Dengeki! Pikachu

I’d predict that most people reading this will be familiar with the well liked other Pokemon manga, following Red and Blue and all those other characters. There is little in common between these two, with this entry being an extremely loose adaptation of the beginning of the anime with Ash Ketchum. And it’s Crazy Go-Nuts. This short series can be hilarious, intentionally and unintentionally, and on that token, I’d like to recommend it. However, in terms of actual artistic quality, there isn’t too much good I can say.

Ash and his Pikachu (named Jean Luc Pikachu; This series likes its puns) travel all over the Kanto

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region, meeting Brock, Misty, Team Rocket, and various other characters. A strange aspect to this manga is that some of the stories are original while others are ripped straight from the anime. You never know if you’re going to meet 3 eevee brothers or traverse an ancient temple dedicated to ghost types. Similarly, Ash’s character is changed a bit. He’s much hornier and rough than his anime incarnation and uses the catchphrase, “What’s their damage?” a lot. Jessie and James seem to be explicitly a couple as well, and seem more like teenagers, which adds a layer of sadness to their unfortunate fall into gang life.

The main reason to read this is to see Pokemon and Pokemon characters rendered in this goofy manga. Professor Oak is a hot guy now (a bit like the guy from Scarlet and Violet), Pidgeotto leaves to take R&R, and Ditto impersonates Ash for nefarious purposes. I wish I could send all the images I saved here. The artwork has that Western-y commercial feel, though it’s perfectly suitable to the subject matter. I just like seeing pokemon illustrated.

The series is short and fun and if you have any nostalgia for Pokemon or its anime, it might scratch an itch. Sorry for using the English names!

Reviewer’s Rating:

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