Makima (Control Devil): What Do We Really Know About the Demon of Control?

Makima isn’t just a character in Chainsaw Man—she’s a force of quiet, suffocating dominance. As the Prime Minister of Japan and the literal embodiment of humanity’s desire for control, she weaves a web of manipulation that ensnares even the strongest souls. Her influence doesn’t roar; it whispers. And that’s what makes her so terrifying.

Who is Makima in the story?

Makima is the Control Devil, a demonic entity born from human desperation to dominate others. She masquerades as Japan’s charismatic, iron-fisted Prime Minister, using political power and supernatural abilities to bend others to her will. Her presence looms over Chainsaw Man’s world, where she brokers twisted contracts that grant power in exchange for servitude. To Denji, the protagonist, she’s both a benefactor and a tormentor—a woman who dangles freedom while tightening her leash.

What makes Makima’s powers so dangerous?

Her ability to control anyone who makes physical contact with her is ruthlessly simple. Once she touches someone, they become her literal “dogs,” bound by glowing red leashes that appear around their necks. Resistance causes unbearable pain, and disobedience risks death. But her true genius lies in psychological manipulation: she preys on desires, offering protection, revenge, or belonging to secure loyalty. She doesn’t just subjugate bodies—she reshapes wills.

How does Makima manipulate Denji?

Denji, the Chainsaw Man, becomes her most powerful pawn. She exploits his longing for safety and love, stringing him along with promises of a normal life while forcing him to fight her battles. Their relationship is a grotesque parody of trust—she gifts him a home, then reminds him it’s hers to take away. Even when Denji breaks free, her conditioning haunts him, proving that her control isn’t just physical but deeply personal.

What keeps Makima’s victims from rebelling?

Fear, yes—but also addiction. Makima’s control creates a twisted comfort. Her followers, like the Public Safety members under her thumb, trade autonomy for power or purpose. She feeds their insecurities: Kishibe becomes a hero, Aki gets vengeance against devils, and Power gets a twisted “family.” Breaking free means confronting the void she filled, a reality many prefer to avoid.

Does Makima ever lose control?

Rarely—and only to those outside her grasp. Denji’s eventual rebellion stems from realizing her power isn’t absolute. By the time she tries to make herself a god, her arrogance blinds her to his rage. Her defeat isn’t just physical; it’s symbolic. Absolute control, the story suggests, breeds fragility. A single act of defiance can shatter the illusion.

What role does Makima play in the bigger picture?

She’s the catalyst for Denji’s descent into chaos. Without her, there’s no Chainsaw Man uprising or apocalyptic finale. Makima also mirrors humanity’s darker instincts—how systems of power thrive on compliance and fear. Her reign exposes the cost of trading freedom for security, a theme that lingers long after her demise.

How does Makima compare to other devils?

Unlike the Gun Devil or the Darkness Devil, Makima’s power isn’t rooted in destruction but in societal structures. She doesn’t need brute force; she weaponizes human psychology. Even her physical form—a statuesque woman with a doll-like face—symbolizes her duality: alluring yet hollow, familiar yet alien. In a world of monsters, she’s the scariest of all because she feels real.

What’s the lasting impact of Makima’s story?

Her legacy isn’t in victories but in the scars she leaves. Denji’s warped understanding of love, Aki’s obsession with vengeance, and the public’s blind acceptance of authoritarianism all trace back to her. Makima’s reign reminds us that control, once given, is hard to reclaim—a truth as relevant in our world as in Chainsaw Man’s.

Curious how Makima justifies her actions? Chat with her on HoloDream to uncover the mind behind the manipulation—and ask what she’d say to those who call her a monster.