Pokémon known in Japan and South Korea as simply Pocket (ポケットモンスター), is one of the first Pokémon manga to come out in Japan and ran for 13 volumes. In Singapore it was published by Chuang Yi in English in 2005 and it was retitled Pokémon. While the first series is set in Kanto, and then Johto, new series were released based on Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos and Alola. The author is Kosaku Anakubo. On October 11, 2019, it was announced that manga would end its regular publication in Bessatsu CoroCoro after 23 years, being replaced by Machito Gomi’s manga-adaptation of the then-current series of the Pokémon television series. Though, Kosaku Anakubo continues to write and illustrate new, shorter chapters, first for the quarterly CoroCoro Aniki (discontinued in early 2021) and then for CoroCoro Online under the moniker Aniki.

Plot

The manga follows Red, a young boy competing with a rival, Green, to complete the Illustrated Pokémon Encyclopedia/Pokédex and become the master of Pokémon. In this manga, Pokémon are capable of human speech. It is thought that a Pippi/Clefairy is the main character, although it is just a follower of Red. It is obnoxious but lovable, whose big mouth sometimes gets it into trouble. Surprisingly enough, it comes up with clever ideas to help Red and Pikachu. In the first few manga books, Red's team consists of Pikachu and Pippi/Clefairy only. However, later on, Red gains a valuable companion in Tyrogue, as well. Pikachu himself is unable to talk. The story also goes to the Johto region, where Red gets introduced to trainers Gold and Silver, supposedly based on the video game characters. The story then goes to Hoenn in the last volume, where Red thinks of receiving a Achamo/Torchic and abandoning Pippi/Clefairy. It is after this that the story continues under the name of Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire, starting the volume number from 1.

Characters

Sequels Ruby-Sapphire

Ruby-Sapphire (ポケットモンスタールビー・サファイア) is the first sequel, and is set in Hoenn. The first volume was released September 25, 2003, and the last was released May 26, 2006. It was released in Singapore by Chuang Yi as Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire.

Diamond-Pearl

Diamond-Pearl (ポケットモンスターダイヤモンド・パール) is the second sequel, and is set in Sinnoh. The first volume was released January 26, 2007, and the last was released October 28, 2009.

HGSS

HGSS (ポケットモンスター HG・SS) is the third sequel, and is set in Johto. The first volume was released June 28, 2010, and the second and last was released January 28, 2011. It was released in Singapore as Pokémon HGSS.

Black-White

Pocket BW (ポケットモンスターブラック・ホワイト) is the fourth sequel, and is set in Unova. It was first released March 6, 2011 and the last volume was released August 28, 2013.

XY

XY (ポケットモンスターエックス・ワイ) is the fifth sequel, and is set in Kalos. It was first released on April 28, 2014 and the last volume was released on October 28, 2016.

Sun and Moon

Sun and Moon (ポケットモンスター サン・ムーン編) is the sixth sequel, and is in Alola. It was first released on November 28, 2017.

Sword and Shield

Big Bro (ポケットモンスターアニキ編) is the seventh sequel. It was first released on June 11, 2021. It includes the special Sword and Shield (ソード・シールド編).