Review: POKEMON ADVENTURES Volume 2 Collector's Edition Has One Small Flaw
A few months ago, VIZ Media released Pokémon Adventures Collector’s Edition Volume 2. They were kind enough to send me a copy recently, and I got through it. It’s really fun to read the manga because it’s so different from the anime that we got. Most anime are based on manga, and they tell roughly the same storyline. That’s not the case at all in Pokémon. We get brand new adventures and characters. It’s fantastic.
In Volume 2, we follow a new character named Yellow two years after the events of the first volume. For reference, the second volume of the Collector’s Edition book features volumes 4-6 of the original manga. Red goes missing, and Yellow is a mysterious new trainer who ends up partnering with Pika, Red’s Pikachu, to go find and rescue him. The trick is that Yellow has magical powers that allow them to sense what a Pokémon feels and even heal Pokémon. However, Yellow is not the greatest trainer. Sure, they have some Pokémon like a Doduo and Rattata, but they do not like battles. The story is really fun and doesn’t really go where you might think. It’s also interesting to see how Yellow gets out of various troublesome situations when they don’t want to battle. Yes, it can feel a little preachy at times, but it’s never unbearable.
Once again, I really like the story presented, and it’s considerably darker than the anime or games would have you believe. This is a real treat for adult fans going back and reading them for the first time who maybe don’t want something that’s like the anime. The problem is a big thing, the destruction of the human race, that gets the attention of more than just the protagonist. We see the return of most characters, and it’s a lot of fun to see how they’ve grown even if the protagonist has changed. Everyone is working together on this. I really wish this story had been present in the original Game Boy games. Heck, if Pokemon Yellow had a story like this, I might’ve liked it more.
My big complaint about Volume 2 is the simple fact that Yellow’s story takes four volumes in the original manga, which means that to read it in its entirety, you have to purchase and read Volumes 2 and 3 of the Collector’s Edition. Of course, this also means that you get two chapters in the next storyline (which follows Gold in Johto) and likely starts a cycle of not having a complete storyline in a volume like Volume 1. That said, it’s still a fun read, and I definitely recommend it.
You can purchase Volume 2 from various retailers including local comic shops, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Volume 3 of the Collector’s Edition is now available as well with Volume 4 launching next month.
