Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu

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

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.

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