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If I take a liking to a particular series, I try and collect all material regarding it. With Hitsugi no Chaika, I picked up the five manga volumes after watching season one of the anime. I'm particularly fond of Chaika as a character and it was her that carried the series for me. That said, the manga is enjoyable, however, it does not go as far as the anime does. In only five volumes, it is quite short but if you, like me, enjoyed the anime, then picking up the manga is recommended for fans of the series. Little excerpts here, some neat artwork there, ... perhaps a few details the anime brushed over. It's source material and I am not sure why it did not continue alongside the anime. I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation out there somewhere.

There are light novels (12 volumes in all) that fully compliment the anime but I believe these are only available in Japanese (to my knowledge)

Vampire in the Garden's five episode span leaves a lot to be desired. While the pacing of the show does manage to barely make it past the finish line, the layout for the series may have been best executed as a feature film. The presentation often delivers as the series hosts a number of very talented industry professionals, most recognizably Mr. Tetsuya Nishio who led the character design and animation departments. As most of the score here represents the feel and look of the show, points are docked primarily for personal reasons and should in no way keep another from enjoying this story.

*Spoilers

With four ... episodes under the belt, viewers are expecting resolutions in the final act. Although final closure does come in the form of a brief after credits scene, many will feel like the writers presented them with the classic "one-thing-led-to-another" trope. A cardinal sin in the writers world. Understandably staff was on a time crunch and the budget can only go so far in realizing the artists desire on a project. However time could have been saved and audience goers could have been spared this confusing feather in the cap and given something with perhaps a little more finesse.
A little surprising too was Momo's resistance to explosions throughout the final act. A gas/propane tank detonation at point blank as well as a torpedo exploding within the submarine, its flames rushing by Momo unharmed. Although using a torpedo by hand is a clever way to extradite justice on your foe, these weapons are incredibly heavy, even at a downwards angle. What's more, it appeared that whoever loaded these torpedoes in the fictitious submarine of the past did so backwards. A convenient misstep for our hero.
Anime abounds with laws that do not exist within our own but these complaints come by way of this worlds laws having already been presented to us and understood. Only so much convenience can be presented, like a rabbit in a hat trick, before the believable becomes unbelievable. Once it is demonstrated that a character can survive a fatal explosion but can be bruised and cut otherwise can take a viewer away from the immersion of a story and begs them to begin questioning all other creative decisions.
For what it was, Vampire in the Garden checked off the only box I care about. I was entertained, albeit passively.

When presented with the title of Chainsaw Man, a very particular curiosity may peek over the horizon of the mind. This curiosity is worth pursuing without a doubt. When caught you will be asking for more, as the draw of this manga is very strong indeed. From gut busting laughter, to sombre reflection and adrenaline fueled combat that is as beautiful as it is dreadfully anatomic, putting this manga down is difficult while exploring its pages is an absolute pleasure. Tatsuki Fujimoto pours his imagination, heart and soul into this story and it shines splendidly even through the darkest chapters.

Veering away from the oversimplified ... plot, Chainsaw Man abounds with crude sophistication. Visually fascinating as well, tension and varying moods are built and executed with precision. Pages flow smoothly and no frame feels out of place here with some cinematic frames utilizing entire pages to beautiful effect. The volumes themselves come in standard form, each proudly displaying the captivating color work of Tatsuki Fujimoto and are sure to add that special flair to any manga enthusiasts collection.

With the story sure to continue, there's no better time to pick up your Chainsaw Man copies and see for yourself the talk of the town!