Pokémon Adventures
- Pokémon special redirects here. For the special episodes in the Pokémon anime, see List of animated series specials.
Pokémon Adventures (Japanese: ポケットモンスターSPECIAL Pocket Monsters SPECIAL) is a manga series authored by Hidenori Kusaka and illustrated by Satoshi Yamamoto. It was illustrated by Mato for the first nine volumes. It is published by Shogakukan under the Ladybug Comics Special (Japanese: てんとう虫コミックススペシャル) series. It debuted in Japan on March 3rd, 1997.
It is popularly known as Pokémon Special even outside of Japan, and is often shortened as PokéSpe (Japanese: ポケスペ / ポケSP PokeSupe).
Unlike the anime—which, though drawing much inspiration from the games, does not follow them exactly—Pokémon Adventures is a mostly game-based manga, with the twenty-five main characters taking their names from the core series games and their various adventures tending to stay restricted to their home region. Also unlike the anime, which has gone to great lengths to indicate the danger of a Legendary or Mythical Pokémon being captured, the main characters of Pokémon Adventures have captured and sometimes use their own legends, much as the player can in the games. Pokémon Adventures also contains darker elements than other media, including depictions of certain characters and some Pokémon dying.
On October 26, 2009, it was announced that the magazines Shogaku Gonensei and Shogaku Rokunensei (at the time serializing the Diamond & Pearl arc) would cease publication at the end of the fiscal year.[1] In February 2012, Shogaku Yonensei—which was serializing the Black & White arc at the time—also ceased publication.[2] Publication continued in CoroCoro Ichiban! and Pokémon Fan magazine.
In 2000, Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri endorsed the series, stating "This is the comic that most resembles the world I was trying to convey."[3] Tsunekazu Ishihara, the president and CEO of The Pokémon Company and Pokémon producer, has also praised the series, saying, "I want every Pokémon fan to read this comic!"[4]
Terminology
- Main article: Terminology of Pokémon Adventures
Story arcs
The various story arcs of Pokémon Adventures span the nine generations of Pokémon games so far. These arcs are named typically for the games they correspond to. The protagonists of each arc typically also share these names.
Red, Green & Blue arc (Volume 1–3)
- Main article: Red, Green & Blue arc (Adventures)
The first arc of Pokémon Adventures, much like the first games, chronicles the journeys of Red and Blue across the Kanto region. Later, a third Trainer, Green, is added into the plot. Together, the three defeat Team Rocket, an evil organization that uses Pokémon for illegal acts. Red also helps Blaine to capture Mewtwo and saves a young girl from wild Pokémon in Viridian Forest. In the end, Red defeats Blue in the Pokémon League and becomes a Pokémon Champion.
Yellow arc (Volume 4–7)
- Main article: Yellow arc (Adventures)
Two years after Red obtains his title of the Champion in the Pokémon League, he disappears after leaving to answer a challenge from someone named Bruno. One month later, Professor Oak discovers Red's Pikachu, Pika, injured at his doorstep. Soon after the arrival of Pika, a young Trainer comes into the Professor's lab. The Trainer, Yellow, claims to be a friend of Red who wishes to look for him with Pika. While Professor Oak is still skeptical about Yellow, especially of the Viridian Forest native's ability to heal Pokémon and sense their emotions just by touching them, he eventually entrusts this mission and Red's upgraded Pokédex to the young Trainer. However, this event only triggers the revelation of a larger secret, as Yellow is repeatedly attacked by members of the Elite Four, who are the ones responsible for Red's disappearance and plan to rid the world of most of humanity in order to create a utopia for Pokémon. The final confrontation against the Elite Four takes place at their base on Cerise Island, with Yellow, finally revealed to be the girl that Red saved in the forest, taking on their leader, the Dragon Pokémon user Lance.
Gold, Silver & Crystal arc (Volume 8–15)
- Main article: Gold, Silver & Crystal arc (Adventures)
As peace is returning to Kanto, new journeys and happenings are beginning in another region, Johto. Gold is enjoying his normal life with his family Pokémon, who have been with him since birth, until he runs into a Pokémon thief at Professor Elm's lab. As he goes on a journey of chasing the thief, Silver, with a Cyndaquil from Professor Elm's laboratory and a Pokédex from Professor Oak, he stumbles upon the secret plots of the Masked Man, the enigmatic leader of Neo Team Rocket. At the same time, Professor Oak sends out a "Pokémon Capture Professional," Crystal, on a journey of completing the Pokédex. She gets involved in Eusine's plans to capture Suicune and tries to do so herself. Soon after, she also gets involved with the plots of Masked Man, who is apparently after the two of Johto's Legendary Pokémon, Lugia and Ho-Oh. When it is discovered that the Masked Man is actually a Gym Leader, an exhibition tournament between Kanto and Johto's Gym Leaders is held at Indigo Plateau to uncover the culprit. Meanwhile, the Masked Man plans to capture time itself for his ultimate plan and recover something he once lost.
Ruby & Sapphire arc (Volume 15–22)
- Main article: Ruby & Sapphire arc (Adventures)
Things have just settled down in Kanto and Johto, but another new region comes on screen. A boy named Ruby has barely completed a move to Hoenn, when he runs away from home to participate in Pokémon Contests against his father's wishes. He meets a wild-natured girl named Sapphire, and together, they make a bet to conquer all the Pokémon Contests and Gyms in Hoenn, respectively, within the span of 80 days. Just like their counterparts in Kanto and Johto, they encounter two evil organizations, the land-favoring Team Magma and sea-favoring Team Aqua. Team Aqua steals an important component from Mr. Stone, the president of the Devon Corporation, while Team Magma steals the Submarine Explorer 1 from Stern's Shipyard. Team Aqua also uses the Grand Meteor to make Mt. Chimney dormant, disrupting the balance of nature. Eventually, Ruby and Sapphire join forces to clash with the evil team leaders Maxie and Archie and quell the ancient Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre before their weather powers destroy all of Hoenn.
FireRed & LeafGreen arc (Volume 22–26)
- Main article: FireRed & LeafGreen arc (Adventures)
This arc continues the series, featuring Red and Blue as they are forced to explore the Sevii Islands to look for Professor Oak, who has been kidnapped by Team Rocket. Meanwhile, Green has finally located her parents, but as she is about to meet them, they get swallowed up by a mysterious black hole after a Deoxys attacks them. Red, Green, and Blue must locate the missing relatives with the help of former foe Lorelei, the Psychic mutant Mewtwo, and a mysterious old lady named Ultima, while confronting the devastatingly powerful Three Beasts of Team Rocket; Sird, Carr, and Orm. Back in Kanto, Silver is seeking his family as well, with the help of Yellow, and is shocked to discover that his father is none other than the Team Rocket Boss Giovanni, who has been searching for him for years.
Emerald arc (Volume 26–29)
- Main article: Emerald arc (Adventures)
The grand opening of the Battle Frontier takes an unexpected twist when a young Trainer named Emerald appears on the scene. Now he must conquer the seven battle facilities in seven days. However, even with a seemingly unmatched ability in battling and access to every Pokémon that Crystal has ever caught, Guile Hideout, the mysterious armored stranger who attacks Noland and is seeking the wish-granting Pokémon Jirachi, may be more of a worry than they first thought, especially if he catches Jirachi before Emerald can.
Diamond & Pearl arc (Volume 30–38)
- Main article: Diamond & Pearl arc (Adventures)
An important and wealthy family from the region of Sinnoh sends their latest descendant Platinum on a special mission with two bodyguards. Things don't go as planned, however, and Platinum instead meets with the aspiring comedy duo of Diamond and Pearl, who coincidentally match the description given to her. They join her, believing she is their tour guide for a trip to Mount Coronet. But these misunderstandings mark the start of their Pokémon journeys. As they travel, they encounter and take on the mysterious and dangerous Team Galactic, who have plans that endanger the existence of the entire universe.
Platinum arc (Volume 38–40)
- Main article: Platinum arc (Adventures)
This arc follows Platinum as she enters the Battle Frontier to gather information on the mysterious Distortion World so she can rescue two very important people. Joining Platinum is Looker, a member of the International Police, who aims to investigate the villainous Team Galactic and its new leader, Charon. Meanwhile, Diamond and Pearl set off with Sinnoh Pokémon Association Chairman and Dr. Footstep to find the Legendary and rare Pokémon of Sinnoh using Charon's stolen notebook.
HeartGold & SoulSilver arc (Volume 41–43)
- Main article: HeartGold & SoulSilver arc (Adventures)
Three years after the clash between Groudon and Kyogre, Team Rocket has been revived once more in an attempt to bring back their long-lost leader, Giovanni, led by the four Rocket Executives. Silver, enraged by this, sets out to stop the team his father once led. Gold, meanwhile, has an encounter with the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, and needs to figure out how to restore its lost faith in humanity.
Black & White arc (Volume 43–51)
- Main article: Black & White arc (Adventures)
This arc follows Black's journey across the Unova region, with the dream of conquering the Pokémon League and becoming the Champion. He is joined by White, who works in the BW Agency and whose dream is to raise the best Pokémon actor out there. Meanwhile, an organization known as Team Plasma and their mysterious king N are aiming to liberate Pokémon from their Trainers and awaken the Legendary Pokémon Zekrom to aid them in this task.
Black 2 & White 2 arc (Volume 52–55)
- Main article: Black 2 & White 2 arc (Adventures)
Blake is a seemingly normal boy enrolled in the Aspertia City Trainer's School. However, he is actually a high-ranking member of the International Police who aims to find and arrest the remaining members of Team Plasma, which was defeated two years earlier. Unbeknownst to him, the new student, Whitley, happens to be a former member of Team Plasma, who longs for the return of N. At the same time, Team Plasma, led by the evil scientist Colress, is back with a vengeance and begins to use the Legendary Pokémon Kyurem to spread icy devastation around Unova with their new mobile base, the Plasma Frigate.
X & Y arc (Volume 55–62)
- Main article: X & Y arc (Adventures)
X, a boy who won a Pokémon tournament as a child, has become a depressed shut-in due to bad experiences with the paparazzi and the public speaking bad about him. Although his friends Y, Shauna, Tierno, and Trevor try to get him back to normal, he refuses to listen to them. A sudden catastrophe leaves the children's hometown of Vaniville devastated, forcing them to depart on a journey across Kalos. Meanwhile, Team Flare is aiming to capture both X's Mega Ring and the Legendary Pokémon Xerneas and Yveltal to power their ultimate weapon, spreading paranoia amongst the heroes with their seemingly omnipresent forces across the region.
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc (Volume 62–65)
- Main article: Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc (Adventures)
When danger once again approaches Hoenn, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are asked to learn about Mega Evolution to prevent the impending disaster in ten days. However, a mysterious girl named Zinnia bears a searing hatred towards the Devon Corporation for what they did to the Draconid people in the past, and is determined to not allow their solution to the crisis to be carried out, no matter what the cost.
Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon arc (Volume 65-)
- Main article: Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon arc (Adventures)
Moon, a girl from Sinnoh, has traveled to Alola to make a delivery to Professor Kukui. She meets Sun, a dedicated delivery boy who aims to collect 100 million yen for a classified purpose. Meanwhile, the island kahunas realize that the Tapu have been agitated by something and decide to revive the old custom of island challenge in order to appease them. In the midst of all these events are also the mysterious girl named Lillie, accompanied by the Legendary Pokémon Cosmog, and the equally mysterious young man Gladion, who is seeking to get stronger in order to defeat the strange beings known as Ultra Beasts.
Sword & Shield arc
- Main article: Sword & Shield arc (Adventures)
Henry Sword, a gear smith who specializes in fixing and maintaining the tools that various Pokémon use, and Casey Shield, a hyperactive girl looking for her lost Pokémon, enter the Galar Gym Challenge, hoping to use the publicity it attracts to them to help Casey in her task. Accompanying the two on their journey through Galar are Marvin, a young boy who recently moved to the region, and Professor Magnolia, the leading expert in the research of the Dynamax phenomenon. Meanwhile, Chairman Rose of Macro Cosmos is hatching a plan to save Galar from an energy crisis a thousand years in the future.
Scarlet & Violet arc
- Main article: Scarlet & Violet arc (Adventures)
Violet, a student at Uva Academy who believes himself to be a prince and has befriended the Legendary Pokémon Miraidon, is searching for the Herba Mystica and recruits Arven for help. Along the way, an individual calling themselves Cassiopeia requests their help in taking down the group of delinquent students known as Team Star. Meanwhile, Scarlet, a professional treasure hunter who was recently transferred to Uva Academy, sets out to search for the treasures of ruin, with a battle-hungry Nemona following her in the hopes of getting a new rival out of her.
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Side stories
Pokémon Adventures also has spin-off side stories that are connected to the main manga. So far, two of these side stories have been released, both of them being based on Pokémon Ranger series games.
Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission
- Main article: Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission
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Pokémon Ranger: The Comic – Shadows of Almia
- Main article: Pokémon Ranger: The Comic – Shadows of Almia
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Short synopsis |
English translations
Pokémon Adventures has been licensed for English translation by three different companies: VIZ Media, located in the United States, Chuang Yi, located in Singapore, and Shogakukan Asia, also located in Singapore.
VIZ Media
Beginning in September 1999, Pokémon Adventures was translated into English and published in the United States by VIZ Media. Originally, the series was available as a series of monthly single issues, a popular format at the time, and the chapters were later released in the more traditional graphic novel format, beginning from Volume 1 in April 2000. Publication ceased in 2003 after the Yellow arc concluded with Volume 7. These translations read from left-to-right with the artwork in reverse from the original version, to conform with the style of North American comics and other Japanese manga published at the time. Other content, such as the route maps at the end of every volume, was omitted as well. Samples from this translation of Pokémon Adventures can be found in the The Best of Pokémon Adventures volumes, which were both published in 2006.
In June 2009, VIZ Media began re-releasing the series beginning from Volume 1. Rather than just reissue the previous translations, VIZ Media opted for a "second edition" - these volumes feature a new translation, with the right-to-left artwork and all of the content omitted from the previous translation restored. However, the new translation still follows closely to the original translation, containing some of the same dialogue and all the same titles for the chapters, as well as a lack of nicknames for Red's or Green's Pokémon (although Red's Pokémon receive nicknames in later volumes). In addition, these second editions contain edits not found in the first edition, such as the editing of Green's battle with Sabrina in A Little Kadabra'll Do It to remove the scene of Green hiding Poké Balls in her top and the recoloring of Jynx to match its current color of purple.
Following the second edition of Volume 7, VIZ Media has begun to release volumes which are new to North America, beginning with Volume 8 in August 2010. While continuing the format of the second editions, there are some edits in the new-to-American audience volumes, like editing a scene of Crystal's mother slapping her in Volume 11 into a glare and editing the scene of Norman punching Ruby into him dropping Ruby due to lightning in Volume 17. VIZ Media took a break in publication following the release of Volume 14 in August 2011, which concluded the Gold, Silver & Crystal arc (The Last Battle XIV was moved to the end of Volume 14). They resumed production of the series with Volume 15 in March 2013.
In July 2010, it was announced that the Diamond & Pearl arc would be published concurrently with the Gold, Silver & Crystal arc as a "second series" called Pokémon Adventures: Diamond and Pearl/Platinum, with Volume 30 published as the first volume of the second series. This second series releases one new volume triannually and began publication in February 2011. Continuing this trend, in August 2013 VIZ Media began to release the HeartGold & SoulSilver arc as a separately numbered series, Pokémon Adventures: HeartGold & SoulSilver, consisting of Volume 41 and Volume 42 as volumes one and two. Since the HeartGold & SoulSilver arc is numbered separately from the Black & White arc, the first four chapters of Volume 43 (PS457-PS460) were moved to the end of Volume 42 to keep the chapters organised by arc.
Beginning in July 2011, VIZ Media began publishing the magazine version of the Black & White arc. Since the chapters were not collected in volume format in Japan at the time of publication, they were released as a series of mini-volumes, titled Pokémon Black and White and billed as a "Pokémon Adventures special edition". Starting from July 2013, VIZ Media started releasing the regular volume versions as a series called Pokémon Adventures: Black & White, allowing readers the choice between the magazine version and the volume version.
In March 2013, VIZ launched the Perfect Square app for the iPad. It allowed users to buy digital copies of children's manga and American comics. Pokémon Adventures is among those included on the app. So far, only Volumes 1-14 and Diamond and Pearl/Platinum Volumes 1-4 have been made available. These same volumes have also been released on the Kindle and Nook eBook stores as well.
Due to the Black 2 & White 2 arc being put on hiatus to begin the work on the X & Y arc, the mini-volume format continued for the X & Y arc as well as future arcs, with the publication of regular volumes being paused. The final volume of the Black 2 & White 2 arc, Volume 55, was released in 2020 in Japan and 2021 in North America, with regular volumes of the X & Y arc beginning publication in 2022 in America.
In July 2018, Viz announced their plans to release the regular volumes for the entire series digitally on both their website's regular digital platform and app as well as Kindle, iBooks, Nook and GooglePlay with volumes 1-7 initially available, while the rest of the current released volumes were released between August to December 2018 with both October and December having multiple saga releases[5] which was completed on December 25, 2018. Releases for the later regular volumes were done in both physical and digital format.
VIZ Media's translations of Pokémon Adventures are available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and South Africa. They are also imported into other countries.
Chuang Yi
Chuang Yi, a manga company based in Singapore, translated Pokémon Adventures into English since Volume 1 in May 2000. The first seven volumes used VIZ Media's translation, though after VIZ Media stopped their first edition in 2003 at Volume 7, Chuang Yi continued to translate the series on their own. As the first seven volumes were based on the flipped edition by VIZ Media, Chuang Yi continued to publish the series in a flipped format, lasting from Volume 8 to Volume 40. Their final volume, Volume 41, was published in the original right-to-left reading format. Their translation of the manga stopped when Chuang Yi went under voluntary liquidation.
Chuang Yi's translations of Pokémon Adventures were available in Singapore, Malaysia, India, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. They were also available in Australia and New Zealand through Madman Entertainment.
Shogakukan Asia
Beginning in July 2014, a new publisher, Shogakukan Asia, has picked up the license for Pokémon manga, including Pokémon Adventures, in Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries. They first published Pokémon Adventures volume 42 in August 2014. The volumes were published in the original right-to-left reading format.
International translations
Pokémon Adventures has been translated into many languages for publication around the world.
Chinese
Pokémon Adventures has been translated into various versions in Chinese. The Traditional Chinese (Taiwan) version is translated by Ching Win Publishing Co., Ltd. (青文出版社有限公司) under the title 神奇寶貝特別篇, while the Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) version is translated by its subsidiary, Hong Kong Ching Win Publishing Co., Ltd. (香港青文出版社有限公司) under the title 寵物小精靈特別篇.
The Simplified Chinese (Mainland China) version is translated by Jilin Publishing Group (吉林出版集团) under the title 精灵宝可梦特别篇. The series was formerly named 神奇宝贝特别篇 prior to Volume 29, but was renamed due to trademark issues. Volume 1 - 29 was then republished under the new name afterwards. Initially, the series was translated by China Light Industry Press (轻工业出版社) and known as 宠物小精灵特别篇 for seven volumes, before Jilin Publishing took over in 2005.
Finnish
On July 25, 2014, Finnish publisher Pauna Media started publishing the Red, Green & Blue arc and the Yellow arc under the combined title Pokémon Adventures: Red, Blue & Green. The seven volumes of these story arcs were initially scheduled to be released monthly. The Finnish version is based on and translated from the Japanese version. The names of moves, most characters, and Pokémon, however, will be in English by request of English licensors.
This means that Blue and Green follow the English naming as well instead of the original Japanese. Even though the translation is based on the Japanese version, the graphics are based on VIZ Media's second English version, with certain Finnish sound effects added. The edits made to the graphics remain in this version, despite the company's earlier statement on not censoring the series. Pauna Media has plans to release the entire series, although no new volumes have been released in years as of now.
European French
Pokémon Adventures was translated into European French by Glénat under the title Pokémon: La Grande Aventure!. This translated version was based on the original Japanese, however, the artwork was printed in reverse order in a left-to-right reading format for purposes of publication in France. Each volume was initially split into two monthly issues by Glénat, and were later republished in their original volume presentation. Glénat suddenly had to interrupt this edition due to copyright issues, before the release of Volume 7, the closing volume of the Yellow arc.
Since 2011, the Black & White arc has been translated for France by Kurokawa. This translation respects the original reading format (right-to-left) and is based directly on the magazine version of Pokémon Adventures. As the title Pokémon: La Grande Adventure! was still trademarked by Glénat, the Black & White arc is published with the title Pokémon Noir et Blanc.
In April 2014, it was announced by Kurokawa that they would be rereleasing the Red, Green & Blue arc and the Yellow arc in a set of three omnibus volumes, beginning on June 12, 2014 with volume one. This release, while continuing to use the "Pokémon: La Grande Aventure!" name, features an entirely new translation more faithful to the original Japanese version and consistent with Kurokawa's release of the Black & White arc. In this edition, Red, Blue and Green are named Rouge, Bleu and Verte, which translate to the same colours in French. Blue and Green's names are switched, as in the English version (Bleu is the male character and Verte is the female character), likely due to the fact that there was no Green version released in France.
In 2015, upon completion of the Black & White arc, Kurokawa has begun a French translation of the X & Y arc in the same format. Similarly, in commemoration of the release of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Kurokawa has begun an omnibus release of the original Ruby & Sapphire arc, previously unissued in France. After that, it continues with the launch of Gold, Silver & Crystal arc in 2016.
German
Pokémon Adventures has been translated into German by Egmont Manga & Anime. However, only the first three volumes were released. In the German version, the names of characters such as Professor Oak and Lt. Surge were renamed to their German names from the games and anime. Additionally, Red and Blue were renamed to "Ash" and "Gary" to match the anime.
The publication rights to Pokémon Adventures were picked up in 2013 by Panini Comics. Publication began with the first eight volumes of the Black & White arc, released under the title Pokémon: Schwarz und Weiss. At first the release schedule was one every two or three months. In May 2015 Panini Comics started releasing X & Y arc in Shogakukan’s mini-volume format and under the title Pokémon X und Y, followed by Red, Green & Blue arc under the title Pokémon: Die ersten Abenteuer in January 2016. In 2017 the release-cycle of new volumes changed to once a month.
As of June 2021, Panini Comics have released 67 volumes in total. The first volume of the latest arc of the manga – Sword & Shield arc – went on sale in April 2021.
Greek
The first fifteen chapters of Pokémon Adventures (Greek: Pokémon Περιπέτειες) were translated into Greek by Modern Times. The fifteen chapters were published over five books, with the first book titled Pokémon Περιπέτειες: Ο Καλύτερος Εκπαιδευτής.
Italian
Pokémon Adventures (Pokémon: Le Grandi Storie a Fumetti) was translated into Italian by Planet Manga, a subsidiary of Panini Comics. The first ten monthly issues were translated into Italian, based on VIZ Media's first edition. The project was abandoned after the fifteenth chapter.
In autumn 2013, Italian manga publishers J-Pop and GP Manga announced at the Lucca Comics and Games comic book convention that they would be publishing the Black & White arc of the Pokémon Adventures manga in Italian with the title Pokémon Nero e Bianco. This release is based on VIZ Media's mini volumes of the magazine version. The first Italian volume was released on August 27, 2014.
J-Pop then started to publish the Pokémon Adventures saga from the very beginning with the title Pokémon: La Grande Avventura, releasing the Red, Green & Blue arc together with the Yellow arc in three volumes in November 2016, the Gold, Silver & Crystal arc in November 2017, the Ruby & Sapphire arc in October 2018 and the FireRed & LeafGreen arc together with the Emerald arc in four volumes in June 2019.
Korean
Pokémon Adventures (포켓몬스터 스페셜) is translated into Korean by 대원씨아이 Daewon C.I., which has released up to Volume 54 to date.
The Korean version had been published in a flipped format from Volume 1 through Volume 25, but since Volume 26, it keeps the original right-to-left orientation after the series' dedicated translator had been changed. However, the volumes that had already been published prior to Volume 26 are still being published in a flipped format. It is also notable that the cover arts were also flipped in the first 6 volumes and Volume 8, which is a feature that has never been implemented to other flipped versions of Pokémon Adventures.
Malaysian
In Malaysia, Pokémon Adventures was translated as Pengembaraan Pokémon under Chuang Yi's license.
Norway
In Norway, Pokémon Adventures is translated in Norwegian by Outland, titled Pokémon-eventyrene, and has been published since September 21, 2021.
Names are treated similarly to how the anime treats them, using the English names except for types. However, item names are translated, and place names have the descriptor translated (eg. Viridian-skogen) and town names are often called just by the names, without the "city" or "town" parts.
Polish
In Poland, the first volume's worth of chapters was translated into Polish by Japonica Polonica Fantastica and published in four monthly issues. The Polish version uses the English "Pokémon Adventures" name. Due to the low popularity of the series in Poland, the series was quickly discontinued and the monthly issues were never collected in a bound volume.
Brazilian Portuguese
In August 2014, Panini Comics began releasing the Black & White arc of the Pokémon Adventures manga in Brazilian Portuguese, beginning with Volume 43. Panini has stated that if the series is successful, they will continue into other story arcs of the manga. The Red, Green & Blue arc was released in November 2016, the Yellow arc was released in April 2017 and the Gold & Silver arc was released in January 2018
European Spanish
In Spain, Norma Editorial has acquired the complete license of the manga. Due to the length of the series (52 volumes at the time of announcing the license) and due to different story arcs often starting and ending partway through volumes, Norma Editorial has opted for an omnibus format which groups chapters by arc, including two simultaneous numbering systems (each volume is numbered based on its position in the entire series as well as numbered based on which arc the book collects).
Norma Editorial's translation of Pokémon Adventures retains the original right-to-left reading format. New volumes are expected to be released monthly, beginning with Volume 1 on October 29, 2015. For their first releases, Norma Editorial will be alternating between the Red, Green & Blue arc and the Black & White arc.
Latin American Spanish
Pokémon Adventures was translated into Latin American Spanish by Toukan Manga. The Latin American translation was based on VIZ Media's English translation.
In 2015, Panini Comics Mexico announced that they would be publishing Pokémon Adventures in Latin America. They began publishing the Black & White arc in 2016.
Thai
In Thailand, Pokémon Adventures (โปเกมอนสเปเชียล) is translated and published by Nation Edutainment (เนชั่น เอ็ดดูเทนเมนท์).
Vietnamese
In Vietnam, Pokémon Adventures (Pokémon Đặc Biệt) is published by Kim Đồng Publishing House, one of the largest manga publishers in Vietnam. The Vietnamese translation is based directly on the Japanese version — the trademarked romanizations of Japanese names are used for Pokémon, character and location names, although move names are translated into Vietnamese language.
Kim Đồng Publishing House's first edition of Pokémon Adventures began in 2003 and ran from Volume 1 through Volume 12, after which the series was discontinued due to Kim Đồng's Japanese partner cancelling their contract. This edition was published in a left-to-right format with reversed artwork.
In late 2014, Kim Đồng renegotiated the rights to the Pokémon Adventures series; however, a series of delays resulted in the release of the first volume to be pushed back from a projected January 2015 release date until April 6, 2015. Volume 2 was planned to be released on April 20 but has been delayed since then, after receiving complaints about some translated terms from readers. This volume was finally released on August 24, and subsequent volumes are scheduled to follow every two weeks on Mondays. Kim Đồng's second edition of Pokémon Adventures are published in the original right-to-left reading format.
Trivia
- The series went through several names, including Pokémon Z and Pokémon G. The name Pokémon Z was even used in early versions of the first volume.[6]
- A large amount of the art in Pokémon Adventures is based on the original concept works from the games. For example:
- In the Red, Green & Blue arc, Charmander is drawn with spikes on its back.
- Hitmonlee has legs that can stretch like springs in the Red, Green & Blue arc.
- Green's character design is based on a Ken Sugimori illustration of Red, Blue, and an unnamed female Trainer.
- Brock's Graveler is seen floating like Geodude instead of having feet.
- Throughout the series, almost every protagonist starts out with a Pokémon other than the traditional first partner Pokémon that are chosen in the games, except Emerald, White, and Blake. However, each protagonist eventually gets one, usually near the start of the arc.
- In some instances in the translated version, the Fire type is referred to as Flame and the Ground type is referred to as Earth.
- The first partner Pokémon of each region that are given to characters based on the male protagonists in the games cycle through Grass (Red, Diamond, and X), Fire (Gold, Black, and Sun), and Water (Ruby and Blake). The pattern was broken with Henry, who has a Grass-type first partner Pokémon instead of the expected Water-type first partner Pokémon, however it has continued with Violet, who has a Fire-type first partner Pokémon.
- This also applies to characters based on the female protagonists in the games, which cycle through Water (Green, Platinum, and Y), Grass (Crystal, White, and Moon), and Fire (Sapphire, Whitley, and Casey). The pattern was broken with Scarlet, who has a Grass-type first partner Pokémon instead of the expected Water-type first partner Pokémon.
- The first partner Pokémon of the characters based on the male protagonists usually have the type advantage over the characters based on the female protagonists, with the only exception of the main characters of the Sword & Shield arc where Casey has the type advantage over Henry.
- In PSs2, it is mentioned by Red that in the Adventures manga Pokémon have different names in different locations. This is a reference to the names Pokémon are given in different languages, like Charizard being called Lizardon in Japanese.
- According to Hidenori Kusaka, arcs based on Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness were considered, but were ultimately scrapped.[7][8]
Translation changes
- The messages from the creators are sometimes completely different between the Japanese and English versions. The references to Japanese culture and Japanese Pokémon media, including newly-released games, are usually not found in the English version. When the Japanese and English versions are different, the English version is often a short summary about the current manga events. Some examples of removed content:
- In volume 12, the newly-released Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire are only mentioned in the Japanese version of Hidenori Kusaka's message.
- In volume 13, Pokémon Tetris is only mentioned in the Japanese version of Hidenori Kusaka's message.
- In volume 21, the newly-released Pokémon Diamond and Pearl as well as Pokémon Ranger are only mentioned in the Japanese version of Hidenori Kusaka's message.
See also
- History of the Pokémon world (Adventures)
- List of Pokémon Adventures characters
- List of Pokémon Adventures volumes
- Pokédex holder
References
External links
- Official Japanese site
- VIZ Media, English-language publishers of Pokémon Adventures in the USA
- Chuang Yi, former English-language publishers of Pokémon Adventures in Singapore
- Shogakukan Asia, current English-language publishers of Pokémon Adventures in Singapore
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This article is part of Project Manga, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each series of Pokémon manga. |
