers weren't sure if she was a mentor or a threat. That ambiguity is why the reveal of her true nature hit so hard. It made us re-evaluate every single interaction she had with Denji. Was she being nice? Or was she just grooming her "dog" to become the version of Chainsaw Man she wanted to meet?
It turns out it was the latter. Every movie date, every piece of food, every "favor" was a calculated move to break Denji’s spirit so thoroughly that he would give up his contract with Pochita. She needed him to be miserable so the "Hero of Hell" could emerge.
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How to Understand the Power Dynamics
If you're trying to wrap your head around how the Chainsaw Man Control Devil stacks up against the other Horsemen, think of it in terms of social structure. Famine (Fami) controls through hunger and deprivation. War (Yoru) thrives on conflict and weapons. But Control? Control is the infrastructure that allows the others to exist.
You can't have a war without a chain of command. You can't have a famine without the mismanagement of resources by those in power. In many ways, the Control Devil is the most "human" of the Horsemen because her power is entirely based on how we organize ourselves as a species.
- Direct Commands: She can force anyone to do anything just by speaking.
- Sensory Overload: She can use the ears and eyes of "lower life forms" (like birds or rats) to spy on anyone, anywhere.
- Physical Force: The "Bang" ability and the ritualistic crushing are her primary offensive tools.
- Contract Manipulation: She can use the contracts of the people she controls, effectively giving her access to dozens of different Devil powers at once.
It’s an overwhelming kit. The only reason Denji won was because he found a loophole in her perception. She didn't recognize Denji; she only recognized the scent of the Chainsaw Devil inside him. By separating himself from the heart, Denji became "invisible" to her.
What’s Next for the Control Devil?
In the current manga arc, the stakes have shifted. We aren't dealing with a world-ending threat from Makima anymore, but we are dealing with the fallout of her legacy. Nayuta is caught between her nature as the Chainsaw Man Control Devil and her desire to protect Denji.
The story is asking a tough question: Can a person ever truly escape what they are? Nayuta has shown she’s willing to use her powers for Denji, but those powers are inherently manipulative. She "chains" people to protect her home. It’s a lighter version of what Makima did, but the core mechanism is the same. It’s uncomfortable to watch, and that’s exactly what Fujimoto wants.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Readers:
- Re-read the early chapters: Look for the moments where Makima is "smelling" people rather than looking at them. It changes the entire context of her "kindness."
- Watch the eyes: Fujimoto uses a specific ring-pattern for the eyes of the Horsemen (Makima, Nayuta, Fami, Yoru). It’s the easiest way to spot a high-level Devil in disguise.
- Analyze the contracts: Notice how Makima never pays a "price" for her powers like other hunters do. That’s because she’s using the lives of Japanese citizens as her collateral, thanks to her contract with the Prime Minister.
- Follow the Bird Imagery: Whenever Makima is spying, there are usually birds (crows) or small animals in the background. It’s a subtle hint at her constant surveillance.
The Chainsaw Man Control Devil remains the gold standard for how to write a villain who is both a physical powerhouse and a psychological wreck. Whether it's Makima's cold dominance or Nayuta's chaotic growth, the concept of control is the heartbeat of this series. It’s not just about chainsaws and blood; it’s about who holds the leash.