If you've landed here searching for "Makima in Solo Leveling," it's important to clarify a key point right from the start: Makima is actually a central and incredibly powerful character from Tatsuki Fujimoto's smash-hit manga and anime series Chainsaw Man, not Solo Leveling. While both series feature supernaturally gifted individuals and intense battles, Makima's intricate story, terrifying abilities, and profound impact are entirely contained within the Chainsaw Man universe. This guide will fully unpack who Makima truly is, her formidable Control Devil powers, and her ultimate ambitions, ensuring you understand her pivotal role in one of the most exciting dark fantasy narratives out there.
We'll journey through her enigmatic persona, peel back the layers of her manipulation, and explore why she remains one of the most talked-about antagonists in modern anime and manga. So, let's dive deep into the world of the Control Devil.
Unmasking the Enigma: Who is Makima?
From her deceptively calm demeanor to her calculated actions, Makima captivated and terrified audiences as a high-ranking Public Safety Devil Hunter. Initially presented as Denji's superior and the head of Special Division 4, she quickly established herself as a figure of authority and chilling charisma. Her true identity, however, was far more sinister and ancient: the Control Devil, one of the primordial Four Horsemen Devils, embodying humanity's fundamental fear of control and domination. This makes her not just a powerful individual but a fundamental force of nature within the Chainsaw Man world.
She existed as a constant threat, operating under the guise of an ally while subtly manipulating events to serve her own complex agenda. To truly understand her impact, it's crucial to grasp her origins and unique place among devils. Discover more about her background and initial role by exploring .
The Control Devil's True Nature
As the Control Devil, Makima was an entity born from the collective, ingrained fear of being controlled, dominated, or conquered by another. This primal fear granted her immense power, positioning her as one of the strongest and most intelligent devils in existence. She was perpetually calculating, displaying a level of strategic foresight that allowed her to orchestrate complex plans spanning years. Her physical appearance, estimated to be that of a woman in her early to mid-twenties, belied her true ancient and formidable nature. This intrinsic link to humanity's fears also explained why she could not be truly killed, only reincarnated, as long as the concept of control persisted.
Makima's Control Devil Powers and Abilities
Makima's powers were extensive and terrifying, primarily revolving around her ability to dominate and manipulate others. This fundamental capability was conditional; she could only exert control over those she deemed "inferior" to herself, which notably excluded entities like the Chainsaw Devil or the Darkness Devil. However, for the vast majority of beings, her control was absolute and devastating.
Her suite of abilities ranged from enhanced physical traits to reality-bending manipulation, making her a one-woman army capable of dismantling entire organizations. For a complete breakdown of her formidable toolkit, delve into .
Standard Devil Traits and Pseudo-Immortality
Like most devils, Makima possessed enhanced senses, such as an incredibly acute sense of smell that allowed her to identify individuals and even perceive the Chainsaw Devil's unique presence within Denji. Her physical strength was also formidable, demonstrated when she effortlessly broke Denji's chainsaws. Regeneration, a common devil trait, allowed her to recover from injuries by consuming blood. However, her method of achieving near-perfect immortality was far more unique and chilling.
Through a contract with the Prime Minister of Japan, any fatal attack inflicted upon Makima would be instantly transferred to a random Japanese citizen, causing their death or illness instead. This made her virtually impervious to direct harm, a horrifying safeguard that underscored her perceived value to the state. Learn more about the specific mechanisms behind her unkillable nature in .
Special Powers: The Art of Domination
Makima's true terror lay in her specialized abilities to control and manipulate. Her core power allowed her to dominate the minds and bodies of humans, devils, fiends, and even corpses, compelling them to obey her every command. She could erase memories, alter personalities (turning enemies into loyal followers), and force absolute obedience with simple verbal commands like "This is an order."
Beyond direct control, she could also:
- Ability Steal/Usage: Makima could utilize the powers of those she controlled, effectively wielding the abilities of her subordinates, such as the Angel Devil's life-draining touch or the foresight of the Future Devil.
- Animal Surveillance: She possessed the eerie ability to see and hear through lower life forms like rats and birds, enabling global surveillance and information gathering. This also allowed for rapid movement, as she could
by clustering these animals. - Telepathy: By placing her hand on someone's head, Makima could transmit her voice directly into their mind, even communicating with the deceased.
- Force Manipulation / Pressure Death Ritual: A devastating ritualistic ability allowed her to exert immense, invisible crushing force on targets from a distance, splattering them into gore. This required blindfolding individuals around her, writing a "human sacrifice" name on her hand, and performing a specific gesture.
- Invisible Gunfire: After subduing and controlling the Gun Devil, Makima gained the ability to fire potent, invisible "force bullets" from her finger simply by forming a hand-gun shape and saying "BANG!" This power was strong enough to even injure the Darkness Devil. Curious about the full extent of her abilities? Explore in detail.
Makima's Ultimate Goals and Motivations
Makima's grand ambition was to create an "ideal world"—a world free from fear, war, hunger, and even "bad movies." She believed she could achieve this utopian vision by harnessing the unique power of the Chainsaw Devil. Pochita, the Chainsaw Devil, possessed the terrifying ability to erase not just devils, but the very concepts they represented from existence, wiping them from collective memory as if they had never been. Makima aimed to use this power to eliminate all the things she deemed undesirable.
Beneath this seemingly benevolent goal lay a deeper, more personal desire stemming from her nature as the Control Devil: she longed for an equal relationship, to be loved not as a master but as an equal. Yet, she believed this was impossible as long as fear existed, perpetually forcing her into a position of dominance. This contradiction fueled her relentless pursuit of a world where such a connection could theoretically exist. She also sought to eliminate the other Three Horsemen, solidifying her sole dominion. Unravel the full scope of her plans and desires by reading about .
The Control Devil's Demise and Reincarnation
Despite her near-invulnerability and overwhelming power, Makima was ultimately defeated at the climax of Chainsaw Man Part 1. Denji, leveraging his unique perspective and profound emotional connection, devised a method to circumvent her immortality contract. Recognizing that the contract only redirected fatal attacks, Denji chose to kill her not through aggression, but through an act he perceived as "love and care": he consumed her body piece by piece. This bypassed the terms of her contract, allowing her true death.
Following her demise, the Control Devil inevitably reincarnated, as the fear of control will always persist. She was reborn in China as a young girl named Nayuta, devoid of Makima's memories. Kishibe, a former ally, entrusted Nayuta's care to Denji, hoping that raising her in a normal, loving environment would prevent her from becoming the manipulative entity Makima once was. In Chainsaw Man Part 2, Nayuta lives with Denji, exhibiting a shared affection for dogs and a desire for familial bonds, while retaining the Control Devil's acute sense of smell. To understand the intricate details of her downfall, refer to .
Makima's legacy within Chainsaw Man is profound, a testament to her unmatched cunning and the terrifying potential of true control. Her character ignited countless discussions, leaving an indelible mark on readers and viewers alike, proving that even in a world brimming with devils, some fears are far more human than supernatural.