Pokémon (manga)
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The Pokémon shōnen manga series is based on the Pokémon anime. The manga is made by Toshihiro Ono. In Japan, the series is known as Pocket Monsters: Dengeki Pikachu and in Singapore, it is translated as The Electric Tale of Pikachu!
The manga was released in four volumes, or tankōbon. In the North American English adaptations, they are named: The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Pikachu Shocks Back, Electric Pikachu Boogaloo, and Surf's Up, Pikachu. The Singapore English version uses "Electric Tale of Pikachu" for all four volumes. The characters and storylines are all drown closely from the anime series, although the world itself has a visibly higher level of technology.
The manga was published in English in North America by Viz Communications. The English manga is flipped to the Western left to right format. In Singapore, the manga is published in English by Chuang Yi.
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[edit] Editing in the North American version
The initial printing of the manga in North America drew ire from parents who read the manga, so the graphic novels were edited for American audiences.
In the original Japanese version, Toshihiro Ono drew most of the female characters with oversized busts and revealing outfits. There were a few scenes that could be construed as risqué by American parents, including one involving Misty relaxing in a hot tub, only to be interrupted by Ash clumsily bursting in. Any excess skin was covered up by American translators. Some purist fans are disgusted by this 'butchering' of the manga, and sites were created on the internet requesting the removal of these edits.
[edit] Characters
Japanese names in Western order (given name before surname) are given first, followed by the English name. For the sake of simplicity, English language names will be used in this and other articles in Wikipedia about Pokémon, unless explicitly referring to the Japanese version.
- Satoshi / Ash Ketchum - The main character, whose name in the Japanese version (Satoshi) is named after Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of the Pokémon games. Ash aspires to be a Pokémon Master, and together with the various friends and Pokémon that travel with him, embark on many adventures. In a similar fashion to the game, Ash does this by entering various Pokémon League competitions.
- Pikachu, a little yellow mouse-like creature with a lightning bolt tail and the ability to create an electrical jolt from its cheeks. Unlike the games or anime, Ash finds this Pikachu chewing on the electical wiring in his house, and keeps it as his first Pokémon when he qualifies to be a trainer.
- Shigeru / Gary Oak - His name in the Japanese version (Shigeru) is named after famed videogame designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Unlike his anime counterpart, this version of Ash's rival does not hang out with a pack of cheerleading girlfriends, nor does he travel by car. In fact, about the only thing this Gary has in common with the anime Gary is his mean attitude towards Ash. Nevertheless, he ends up traveling with Ash in the manga's epilogue.
- Musashi / Jessica "Jessie" - The female half of Team Rocket.
- Kojirō / James - The male half of Team Rocket. He and Jessie are apparently married and with child in the epilogue.
- Nyarth (ニャース Nyāsu) / Meowth - Team Rocket's third member. One of very few Pokémon that can speak a human language.
- Sakaki / Giovanni - The seldom-seen leader of Team Rocket.
[edit] List of Chapters
Bk Volume | Chapter# | Japanese Title | English Title |
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Volume 1: The Electric Tale of Pikachu | Bonus 1 | Tales Of Pikachu In The Wild | |
1 | Pikachu, I See You | ||
2 | Play Misty For Me | ||
3 | Clefairy Tale | ||
4 | Haunting My Dreams | ||
Volume 2: Pikachu Shocks Back | Bonus 2 | I Am Ditto! | |
5 | The Human Race and the Pokémon Race | ||
6 | To Evolve Or Not to Evolve, That Is the Question! | ||
7 | Pikachu's Excellent Adventure | ||
8 | You Gotta Have Friends | ||
Bonus 3 | I am Porygon. | ||
Bonus 4 | Suddenly It's Questioning Time! | ||
Volume 3: Electric Pikachu Boogaloo | Bonus 5 | I Am Hungry! | |
9 | I'm Your Venusaur | ||
10 | Clefairy in Space | ||
11 | Days of Gloom and Glory | ||
12 | Welcome to the Big Leagues | ||
13 | The Indigo Finals | ||
14 | The Orange Islands | ||
Volume 4: Surf's Up, Pikachu | Bonus 6 | The Ultimate Pet Of The 21st Century | |
15 | Attack of the Demon Stomach | ||
16 | You Bet Your Wife | ||
17 | Orange Crew Supreme Gym Leader | ||
18 | Orange Crew Supreme Gym Leader (2) | ||
19 | Pokémon Side-Story Ash vs. Gary | ||
Epilogue | "Type: Wild" ~A Possible Future~ |
[edit] Other Pokemon mangas
- Magical Pokémon Journey (known in Japan as "PiPiPi's Adventures")
- Pokémon Adventures (known in Japan as "Pocket Monster Special")
- Ash & Pikachu (known in Japan as "Satoshi to Pikachu")
- Pokémon Gold & Silver (manga series)
- Pokémon (anime)
[edit] External links
- Dogasu's Backpack page on the Pokemon manga series
- Pokemon Dengeki Pikachu Uncensored - site telling differences between Japanese and American versions of the manga
Pokémon Media |
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Video games | Anime | Manga | TCG |