No, Gintama doesn’t get BETTER until episode 58 with the Benizakura arc. But it’s hilarious from the start.
It becomes absolutely phenomenal at episode 149 with Yoshiwara in flames.
Gintoki is probably the strongest human, but he’s at best equivocal to the average Yato. Because of this fights are interesting because he isn’t very strong in comparison to the universe, but he’s very good tactically making full use of his unorthodox fighting style.
But since it holds the pattern of like 2-5 comedy arcs and then 1 serious arc and only about every other serious arc do you get to see into Gintoki’s or Kagura’s so it fully masters the use of suspense to keep you watching and comedy to keep you entertained.
It also keeps Gintoki’s character somewhat ambiguous as to whether or not he ever fights at 100%. If not what’s holding him back? Could it be PTSD? Does he simply wish to die? Does he not want Kagura and Shinpachi to watch him become the blood soaked monster known as the ‘ShiroYaksha’?
Chainsaw man is a good thriller and to some extent horror, but Gintama is a good suspense, drama, thriller, comedy, and story of self discovery. It’s a story of a veteran trying to remember not to take life too seriously, trying to just work odd jobs for a living, but no matter how hard he tries to escape his violent past that blood stained sword still rests in his soul to haunt him. No matter what you’re looking for in a show Gintama has it. On the contrary Chainsaw Man falls exclusively to Shōnen fans and fans of excessive gore.