The following contains spoilers for Episode 3 of Chainsaw Man, “MEOWY’S WHEREABOUTS,” now streaming on Crunchyroll.
A big draw of the Chainsaw Man anime is the question of which demons would be brought to life from the manga. They’re known as “devils,” wreaking havoc all across Japan, ergo why Pochita bonded with the protagonist Denji, allowing him the power to fight them off. Interestingly, Makima hired Denji for the Public Safety Unit, firmly believing he can help rid the nation of these creatures.
Though Denji hates the monsters as they made his childhood a living hell, all he really wants to do is get paid to eat and put a roof over his head. Nonetheless, Makima is keen on weaponizing him. As Denji meets one of the most vicious devils he’s ever faced in Episode 3, Chainsaw Man ends up placing a scary spin on a Batman villain who has always drawn sympathy from Bruce Wayne and readers alike.
Batman’s Most Tragic Villain Is Man-Bat
Batman features tragic villains such as Killer Croc and Kite Man, but Man-Bat is atop the list. Known as Dr. Kirk Langstrom, the character was created in 1970 by Frank Robbins, Neal Adams and Julius Schwartz. He was first depicted as someone who tested a formula on himself for sonar abilities, which led to him becoming Man-Bat. He’d later mutate his wife, Francine, and then spend years trying to fix his mistakes.
In the New 52, a retcon saw him turn himself into the beast, in order to spread an antivirus throughout Gotham after Penguin stole his serum that was meant to heal deaf people. The villain tried to mutate the city instead, but Langstrom rose to the challenge, sacrificing his humanity. This version is what’s been seen in most cartoons, with Bruce constantly trying to help Langstrom. Luckily, Langstrom, in times when he has control, has become an ally, rewarding Bruce’s faith. But mostly he gives in to the beast, robbing for equipment, chemicals and money, reminding Bruce that the monster inside sometimes is too much to handle.
Chainsaw Man Has a Devilish Man-Bat
In Chainsaw Man, Denji partners with Power on the advice of Hayakawa. He wants to see if Denji has what it takes and if Makima was right in hiring him. But as Denji and Power try to get her pet kitten back from a devil, it turns out to be a Bat Devil. This talkative being nods to Man-Bat, coming off like a bigger version that’s more bloodthirsty, as opposed to Langstrom’s inadvertent victim. In fact, the creature is so sadistic that when Power betrays Denji and offers him up to get her cat back, the Bat eats her kitten.
The Bat Devil just doesn’t like how Denji’s hybrid blood tastes, so he further decides to punish Power by devouring her, too. He’s in full control — unlike a Langstrom that loses himself sometimes — as he flies off, intent on eating virgins and kids. It leads to the Bat clashing with Denji in the city, using his sonar and sonic screeches to trash the place and basking in the bloodshed. Denji doesn’t show empathy and compassion like Bruce did with Langstrom, however, as he cuts the Bat up. It’s his way of making it pay for being such a conscious tyrant, and taking away the chance to get intimate with Power.
