Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu

    (Viz, 1998-1999)
™ and ©1995, 1996 and 1988 Nintendo
B&W

Published by Viz Comics, this origin story of a wildly popular manga series doesn’t come across as one big advertisement for the video games, movies, and comics that comprise the Pokémon phenomenon.

Pikachu, a mouse that generates electricity, is discovered happily destroying the wiring of aspiring Pokémon master Ash Ketchum’s home. Through a series of encounters with a mean rival and a flock of vicious birds, Ash learns to treat Pikachu with respect, and in turn earns a valuable friend.

Created by Toshihiro Ono, translated by William Flanagan and rewritten by Annette Roman, the book smoothly explains the highly structured Pokémon world, making it an invaluable primer for adults trying to figure out what on earth the kids are going on about. Ono’s art has the clean energy of traditional manga.
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    Nov 1998
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    1st Appearance of Pikachu
    No copies available
  • 1-2
    #1 - 2nd printing
    2nd Printing Cover
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 1-3
    #1 - 3rd printing
    3rd Printing Cover
    Mar 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    3 copies from $9.99
  • 1-8
    #1 - 8th printing
    8th Printing Cover
    Jun 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    1st Appearance of Pikachu
    No copies available
  • 1-9
    #1 - 9th printing
    9th Printing Cover
    Jun 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    1st Appearance of Pikachu
    No copies available
  • 1-11
    #1 - 11th printing
    11th Printing Cover
    Nov 1998
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    1st Appearance of Pikachu
    No copies available
  • 1-12
    #1 - 12th printing
    12th Printing Cover
    Sep 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    1st Appearance of Pikachu
    No copies available
  • 1-16
    #1 - 16th printing
    16th Printing Cover
    Dec 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    1st Appearance of Pikachu
    No copies available
  • 2
    #2
    Dec 1998
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    1 copy for $10.00
  • 2-2
    #2 - 2nd printing
    2nd Printing Cover
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 2-8
    #2 - 8th printing
    8th Printing Cover
    Aug 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 2-9
    #2 - 9th printing
    9th Printing Cover
    Aug 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 3
    #3
    Jan 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 3-7
    #3 - 7th printing
    7th printing
    Jun 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 3-8
    #3 - 8th printing
    8th Printing Cover
    Aug 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 3-9
    #3 - 9th printing
    9th Printing Cover
    Aug 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 4
    #4
    Feb 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 4-2
    #4 - 2nd printing
    2nd Printing Cover
    Feb 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 4-3
    #4 - 3rd printing
    3rd Printing Cover
    Feb 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 4-4
    #4 - 4th printing
    4th Printing Cover
    Feb 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 4-5
    #4 - 5th printing
    5th Printing Cover
    Feb 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 4-6
    #4 - 6th printing
    6th Printing Cover
    Feb 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    1 copy for $5.00
  • 4-7
    #4 - 7th printing
    7th Printing Cover
    Feb 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • 4-8
    #4 - 8th printing
    8th Printing Cover
    Aug 1999
    Cover: $3.25
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    No copies available
  • Bk 1
    Book #1
    Aug 1999
    Cover: $12.95
    W: Toshihiro Ono, Annette Roman  ·  A: Toshihiro Ono
    Collects Polémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu #1-4
    1 copy for $13.00