History Manga / PocketMonsters

%%* JerkAss: Clefairy.
%%** JerkassWithAHeartOfGold: The same.

The manga is known for its odd art style, even [[WidgetSeries odder comedy]], the fact that Pokémon can evolve and devolve at will, and its [[EarlyAdaptationWeirdness overall different feel from other adaptations.]]

* BarbieDollAnatomy: ''Averted'' for both the protagonist and his Clefairy.

* EarlyAdaptationWeirdness: All Pokémon speak human except for one and can "devolve", [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Isamu_Akai#Unnamed_Bug-type_Pok.C3.A9mon made-up]] Pokémon that appear nowhere else, strange-looking [[http://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/manga/pocket_monsters/pm_01/03_wild_poke.jpg Pokémon,]] and probably more.

* JerkAss: Clefairy.
** JerkassWithAHeartOfGold: The same.

* NotAllowedToGrowUp: Red has been the same age for over twenty years. He's gone through several regions without aging a bit.

* [[PersonOfMassDestruction Pokemon Of Mass Destruction]]: Clefairy, albeit only as much as a Normal (now Fairy)-type could be expected to be. More than a few chapters end with the team ''hastily'' leaving a town or area that he's (usually accidentally) destroyed.
* SuddenEyeColour: Inverted. He had originally green eyes for the first few volumes. When the manga shifted to game-accurate designs, he was later given BlackBeadEyes like all Pikachu.

* [[TalkingAnimal Talking Pokemon]]: Pokémon can talk.
** IntelligibleUnintelligible: Pikachu is the exception, generally communicating in PokemonSpeak.
* ToiletHumor: [[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v641/AdamantBMage/pikapoo.png Used at least once]].

The second adaptation of ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''[[note]]Often incorrectly thought of as the first adaptation due to the first being a 4koma that came out only one month beforehand.[[/note]] and the longest-running adaptation of the series, ''Pocket Monsters'' is a {{Slapstick}} manga by Kosaku Anakubo that originally only vaguely resembled the games it is based on.

* MythologyGag: When the manga was referenced in the anime, a strip was made up with Isamu and the other characters referencing to said appearance.

* ContinuityCameo: It appeared as a ShowWithinAShow for the [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} anime]], and the Clefairy made a cameo in Episode 360.

* [[PersonOfMassDestruction Pokemon Of Mass Destruction]]: Clefairy, albeit only as much as a Normal-type could be expected to be. More than a few chapters end with the team ''hastily'' leaving a town or area that he's (usually accidentally) destroyed.

* LongRunner: It went on since 1996 (including sequels), running longer than any other ''Pokémon'' manga. It finally concluded in October 2019.

* LongRunner: It went on since 1996 (including sequels) and is running longer than any other ''Pokémon'' manga.

The [[https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-pocket-monsters-manga-ending/ final issue]] ran in October 2019, bringing 23 years of comedy to a close.

* LongRunner: It went on since 1996 (including sequels) and ran for longer than any other ''Pokémon'' manga, finally concluding in October 2019--23 years after its debut.

The manga is known for its odd art style, even [[WidgetSeries odder comedy]], the fact that Pokémon can evolve and devolve at will, and its [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness overall different feel from other adaptations.]]

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: All Pokémon speak human except for one and can "devolve", [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Isamu_Akai#Unnamed_Bug-type_Pok.C3.A9mon made-up]] Pokémon that appear nowhere else, strange-looking [[http://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/manga/pocket_monsters/pm_01/03_wild_poke.jpg Pokémon,]] and probably more.

* LongRunner: It's been going on since 1996 (including sequels) and has been running for longer than any other ''Pokémon'' manga.

%%* GroinAttack

%%* ToiletHumor: [[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v641/AdamantBMage/pikapoo.png Used at least once]].

%%* WidgetSeries

* ArtEvolution: It eventually grew out of a 90s type style. Quite noticeably, Pikachu lost his green eyes and the manga started looking more like the games (even using the game!Pikachu design rather than the anime one).

* ToiletHumor: [[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v641/AdamantBMage/pikapoo.png Used at least once]].

* WidgetSeries

* CombatPragmatist: Clefairy, lacking any useful techniques, will use absolutely any tactic to win when his back is to the wall. (He's probably done everything under TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty at one point or another.)

The second adaptation of ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''[[note]]Often incorrectly thought of as the first adaptation due to the first being a 4koma that came out one month before.[[/note]] A {{Slapstick}} {{Shonen}} manga by Kosaku Anakubo that originally vaguely resembled the games it is based on.

It stars Isamu "Red" Akai, the first Pokemon protagonist, on his adventures around many regions. Unlike any of the official protagonists, he starts out with a ''Clefairy''... aaaaaand it all goes downhill from there. While Red is pretty much the standard Pokemon Protagonist, Clefairy is a lazy bum who can't be arsed to know any ''actually'' useful moves.

Not long after, they find Clefairy's cousin Pikachu, who is smart and competent - and not even in comparison - and the trio is formed. They set out on the standard Pokemon Journey... while trying to stay one step ahead of the trouble Clefairy causes, sometimes through his own machinations, sometimes accidentally.

The manga is known for its odd art style, even odder comedy, [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness the fact that Pokemon can evolve and devolve at will, and its overall different feel from other adaptations.]]

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: All Pokémon speak human except for one and can "devolve", [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Isamu_Akai#Unnamed_Bug-type_Pok.C3.A9mon made-up]] Pokémon that appear nowhere else, strange-looking [[http://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/manga/pocket_monsters/pm_01/03_wild_poke.jpg Pokémon]], and probably more.

* FanDisservice: Red gets hit with this ever so often, either being shirtless or buck naked (with a complete aversion to BarbieDollAnatomy at that). Unlike Ash or other versions of Red however, the art style makes him resemble a {{Gonk}} more than a BadassAdorable or {{Bishonen}} .

* GroinAttack

* OneSteveLimit: There's Blue, a geeky male ghost {{Otaku}}. Then there's Blue, an {{Expy}} of [[DistaffCounterpart Leaf]] from the remakes of ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue''. There's a kid named "Red" who is an EvilCounterpart to Isamu, based on Red's updated design in the games, who has the same name as Isamu's nickname.

[[quoteright:150:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Cover_01_3048.jpg]]

* FanDisservice: Isamu gets hit with this ever so often, either being shirtless or buck naked(with a complete aversion to BarbieDollAnatomy at that). Unlike Ash or Red however, the art style makes Isamu resemble a {{Gonk}} more than a BadassAdorable or {{Bishonen}} .

* LongRunner: It's been going on since 1996 (including sequels) and has been running for longer than any other Pokémon manga.

* OneSteveLimit: There's Blue, a geeky male ghost {{Otaku}}. Then there's Blue, an {{Expy}} of [[DistaffCounterpart Leaf]] from the remakes of VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue. There's a kid named "Red" who is an EvilCounterpart to Isamu, based on Red's updated design in the games, who has the same name as Isamu's nickname.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Isamu and Kai are only referred to by their names [[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v641/AdamantBMage/pocketm1.jpg once in the series]]. They're mostly referred to as "Red" and "Green".

It stars Isamu "Red" Akai, an {{Expy}} of the first Pokemon protagonist, on his adventures around many regions. Unlike any of the official protagonists, he starts out with a ''Clefairy''... aaaaaand it all goes downhill from there. While Red is pretty much the standard Pokemon Protagonist, Clefairy is a lazy bum who can't be arsed to know any ''actually'' useful moves.

* ContinuityCameo: It appeared as a ShowWithinAShow for the [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} anime]].

* FanDisservice: Isamu gets hit with this ever so often, either being shirtless or buck naked(FullFrontalNudity with a complete aversion to BarbieDollAnatomy at that). Unlike Ash or Red however, the art style makes Isamu resemble a Gonk more than a BadassAdorable or Bishounen.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Cover_01_3048.jpg

* NoExportForYou: Only released in Japan, and briefly Singapore and Vietnam. Getting it released in the West would require a B-2 Spirit to hide all the crap from the censors.

* AerithAndBob: Protagonists and rivals; you have people like "Blue" and "Red" against people with normal names. There's a mix between randomly chosen MeaningfulName[=s=] and names taken from the games.

* ArtEvolution: It eventually grew out of a 90s type style. Quite noticeably, Pikachu lost his green eyes and the manga started looking more like the games (even using the game!Pikachu design rather then the anime one).

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: All Pokemon speak human except for one and can "devolve", [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Isamu_Akai#Unnamed_Bug-type_Pok.C3.A9mon made up]] Pokemon that appear no where else, strange looking [[http://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/manga/pocket_monsters/pm_01/03_wild_poke.jpg Pokemon]], and probably more.

* LongRunner: It's been going on since 1996 (including sequels) and has been running for longer then any other Pokemon manga.

* [[PersonOfMassDestruction Pokemon Of Mass Destruction]]: Clefairy, albeit only as much as a Normal type could be expected to be. More than a few chapters end with the team ''hastily'' leaving a town or area that he's (usually accidentally) destroyed.

* [[TalkingAnimal Talking Pokemon]]: Pokemon can talk.

* VerbalTic: Clefairy has one along with all other talking Pokemon.

* YouDontLookLikeYou: At the start of this manga, very few ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' resembled their official designs. Rumor has it the designs were based off what the mangaka thought the sprites looked like, [[http://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/manga/pocket_monsters/pm_01/03_wild_poke.jpg which looked incredibly off]]. As the series went on the characters started looking more like their game counterparts, even resembling the official art better then other adaptations in some examples.