Unveiling Chainsaw Man's Female Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

The manga Chainsaw Man features four characters who take on the roles of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. These devils possess incredibly powerful abilities, which are only surpassed by the most primal fears, like darkness. Some of them even have a level of control over devils that are equally formidable, like the Falling and Fire devil.

Interestingly, all four Horsemen - Control, War, Famine, and Death - are female. This is quite uncommon in shonen manga, where male antagonists are typically the standard, catering to a teenage male audience.

This is an interesting choice by author Tatsuki Fujimoto and merits further investigation.

Why Chainsaw Man's Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are women: The reasons and theories

Makima, depicted in the image via MAPPA, stands out as one of the most widely recognized and frequently appearing Horsemen.

Now, before delving into the topic of the Horsemen, it is crucial to first understand these individuals as characters. So, who exactly are the four Horsemen of the apocalypse?

The first Horseman introduced in Chainsaw Man is Makima, who is widely recognized and highly regarded. Among the Horsemen, she stands out as the most popular. Makima is the only Horseman to have made an appearance in the initial part of Chainsaw Man. As the one in control of the Public Safety Devil Hunters, she symbolizes 'Control' or 'Conquest' among the Horsemen.

Unlike her sisters, Makima is largely uninterested in collaborating with them, as her intention is to utilize Chainsaw Man's powers of erasure to eliminate War, Famine, and Death. Her goals are ambitious yet unrealistic, and she often portrays herself as cruel and indifferent, particularly towards humans.

She is ultimately slain by Denji in the climax of the first act. Her dilemma revolved around constructing her identity without any equals, convinced that only Chainsaw Man could rival her. Raised in an emotionally distant environment that valued using others as mere instruments, she transformed into a heartless creature willing to do whatever it took to obtain Chainsaw Man and "save humanity."

After Makima's death, the Control Devil is reincarnated as Nayuta. Kishibe, determined to prevent another Makima from emerging, entrusts Nayuta's care to Denji. Following Pochita's instructions, Denji ensures that Nayuta receives plenty of affectionate embraces, as this is what Makima truly desired. She believed that only the Chainsaw Man could fulfill her need for connection.

In the second part, Nayuta reappears, appearing slightly older and bearing a resemblance to Makima, with a similar braided hairstyle. She fiercely defends Denji as her "property." However, unlike the composed and calculated Makima, Nayuta lacks these qualities and instead exhibits more bratty behavior rather than genuine malice.

Nayuta is depicted in Part 2 of Chainsaw Man. (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto)

In contrast to Makima, Nayuta shares a much stronger bond with her siblings. Though she does not recognize Yoru as the War Devil, she acknowledges Famine as her sister and aligns her own desires with Famine's goals. However, she declines to assist Famine, as her focus lies more on ordinary matters such as attending school.

At the start of Chainsaw Man's second part, we are introduced to the second Horseman, named Yoru, also known as the War Devil. Yoru stands out among the Horsemen as the weakest, possessing several unique quirks that none of the other Horsemen possess.

Initially, Yoru appears to Asa Mitaka in the form of an animal. After being killed by a jealous classmate, she offers her power to Asa. This situation mirrors Pochita's, as he was also limited to a weaker dog form while accompanying Denji.

The aftermath of her confrontation with Chainsaw Man has left Yoru acknowledging a significant decline in her combat prowess. As a result, wars have lost their intensity and have been reduced to mere skirmishes and fictional accounts.

The distinctive essence of Chainsaw Man's second part lies in the dynamic between Asa and Yoru. (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto)

Another reason for her weakness is that the Chainsaw Man consumed and consequently eliminated the existence of the Nuclear Bomb, World War II, and Nazi demons. Considering their significant role in instilling fear of war, and Yoru explicitly expressing her desire to make the Chainsaw Man regurgitate Nuclear Bombs, it is evident that the War Devil suffered severe harm during the battle against the Chainsaw Man.

Although Yoru is compelled to coexist within Asa's body, it remains uncertain whether this is a straightforward Fiend or Hybrid situation. None of the fiends encountered thus far have had a relationship as profound as the one Yoru has with Asa. Some speculate that Asa has always been the War Devil, as she is consistently referred to by figures of authority as the 'War Devil' rather than the 'War Fiend.'

As the second part of Chainsaw Man progresses, we can expect to gain further insights into the characters of Asa and Yoru. However, for the purpose of this article, we will regard both of them as the War Devil of the Horsemen.

Moving on to the third horseman, we encounter Famine, also known as 'Fami.' Unlike Control or War, Fami possesses a more secretive and enigmatic persona. While her intentions may appear to benefit humanity, they come with significant sacrifices that increase in severity with each plan she executes.

Fami and Nayuta delve into a profound discussion about Nostradamus's prophecy. (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto)

Initiating her initial scheme, Fami cunningly ensnares Asa, Denji, and the entire Devil Hunters association within an aquarium, accompanied by a freshly unveiled Eternity Devil. Subsequently, she orchestrates a fierce clash between Asa and the Falling Devil, allegedly triggering widespread devastation worldwide, all in an effort to weaken Asa through starvation.

Fami's latest and most daring plan is the implementation of the Chainsaw Man Church scheme, successfully executed by Chapter 146. In this scheme, her objective is to enhance the abilities of both Chainsaw Man and War Devil by orchestrating a staged global assault.

The driving force behind Fami's actions stems from the inclusion of the final horseman of apocalypse - Death. It is imperative for Death to be featured in the manga as she is undeniably the most dominant devil.

Yoshida raised the question of whether the Chainsaw Man could triumph over the Death devil, indirectly alluding to her presence. Another reference to her came from Nayuta, who explicitly acknowledged Death as the "sister" of both her and Fami.

Nayuta and Fami firmly hold the belief that Death is the dreaded 'Great King of Terror' mentioned in a chilling prophecy of an impending doomsday. However, the rationale behind their conviction remains unexplained, leaving uncertainty about the accuracy of their assumptions. While Death is not a central theme of the discussion at hand, it is worth noting that she is potentially poised to assume the role of a future antagonist.

Now, the question arises as to why Tatsuki Fujimoto, the author, would choose to depict all of the Horsemen as women. It is uncommon for the apocalyptic Horsemen to be portrayed in this manner, considering their traditionally male association. While there could be various underlying reasons, one possible explanation is that Makima, a key character, has established a precedent in this regard.

Makima: Precedent or something more?

Makima's brutality in her final battle. (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto)

Makima, the antagonist in the initial part of Chainsaw Man, portrays a composed and calculating persona. She remains composed, manipulative, and rarely displays any strong emotions. Furthermore, her gender plays an integral role in the storyline. Makima strategically positions herself as the sole object of Denji's desire, becoming the first woman to have a physical connection with him and his initial love interest.

In essence, if Makima were a male character, it would dramatically alter the plot of Chainsaw Man, and not for the better. One of the distinctive elements of Chainsaw Man within the realm of shonen manga revolves around characters like Makima. These women possess a blend of ferocity, attractiveness, and allure, making them highly significant to the overarching narrative and the protagonist's development.

Fujimoto might have initially created Makima as a standalone character before incorporating her into the Horsemen concept. Her role as a Horseman is not disclosed until the end of the first part of Chainsaw Man, where she unveils her involvement in weakening Pochita alongside her sisters and other weapon hybrids. It's possible that he subsequently introduced the other female Horsemen to align with Makima, but that explanation seems dull. It’s intriguing to consider other possibilities, such as the presence of a more profound motive behind characters like Asa Mitaka and Yoru.

Writing women with purpose

Asa becoming a confident devil hunter is essential to her arc. (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto)

When Fujimoto introduced Asa in the manga Asa, it was evident that she served as both the deuteragonist and foil to Denji. For the initial chapters of the second part of Chainsaw Man, Asa takes center stage, being possessed by the fierce and assertive War Devil. This effectively highlights Asa as a complement to Denji.

In many ways, Asa is similar to Denji. She possesses incredibly powerful abilities due to her pact with the Devil. Like Denji, she struggles with forming connections with others and has experienced significant loss within her family. Emotionally isolated, there are moments when she contemplates giving up completely.

Similarly, Asa also mirrors Denji in a significant manner. While Denji finds his "happy ending," Asa continues to grapple with her own romantic struggles (which involve Denji to some extent), losing the few friends she manages to make, and dealing with her initially hostile relationship with Yoru. Moreover, the devil constantly poses a threat to her existence, with the intention of completely taking over her body.

The most significant resemblance lies in Asa's gender. Asa's captivating qualities stem from her unique perspective, distinct from Denji's. Without her being a woman, she would become a much weaker character, merely resembling another Denji.

Expanding on this, Fami's character plays a different role, although her gender isn't as crucial. Fami essentially assumes the role of Makima in Asa's story, manipulating events behind the scenes to manipulate Asa and Yoru into a more desirable situation while secretly plotting to take control.

Fami is more straightforward and sincere when discussing her objectives with others, yet there is still a sense of impersonality and difficulty in expressing herself beyond her usual poker face. Although her gender does not define her character, it serves as a useful tool in highlighting the contrast with Makima.

Regarding Death, it is challenging to determine her gender given her limited presence in the story. However, it seems reasonable to assume she is a woman based on the precedent set by her sisters. If she were to be the exception, it would be perceived as somewhat unusual.

Making her the sole male sibling would inevitably draw attention to her in a negative manner. However, considering her limited role in the story, there might be a hidden motive behind her gender that remains undisclosed.

Thus, it is conceivable that these overarching reasons are what led to the decision of portraying the Horsemen as exclusively female. Nonetheless, there exists a more straightforward and truthful explanation for depicting these antagonistic characters as women, as stated by Tatsuki Fujimoto himself.

Fujimoto loves women who are teases

In an interview, Fujimoto recollects the moment when a girl toppled his bike and mocked him, and how it brought him immense happiness. With this in mind, many aspects of Chainsaw Man start to make sense, not only regarding the Horsemen but also concerning most of the female characters in the series.

A particular understanding can be found in Makima's presence, as even before her villainous revelation, she had always displayed a somewhat belittling and even spiteful attitude towards those around her. She frequently referred to Denji as 'dog' and treated him as inferior on numerous occasions. Initially, these actions seemed odd forms of endearment, but as we delve deeper into her character, they take on a more ominous tone.

Asa and Yoru both display hostility towards Denji and each other, although their behavior differs from Makima's. They often demonstrate dismissiveness or outright meanness. Yoru, in particular, comes across as bratty and rude, frequently expressing her frustration about failing to capture Chainsaw Man in fits of rage in front of Asa.

Even Fami joins in on this behavior. When her name is first revealed, she orders a lavish and expensive meal for herself while being 'interviewed' by Yoshida. Later, when she unexpectedly shows up at Asa's apartment, she immediately asks if she can help herself to the food in Asa's fridge before anything else.

A pattern begins to emerge here, and Death will probably follow suit. Whether she is as ill-tempered as Yoru or as teasing as Makima, she'll probably not be so forwardly nice.

Final thoughts

Uninvited, Fami appears asking for food. (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto)

The decision to depict the horsemen as women serves multiple purposes for Fujimoto. Not only does it allow him to introduce antagonistic female characters, but there may also be deeper motivations behind this choice. Additionally, it is highly likely that Tatsuki Fujimoto simply enjoys portraying women with a teasing nature. It is conceivable that both reasons played a part in his decision.

Chainsaw Man fans unanimously appreciate the characters created by Fujimoto, regardless of their own personal justifications. Makima's enduring popularity persists even after her less desirable traits were exposed. Even before uttering a single word, Nayuta was adored for her precocious nature and later proved to be an amusing rebel.

Both Asa and Yoru are beloved by fans. The audience eagerly anticipates the unfolding of Fami's plans, and everyone is curious about the impact of Death on the story. Fans undoubtedly have confidence in Fujimoto's ability to consistently deliver wonderfully written characters, whether they be men or women. One thing is certain: Fujimoto excels at crafting robust characters who are always distinct, entertaining, and a pleasure to indulge in.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I find the portrayal of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Chainsaw Man to be intriguing and refreshing. The fact that they are all female characters is particularly striking, as it challenges traditional gender roles and expectations in shonen manga.

This choice by author Tatsuki Fujimoto suggests a deliberate intention to explore complex and multifaceted female characters, which is commendable. Each of the Horsemen has distinct personalities, motivations, and abilities, and their interactions with each other and the other characters add depth and complexity to the story.