Chainsaw Man has sliced and diced its way into the hearts of Western graphic novel fans. This dark fantasy tale often outranks even My Hero Academia, leaving readers hungry for more.
Volume 12 recently revved up to claim the coveted #1 spot on the New York Times best-seller list, cutting down the competition. While other hit manga faded, Chainsaw Man carved out an enduring niche in the American market.
Eight months after its release, Volume 13 continues to run at full throttle, capturing 5th place this January.
What explains Chainsaw Man’s roaring success stateside? Its unpredictable, gritty story serves up a devilish thrill ride full of twists and turns. Every new chapter ramps up the excitement, with imaginative monsters emerging that evoke both terror and empathy.
The striking artwork often leaves American fans breathless, serving up dramatic, splashy scenes of destruction.
January 2024 Graphic Novel Trends
The New York Times Best Sellers list provides valuable insight into the graphic novels and manga that are resonating most strongly with American audiences at any given time.
Scanning the January 2024 rankings reveals some interesting trends.
At the very top sits children’s author Dav Pilkey with several installments of his hugely popular “Captain Underpants” and “Dog Man” series, demonstrating the continued appetite for Pilkey’s humorous illustrated stories.
| Rank | Title | Author |
| 1 | INFLUENCERS | Dav Pilkey |
| 2 | HEARTSTOPPER, VOL. 5 | Alice Oseman |
| 3 | WINTER TURNING | Tui T. Sutherland |
| 4 | TWENTY THOUSAND FLEAS UNDER THE SEA | Dav Pilkey |
| 5 | CHAINSAW MAN, VOL. 13 | Tatsuki Fujimoto |
| 6 | STACEY’S MISTAKE | Ann M. Martin |
| 7 | THE BAD GUYS IN LOOK WHO’S TALKING | Aaron Blabey |
| 8 | GRIME AND PUNISHMENT | Dav Pilkey |
| 9 | CLAUDIA AND THE BAD JOKE | Ann M. Martin |
| 10 | MOTHERING HEIGHTS | Dav Pilkey |
| 11 | MY HERO ACADEMIA, VOL. 36 | Kohei Horikoshi |
| 12 | FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S: FAZBEAR FRIGHTS, VOL. 1 | Scott Cawthon, Elley Cooper, and Carly Anne West |
| 13 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE LAST RONIN | Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and Tom Waltz |
| 14 | FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S: FAZBEAR FRIGHTS, VOL. 3 | Scott Cawthon, Kelly Parra, and Andrea Waggener |
| 15 | COLLABORATIONS | Dav Pilkey |
Further down in the #5 spot is Chainsaw Man Volume 13, a darker and more violent manga that is clearly striking a chord with many adult readers.
Intriguingly, Chainsaw Man is one of only two manga series represented on this list, with My Hero Academia Volume 36 barely scraping in at #11.
This is quite a change from the diversity seen last month when multiple landmark manga like Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece ranked higher than Chainsaw Man.
So, while interest in Chainsaw Man itself remains remarkably high, overall manga representation has temporarily dipped in January.
This fluctuation perfectly illustrates the dynamic, fast-changing nature of the American graphic novel scene.
But the strong and steady performance of Chainsaw Man highlights that this unique manga continues to find legions of passionate fans in Western countries month after month.
Its gripping plot and stunning artwork seem to possess an incredible power to capture imaginations on both sides of the Pacific.
About Chainsaw Man
Denji starts out trapped in a cycle of poverty and violence, working as a Devil Hunter for the yakuza to pay off the massive debt inherited from his deceased father. His only friend is his pet devil, Pochita, who resembles a chainsaw dog.
After the yakuza betray and murder him, Denji makes a contract with Pochita – they will merge together into one body.
In exchange, the revived Denji must live a simple, fulfilling life pursuing modest dreams like eating bread with jam or falling in love.
By pulling the cord in his chest, Denji can now transform into the chainsaw-wielding hybrid known as Chainsaw Man. He uses these newfound powers to violently annihilate his yakuza killers.
Afterward, Denji joins a government group of devil hunters called the Public Safety Division, led by the mysterious Makima.
There, he trains alongside other hunters like Aki and Power to battle threats from devils and enemy countries seeking Denji’s might.
But Makima is revealed to be the extremely dangerous Control Devil, aiming to manipulate Pochita’s rare ability to erase evil concepts.
After a climactic battle, a combined effort from Denji, Aki, Power, and others stops Makima’s plans, though many allies are lost along the way.
With Pochita’s help, Denji is finally able to defeat Makima by pulling her beating heart from her chest.
In the aftermath, Pochita tells Denji to embrace life to the fullest before fading away.
A reborn Denji then tries to live a normal high school life while still working as a vigilante Devil Hunter, attempting to fulfill his simple dreams of happiness in a peaceful world.
