Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures | |
Red (front) and Pikachu (back) | |
ポケットモンスター SPECIAL (Poketto Monsutā Supesharu) | |
---|---|
Genre | Adventure, fantasy[1] |
Manga | |
Written by | Children (boys) |
Original run | March 1997 – present |
Volumes | 64 |
Manga parts | |
Related | |
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Pokémon Adventures (Japanese: ポケットモンスター SPECIAL, Hepburn: Poketto Monsutā Supesharu, lit. "Pocket Monsters Special", commonly Pokespe (ポケスペ / ポケSP) for short) is a Japanese manga series based on the Pokémon media franchise created by video game designer Satoshi Tajiri and managed by The Pokémon Company. Tajiri once stated that the series is closest to how he imagined the universe of Pokémon to be.[4]
The series is written by
Pokémon Adventures is translated into English in North America by Viz Media. As of January 2024, 62 volumes have been released, along with five pairs of mini-volumes depicting the "Black & White", "X & Y", "OmegaRuby & AlphaSapphire", "Sun & Moon", and "Sword & Shield" arc. In Southeast Asia, Singapore publisher Chuang Yi was translating Pokémon Adventures into English, and continued to translate new volumes up to volume 41. The company, however, entered voluntary liquidation in early 2014 and translation stopped. Shogakukan Asia now handles the series in Singapore.[5]
Plot
Pokémon Adventures is divided into several distinct parts which are known as chapters, and those, in turn, are divided further into volumes and many smaller chapters. There are sixteen major divisions at present, with twelve of them completely published, and one of them partially published. 64 volumes of the manga have been released as of February 2023.
Due to the serialization of Black 2 & White 2 chapter on hold and taking many years before being collected into a volume, the X & Y and subsequent chapters of Pokémon Adventures were separately collected into mini-volumes. The rounds included in these mini-volumes were only ones that were published in the CoroCoro Ichiban magazine. Once the Black 2 & White 2 chapter ended in the regular volumes, the subsequent chapters started to be collected in that format as well.
Red, Green & Blue
The first story shows
from Oak’s lab and has evolved it into a Wartortle.Later, Oak had been kidnapped by Team Rocket to create a Mewtwo, and Red, Green and Blue arrive at Saffron City to take on the Team Rocket Admins—Koga, Lt. Surge, and Sabrina. They manage to defeat Team Rocket and save Oak. It is revealed that using 7 gym badges, Arcticuno, Zapdos, and Moltres will be fused after Green does, unaware of the results. Their fusion results in a Pokemon referred to as Zapmolcuno, which looks like the three Legendary Birds fused together at the body, having all three of their heads. Red, Green, and Blue then work together to defeat and split the bird apart. Red then travels to the Indigo Plateau to battle his rival Blue, having gained seven badges, but also prevails against the evil bio-weapon Mewtwo and Team Rocket's leader and legendary missing Viridian Gym Leader, Giovanni, on the way. Green is confronted by Oak about stealing and is forgiven. Red later battles Blue in the Pokémon League Championships and emerges victorious, claiming the title of champion of the Pokémon League.
Yellow
Red has disappeared after receiving a challenge letter sent to him by
Later, Yellow,
Gold, Silver & Crystal
The third adventure is based on the
Ruby & Sapphire
The Ruby & Sapphire manga is based on the
In their travels, they meet new companions like the gym leaders of the Hoenn region and the avid news reporter Gabby and her cameraman Ty (who play a minor role in the games).
FireRed & LeafGreen
The next story, returning to Red, Green, and Blue, is loosely based on the Sevii Islands portion of the
Yellow and Silver are reintroduced as they later search for clues about Silver’s parents. Knowing that his objective was somewhere in Viridian City, Silver met up with Yellow in the forest. Meanwhile, Giovanni used Deoxys's power to search for his lost son and was led to the Viridian Forest too. It is revealed that Silver is Giovanni's son and he passes out in shock. Yellow follows Team Rocket, who brought Silver back with them to an airship.
Red and Mewtwo challenge Giovanni. He loses, but the airship flies out of control. It is revealed that Red and Deoxys’ have a connection because it absorbed some of Red’s blood. Together, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and Silver stop Deoxys from destroying the area but they are caught in an energy clash that petrifies them. Though Mewtwo is also caught in the attack, his body is nowhere to be seen. Deoxys manages to escape moments before the blast and is currently searching for the other Deoxys that was disposed of after Team Rocket had no further use for it.
Emerald
The protagonist of this story arc is
The three Pokédex owners take on the Battle Frontier challenge, but they are interrupted by Guile Hideout, who was manipulating the head of the Battle Tower, Anabel. In an ensuing battle with Emerald, he releases Anabel from his control and reveals himself to be Team Aqua's leader, Archie. He also reveals that he has caught Jirachi, and subsequently uses it to summon a massive water-composed clone of Kyogre to flood the Battle Frontier. Archie hints that he is unable to be separated from the armor covering him for a prolonged period of time.
The three Pokédex holders escape the rising waters with the help of Gold and Crystal, who have also arrived at the Battle Frontier. Gold explains that the five Pokédex owners who were petrified — Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and Silver — were ordered to be shipped to the Battle Frontier. The hope was for them to be de-petrified through a wish to Jirachi. While Crystal trains Ruby and Sapphire to learn a powerful skill that can help stop Kyogre, Archie abandons Jirachi, who is subsequently left in Emerald's hands.
Gold assigns Emerald to make a wish to de-petrify Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and Silver. After finally coming into terms with his real desire—to be with Pokémon and people who like them, Jirachi grants his wish, and the five Pokédex owners are cured of their petrification. Red and Gold immediately incapacitate Archie by destroying his armor. With all ten Pokédex owners now reunited, they combine their strongest attacks together and defeat Kyogre and Archie, who vanishes for good.
Diamond & Pearl
This storyline is based on the
As they travel Sinnoh, Platinum becomes engrossed in Gym Battles after fighting Roark in order to up her
In an encounter with Team Galactic while in Veilstone City, Platinum becomes Galactic’s ransom target, as a means to extract capital to develop a bomb, which would be used to destroy the three lakes of Sinnoh. Platinum’s center of attention causes the banishment of her real bodyguards to a different realm, causing Diamond and Pearl to continue faking as professional bodyguards, while now knowing the truth. The evidence is further solidified when the trio visit Celestic Town to find Cyrus studying the ruins there.
After battling Fantina for a gym badge, the trio learn that Platinum’s father and Professor Rowan have been kidnapped while at an academic conference in Canalave City. They immediately speed to Canalave City aboard Fantina’s Drifblim. After her father and Professor Rowan are saved, Platinum learns that Diamond and Pearl were not her bodyguards; while this causes a rift between them, Platinum reconciles with them by revealing her name as a means of declaring she recognizes the two as her friends. They resolve to continue their journey through Sinnoh in order to stop Team Galactic's nefarious plans and save the legendary Pokémon (Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf) of Sinnoh's three lakes. And Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum will be informed that Team Galactic captures the trio legendary Pokémon use them to the production of Red Chain in order to summon to the two legendary Pokémon in charge of time and space, Dialga and Palkia create a new universe.
Platinum
The chapter follows Lady Platinum Berlitz, separate with Diamond and Pearl, as she enters the Battle Frontier; as well as Looker, who is international police investigating information on the Team Galactic and assist Platinum investigating information on the Distortion World, where her original bodyguards, Dialga and Palkia, and Cyrus, the leader of Team Galactic. To this end, Platinum will challenge the Frontier Brains to obtain intelligence.
At the same time, Charon of Team Galactic also initiate a plan of action to take possession of the legendary Pokémon of Sinnoh, including the legendary Pokémon expelled to Distortion World, Giratina.
HeartGold & SoulSilver
This arc is based on the Generation IV games, HeartGold and SoulSilver, and takes place between the Emerald and Diamond & Pearl arc. Gold is tasked by Professor Oak to find former villain Lance in the Pokéathlon, as he holds information about the Alpha Pokémon, Arceus. Gold decides to compete in the Pokéathlon and wins the contests, but is unable to find Lance. Meanwhile, Silver discovers that Team Rocket has been resurrected once again, and is using 3 plates, items that greatly boost a Pokémon based on type, for another evil plot. Both events cause Gold, Silver, and Crystal to investigate the situation, eventually taking them to the Sinjoh Ruins, where the 4 executives behind Team Rocket plan to use Arceus, who has lost faith in humanity, to summon Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina to bring back their leader, Giovanni. The trio, helped by Giovanni, a reformed Lance, and Pryce (who has returned from the crack of time), defeat the Legendary Pokémon and restore Arceus' faith in humanity.
Black & White
This arc features a boy named Black and his Tepig "Tep" [c] on a quest to become a master trainer, along with Black's Braviary "Brav" [d] and Munna "Musha". When his ambition to become the best trainer in Unova gets the better of him, he causes a scene by screaming out his dream with his Pokémon. One day due to an encounter with a Galvantula, he destroys a film set and ends up under the employment of a girl named White, the owner of female Tepig Gigi [e] and happens to be the proud president of the BW Agency, a company that provides Pokémon actors for various productions. Black and White's Tepigs have a crush on each other, and White happens to require the services of Black's Tep. The rivals of the Black and White game, Cheren and Bianca, appear as Pokédex holders, Cheren with a Snivy and Bianca with Oshawott. Due to an accident at Professor Juniper's lab, Black is left with the only functioning Pokédex from Professor Juniper's lab, thus making him especially important for completing the Pokédex; it also makes him a target of Team Plasma due to his opposition towards their ideals of "Pokémon liberation".
Black 2 & White 2
The plot of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 is a special class trip arc. It follows Blake (Lack-Two in Japan), a member of the International Police who seeks to arrest the seven sages and the other Neo Team Plasma members, and Whitley (Whi-Two in Japan), a former member of Team Plasma yearning for the return of N. They are new students in Cheren's class along with Hugh, who vows himself to defeat Neo Team Plasma and get the
The serialization of the story arc began in July 2013. On September 27, 2016, it was announced that the chapter would be published digitally in Shogakukan's "Sunday Web Every". It began on October 4, 2016 and released each chapter of volume 52 on a weekly basis before continuing on to the first round of volume 53 on a monthly basis starting November 22, 2016. Another hiatus occurred following February 2018, but serialization resumed in March 2019 until its completion in April 2020. Its regular volumes publication began in December 2014 and concluded in May 2020.
X & Y
The X & Y chapter focuses on a depressed boy named X, who won a major tournament as a child, and Y, a girl who dreams of becoming a Sky Trainer. X has been forced out of hiding when the two legendary Pokémon blow up his town. Soon, he meets up with a group called Team Flare who tries to steal his tool that enables mega evolution. X, Y, and their companions, Shauna, Tierno, and Trevor have to try to escape Team Flare by seeking a place where they can go in peace; however, the plan doesn't go like X and his friends want.
Serialization of this story arc began in October 2013 and concluded in November 2016. The publication of the X & Y chapter in the regular volumes format began in May 2020 and concluded in February 2022.
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
The Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc focuses on the returning Hoenn trio of Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald based on the Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire versions of the game. Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald acquire Mega Bracelets and Mega Stones from Steven to help aid his quest to save the Earth from impending doom by a meteorite while Ruby encounters a mysterious girl along the way. Sapphire is traumatized when she learns the truth about the meteor, and in result of that trauma she loses her voice and sense of smell. Ruby takes on the role of lorekeeper and gets Rayquaza to trust him so they can save the world through the use of dragon lore. It is based primarily on the events of the Delta Episode in the games.
The arc was released digitally on Shogakukan's "Web Sunday," with a new chapter on the first Tuesday of every month. The first mini-volume was released in Japan on July 24, 2015.
Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
This chapter features a boy named Sun who is a courier with the hope of gathering 100 million
Sword & Shield
Marvin is a young boy who just moved to Galar region and met Henry Sword (Sōdo Tsurugi in Japan) and Casey Shield (Shieldmilia Tate in Japan), the boy is a "Meister" of repair Pokemon's gear and hopes to have an opportunity to see the legendary artifacts Rusted Sword and Shield, and the girl is a computer engineer who is interested in Dynamax and looking for her lost Pokemon team. They traveled with Professor Magnolia to help her investigate the Dynamax phenomenon. And Henry and Casey are planning to challenge the Galar Pokemon League, in order to gather information about Casey's lost Pokemon.
Scarlet & Violet
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Characters
The protagonists of this series are mainly the Pokémon trainers who called Pokédex Holders that are recognized by the well-known Pokémon professors in various regions and awarded Pokédex.
As of Sword & Shield chapter, there are 23 Pokédex Holders and according to their region and the version of Pokédex they hold, they can be divided into eight groups.
Kanto
- Gyarados (Gyara) and Aerodactyl(Aero). He specializes in Pokémon Battles (The Fighter). In his latest appearance in ORAS he is twenty.
- Scizor. In G/S/C/HG/SS he has been made gym leader of Viridian City after Red declined that offer. Although the exact timing of his appearance in the XY chapter is unknown, it is probable that it occurs simultaneously with the ORAS chapter, making him twenty.
- Moltres. As of her latest appearance in the ORAS chapter, she is twenty.
- Raticate(Ratty).
Johto
- Pichu(Pibu), who was given to him by Yellow as a result of her and Red's Pikachu's courtship. His first adventure started in G/S/C thinking Silver stole his backpack full of Pokémon. In HG/SS he is sixteen.
- Gyarados. In HG/SS he is sixteen.
- Cubone(Bonee). In HG/SS she is sixteen.
Hoenn
- Celebi.
- Relicanth(Relly).
- Mantine.
Sinnoh
- Regigigas(Reg). Because of a mix-up, he initially thinks that if he escorts Berlitz to Mt. Coronet he will win a prize, but alongside Pearl he decides to accompany her anyway after the truth is revealed. During the journey, he develops a strong friendship with Platinum.
- Diglett(Digler). Because of a mix-up, he initially thinks that if he escorts Berlitz to Mt. Coronet, he will win a prize. Though suspicious of her at first, Pearl grows to respect Platinum for her many talents.
- Cherrim and Pachirisuby Candice, Gardenia and Maylene (Although the Pachirisu actually belonged to Volkner). Throughout the early portions of the story, her first name is omitted and not revealed; later, her name is revealed as Platinum. She is known to enter many competitions, such as Pokémon Super Contests, gym leaders battles, and Sinnoh Battle Frontier.
Unova
- Reshiram.
- Vullaby(Barbara). Gigi eventually decided to come back to her agency.
- Blake (known as Lack-two in Japan) - The male protagonist in the Black 2 & White 2 chapter. He is a member of the International Police in search for Neo Team Plasma's members ("Arrester"). He is shown owning a Dewott, Gliscor(Liomaru).
- Whitley (known as Whi-two in Japan) - The female protagonist in the Black 2 & White 2 chapter. She is a former member of Team Plasma with her mother. She believes former Team Plasma is good, and N will return to lead them ("Liberator"). She is shown having a Tepig(Lady Gigi).
Kalos
- X - The male protagonist in the X & Y chapter. A boy who won a Pokémon Tournament when he was younger but became overwhelmed by paparazzi and became a depressed shut-in ("Loner"). He owns a Chesnaughtnicknamed Marisso.
- Y - The female protagonist in the X & Y chapter. A girl who dreams of becoming a Sky Trainer although her mother is a popular Rhyhorn racer ("Flyer"), and her full name known as Y na Gabena (Yvonne Gabena in English). She has an intrepid personality and is a leader in their friends. She is shown with a Xerneas(Xerxer) although the last one was eventually lost as it turns back into its tree form.
Alola
- Sun - The male protagonist in the Sun & Moon and Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon chapters. A money obsessed boy from Kanto with many jobs, mainly as a delivery boy. His goal is to collect 100 million Stakataka(Lei).
- Moon - The female protagonist in the Sun & Moon and Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon chapters. A girl from Sinnoh who is skilled at archery, but is also a pharmacist ("Mixer"). She came to Alola to find materials to cure a Decidueye.
Galar
- Henry (known as Soudo/Sword in Japan) - The male protagonist in the Sword & Shield chapter. Full name known as Henry Sword Soudo Tsurugi (剣 創人, Tsurugi Sōdo), is a "Meister" (身具職人, Shingu Meister) which repairs the gear Pokemon use in battle and in life. When working on gear, he hyperfocuses, but otherwise he seems laidback- if a tad manipulative. Feels responsible for Casey losing her Pokemon and is going through the League challenge to help her find them. Has a Gurdurr(Steeler), named after their gear.
- Casey (known as Shieldmilia in Japan) - The female protagonist in the Sword & Shield chapter. Full name known as Casey Shield Shieldmilia Tate (盾 シルドミリア, Tate Shirudomiria), is a loud, energetic girl who is a technological prodigy. She has a very analytic mind and loves Dynamaxing and pranks. Has a Ball Guy head that may or may not be the real deal and a tragic past where she lost all five of her Pokemon. With the help of Henry, Professor Magnolia and Marvin, she hopes to win the Pokemon League to gain press attention and use it to search for her team. Her starter Pokemon is a Scorbunny(currently a Raboot), but as the chapter progresses, she recovers her lost party.
Paldea
- Violet - The male protagonist in the Scarlet & Violet chapter.
- Scarlet - The female protagonist in the Scarlet & Violet chapter.
Development
Series writer
During publication of the series, artist Mato fell sick leaving Kusaka to either cancel the series or select another artist. He decided to continue and chose
Reception
Japanese volumes from the series have been featured in the Japanese comic ranking various times.[15][16] Viz's first volumes edition from the manga, "The Best of Pokémon Adventures", appeared on ICv2's Top 20 Graphic Novels from April 2008.[17] It also won the first Nickelodeon Magazine Comics Awards in the category "Favorite Manga Series".[18] Readers from Media Factory's Da Vinci Denshi Navi magazine voted the series as the third manga they wanted to have an animated adaptation.[19] By September 2014, the manga had over 12 million copies in circulation only in Japan.[20] By August 2017, it had 28 million copies in circulation worldwide.[21]
ICv2's Nick Smith gave the first volume 3.5 stars out of 5, commenting that several of the parts from the manga make it more interesting than the anime, such as Team Rocket's appearances or Pikachu's rebelled personality. Although he still noted there was more violence in the manga than in the anime, he still recommended it for all ages.[22]
Volume 14 charted at tenth on The New York Times Manga Best Seller list on the week ending August 6, 2011.[23][24]
Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO of The Pokémon Company, said "I want every Pokémon fan to read this comic!"[25]
Sales announcement mistake
Southeast Asia publisher Shogakukan Asia announced in November 2016 that the manga had sold over 150 million copies worldwide.[26] However, in December 2017, the illustrator Satoshi Yamamoto stated on his Twitter account that this was an error.[27]
Notes
References
- ^ "Pokémon Adventures Collector's Edition Volume 1 Review". Anime UK News. April 26, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ a b 6 english mini volumes
- ^ 12 english mini volumes
- ^ "Pokémon Adventures Characters". Viz Media. Archived from the original on June 22, 2000.
- ^ "Products." Shogakukan Asia. Retrieved on June 2, 2015.
- ^ a b "Interview: The Creators of Pokemon Adventures". Anime News Network. November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ISBN 978-4-09-199048-8. Archivedfrom the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ 『ポケットモンスターSPECIAL』全53巻、マンガワンで無料公開. Oricon News (in Japanese). April 26, 2019. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-56931-507-1.
- ISBN 978-1-56931-508-8.
- ISBN 978-1-56931-710-5.
- ISBN 4-09-149340-8.
- ISBN 4-09-149711-X.
- ISBN 4-09-149719-5.
- ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, November 26-December 2". Anime News Network. December 11, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2009.
- ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, March 31-April 6". Anime News Network. April 8, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2009.
- ^ "BookScan's Top 20 Graphic Novels for April". ICv2. April 30, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2009.
- ^ "Pokémon Wins Nickelodeon Mag's Favorite Manga Award". Anime News Network. March 27, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2009.
- ^ "Media Factory Poll: Which Novel/Manga Do You Want Animated (Updated)". Anime News Network. February 24, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
- ^ @satoshi_swalot (September 17, 2014). 只今、ポケスペ累計1200万部を超えた打ち上げから帰還。 (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved April 26, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ 发行量已达2800万!《神奇宝贝特别篇》真的不考虑下动画化嘛. 3g.163 (in Chinese). August 20, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ "Review of 'Pokemon Adventures' Vol. 1 (Manga)". ICv2. March 23, 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
- ^ "Best Sellers: Manga (August 21, 2011)". The New York Times. August 21, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
- ^ "New York Times Manga Best Seller List, July 31 – August 6". Anime News Network. August 12, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
- ^ "The Best of Pokémon Adventures". Viz.com. Viz Media. Archived from the original on December 2, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
- ^ "Pokémon Adventures Ruby and Sapphire 2". Shogakukan Asia. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- Yamamoto, Satoshi [@satoshi_swalot] (December 20, 2017). 世界累計発行部数1億5千万部はShogakujan Asiaのサイトで誤表記したことが原因だと思われます。オフィシャルがそう書いたら正確なソースと誤解させて当然ですね。感情的にデマ呼ばわりして申し訳ありませんでした (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved April 26, 2021 – via Twitter.
External links
- Pocket Monsters Special Japanese website (in Japanese)
- Official Pokémon Adventures website of Viz Media
- Pokemon Adventures result at Shogakukan Asia
- Pokémon Adventures (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia