**General Pokémon Manga/Pokémon Manga Buying FAQ**

[Purin]

The FAQ is not completed yet; will add more soon...

General Introduction to Japanese Comics, Manga.
1. What are Japanese Comics (Manga)?
2. What connections do Comic Magazines and Manga books have?
3. What does “Manga” mean?

1. What are Japanese Comics (Manga)?
The most common form of Japanese comics today is the story-comic. It is first serialized in comic magazines and then compiled into books, and in its entirety may be thousands of pages long. The comic magazines---where most Japanese comics first appear---are targeted separately at boys, girls, men, and women. The most widely read comic magazines are loosely known as “Boy’s comics” and “Girl’s comics”, shõnen manga and shõjo manga respectively.
The cover and the first few pages are printed in eye-catching colour on glossy paper, but the stories inside are monochrome. Almost all of the stories in comic magazines are printed on different shades of paper, usually rough and recycled.
[Source: Page 12-13, “Manga! Manga! ---The World of Japanese Comics” Updated Paperback Edition, 1986.]

2. What connections do Comic Magazines and Manga books have?
When a story serialized in a magazine proves to have lasting popularity, it is compiled into paperback form and sold through regular book distribution channels.
Comic paperbacks are means of preserving the best of what is otherwise thrown away. They employ a superior grade of paper; contain a minimium of 200 pages.
[Source: Page 13-14, “Manga! Manga! ---The World of Japanese Comics” Updated Paperback Edition, 1986.]

3. What does “Manga” mean?
The word manga (pronounced “mahngah”) can mean caricature, cartoon, comic strip, comic book, or animation. Coined by the Japanese woodblock-print artist Hokusai in 1814, it uses the Chinese ideograms 漫 man (“involuntary” or “in spite of oneself”) and 画 ga (“picture”). He was probably trying to describe something like “whimsical sketches”. It is interesting though to note that 漫 man has a secondary meaning of “morally corrupt”.
[Source: Page 14, “Manga! Manga! ---The World of Japanese Comics” Updated Paperback Edition, 1986.]


General FAQs regarding Pokemon Manga
1. What kind of Pokemon Manga are there in Japan?
2. Why can’t I find Pokemon Manga anywhere?
3. Where can I learn more about these Pokemon Manga?

1. What kind of Pokemon Manga are there in Japan?
There are two categories of Manga---one is official (published in comic magazines and then in comic paperback forms) and the other is doujinshi (manga made by fans, published by themselves and distributed on their own to others).
The well-known ones include---Pokemon Zensho (which follows the gameboy colour game of Pokemon Red/Yellow/Blue closely), Pokemon Special (a.k.a. Pokemon Adventures in US), PiPiPi (a.k.a. Magical Pokemon Journeys in the US), Dengeki Pikachu (a.k.a. The Electrical Adventures of Pikachu in the US) and Pocket Monsters/Pokemon Gold and Silver, etc.
Most of these manga have been translated in various languages and distributed around the world. These languages include English, French, German, Korean, Chinese (Taiwan/Hong Kong), etc.

2. Why can’t I find Pokemon Manga anywhere? (This applies to people living in the UK and US, or places outside of South East Asia)
For those living in the US, the manga publishing company Viz has ceased to continue translating and publishing Pokemon manga after the end of the Kanto series in the manga stories, around the end of the year 2002. This is so for at least two of them, namely Pokemon Special (a.k.a. Pokemon Adventures in US) and PiPiPi (a.k.a. Magical Pokemon Journeys in the US).
For both these two Manga, the company has only published from Volume 1 until 7.
It seems that there is also a similar situation to this in Germany as well.

3. Where can I learn more about these Pokemon Manga?
A good place to start will be Dogasu’s Backpack (http://www.dogasusbackpack.tk). Look out for the Manga section, which gives a review and general information of the more popular types of Pokemon Manga found in Japan.

FAQs-----Pokemon Special/Adventures
1. Who exactly is Green and Blue? All of you refer to the girl as Blue but my book of Pokemon Adventures here says that Blue is the guy who looks like Gary!
2. How can I get the Manga Pokemon Special/Pokemon Adventures in English from Volume 8 (Johto series) onwards?
3. Where can I find Manga Scans of Pokemon Special?

1. Who exactly is Green and Blue? All of you refer to the girl as Blue but my book of Pokemon Adventures here says that Blue is the guy who looks like Gary!
In Japan, the Girl is known as Blue (for her Blastoise perharps) and the guy as Green (although he owns a Charizard). For some unknown reason, in the US (and Singapore’s) English translations of Pokemon Special, Pokemon Adventures, the Girl is known as Green while the Boy (Gary) is known as Blue. According to Omega, the Chinese name translations in HK follow Japan’s.
Since Japan is where the book came from, most people will go by the names used in Japan, Green as the boy, Blue as the girl.

2. How can I get the Manga Pokemon Special/Pokemon Adventures in English from Volume 8 (Johto series) onwards?
Currently, the only places to get translated Manga from the Johto series onwards, other than Japan, are in Southeast Asia.
Singapore has the English-translated series (in comic paperback); Hong Kong and Taiwan have the Chinese-translated series (in at least the comic magazines there), S. Korea has the Korean volumes, etc.
There are exceptions whereby Japanese paperback comics are exported to places outside of Japan to be sold in Japanese Bookstores/Shops.
However, chances are that the publishing companies in these places have only obtained the license to sell the translated Manga series in certain locations (usually in the places they are based in). Therefore, it will not be possible for people living outside of these locations to obtain the Manga by Email-order.
Here are some possible solutions: Seek a friend’s help to send the Manga over from the location, visit the location itself, or, if everything else fails, try searching Ebay for such stuff.

3. Where can I find Manga Scans of Pokemon Special?
Full Manga scans are illegal and thus are very hard to find. You can try visiting PokespecialTK (http://www.pokespecial.tk or http://pokespecial.massinfluence.net ) for some translated scans of selected portions. You can also try browsing the websites listed on the Resource pages there for some scans as well.

FAQs-----PiPiPi
Coming Soon



[22/2/2004---Purin: This is the end of it for now. Do feel free to correct me if there is any mistakes in this Manga FAQ/Guide, and if you have anything to add onto what I have mentioned. Just drop me a PM anytime. Acknowledgements have been given to the Book for the 3 definitions of Manga in General: “Manga! Manga! ---The World of Japanese Comics” Updated Paperback Edition, 1986, an excellent book on the history of Japanese Comics. However, it is strongly advised that younger readers stay away from this book due to some inappropriate content.
Drop me a PM too if you have a question to ask about the Pokemon Special and/or PiPiPi Manga. I can only help with questions regarding late Kanto and early-Johto series of Pokemon Special and Volumes 1-7 of PiPiPi.]

[People who Purin thinks know quite a lot about certain Pokemon Manga: Omega (Pokemon Special), Zapchu (Pokemon Special), NaVeR (Pokemon Special), oni_flygon (Pokemon Special), Orange*Berry (PiPiPi), Mewlove (rarely seen around PC [It’s Mew afterall! lol]; Early Johto and PiPiPi). Sorry if I have missed out anyone =P; tell me if I did.]

[oni flygon]

Let's keep this up. We need a new mod for the manga forum!

[Avatar]

1. Who exactly is Green and Blue? All of you refer to the girl as Blue but my book of Pokemon Adventures here says that Blue is the guy who looks like Gary! In Japan, the Girl is known as Blue (for her Blastoise perharps) and the guy as Green (although he owns a Charizard). For some unknown reason, in the US (and Singapore’s) English translations of Pokemon Special, Pokemon Adventures, the Girl is known as Green while the Boy (Gary) is known as Blue. According to Omega, the Chinese name translations in HK follow Japan’s. Since Japan is where the book came from, most people will go by the names used in Japan, Green as the boy, Blue as the girl.

Actually i think that their names, Red, Green and Blue is linked to the release of the games in Japan / USA

In Japan Red and Green was released first, it did not have the Unknown Dungeon, now some time later Blue was released with new graphics and the Unknown Dungeon.

In USA Green was never released, Red and Blue was (Notice that theres a slight difference in Green/Red, and Red/Blue)

[oni flygon]

It is linked to the game's release. When the manga was released, there was no pokemon anime. The first two versions were the red and Green versions. Later, Blue was released (As you said above) then, when the anime boomed, Yellow was released.

[Omega-Brendan]

Actually, Green isn't really called Green in the chinese Translations...

Red was called 'Chi' which also the chinese dub of Satoshi/Ash.

Green was called 'Mang' which is the chinese dub of Shigeru/Gary.

Blue was called 'Lan' which is just 'Blue' in chinese. But if translated ot english, Blue would be blue thus leaving 'Mang' to be Green.

[oni flygon]

I've been dying to stick this thread...

*sticks*

[jynx]

Wow! Brilliant information!

kaa...Cantonese version is easiest! (Pokemon Special)
Red is known as Ash(小智), Blue is known is Little Blue(小藍), Green is known as Gary(小茂), and Yellow is known is Little Lok(小洛).

Hey...why does Chinese suddenly stop working? :p
Which input did you use?

[Dizzy]

I'm a Manga freak when it comes to Pokemon Special (Adventures in English ) I go to PokespecialTK EVERY FREEKIN DAY PUDDING!
-- Sorry if that had nothing to do with anything I just had to say that.

I like how Pokemon Adventures has more detail than the Primitive-ly made Anime, and how it kinda leads the way for the Video Game Special-Me Manga Freaks

[oni flygon]

^o^

I'm happy someone visits our site everyday! Thanks for visiting the site, dude! XD

[Fixen]

Well people had gotta be coming. We have a petition up.

[Ketsuban]

Sorry if I have missed out anyone =P; tell me if I did.

Hey, I know quite a bit about Special (having read all 18 volumes so far) and PiPiPi (having read all 10 volumes) as well as Pokemon Card ni Natta Wake (I've read all of them except volume 4).

[oni flygon]

Too many people are asking where to get the manga. So in that case, I'm going to get the manga FAQ from Pokespecial.com...
If you have any other ways of getting manga from other country, please do post here.

If you are living in Singapore, you can usually get the English version from the nearest bookstores. It is published by Chuang Yi, a local company that translates Japanese comics into either English or Chinese. It is too bad that they don't publish the titles in Chinese, since books in Chinese are often cheaper than English books, being translated beforehand by companies in other Chinese-speaking countries such as Hong Kong or Taiwan.

You can order from [email protected] , but be prepared to order the books over the phone. For more information, check http://www.kinokuniya.com. Thanks to Rockman_Neo for the information! It might be a little hard to understand the website if you have no knowledge of Japanese, though.

Another place that you can order the Japanese books from is from http://www.sasugabooks.com Try the search words "Pocket Monsters Special" in this case.

You can also contact Zapchu of Zapchu.com to help you order and send over the Japanese Volumes of Pokémon Special at no profit.

Another alternative will be http://www.whatcomics.com/. According to a guestbook entry no. 311 at the Chuang Yi website, if you want to order Chuang Yi titles (Look out for Pokemon Adventures), you can special order them from they. They are listed. The FAQs part says that deliveries are not done outside of Singapore, but don't fret. Send an email to [email protected] on what you want, to specially order them. You have to pay with PayPal. Airmail is 7-14 days & ground shipping is about 2 months.

[Pogiforce-14]

I'm more concerned about where to find english manga. :\

[oni flygon]

Did you read it thouroughly? Because it says were you can get the English version of Special...

[Pogiforce-14]

well there was a lot of talk of jap books, so it was kind of hard to pick out the english from the jap. :\

[oni flygon]

Originally Posted by oni flygon Another alternative will be http://www.whatcomics.com/. According to a guestbook entry no. 311 at the Chuang Yi website, if you want to order Chuang Yi titles (Look out for Pokemon Adventures), you can special order them from they. They are listed. The FAQs part says that deliveries are not done outside of Singapore, but don't fret. Send an email to [email protected] on what you want, to specially order them. You have to pay with PayPal. Airmail is 7-14 days & ground shipping is about 2 months.

[Pogiforce-14]

well I didn't see the word english in there anywhere, and the name Chuang Yi suggested Japanese, so naturally I didn't understand when it said special order it meant in english. :\

[Purin]

If it's English manga you are finding, look out for the "Pokemon Adventures" title.
btw, there's another person who's willing to send the manga over at a cost. *digs out thread link*
http://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=18050

[emeraldslay]

This place is one you may want to try, as it does english Pokemon special, it's translated the Jhoto version, and is currently translating Hoenn!

[Grimsg]

*AHEM* cough.

Also, if you are dying for Pokemon Adventures in English, I retail them directly from Singapore. To be honest, WHAT and Chuang Yi can't do a blessed thing because they don't have liesense to sell stuff overseas. If they get busted by cops, their reputation is ruined.

*thus why* you can order from me:

Basically, I charge US$8.50 per book. You can pay me either via Paypal or by money order, I accept both.

You have to hurry though because stock is limited at the stores and I have to constantly check stock each time, if not, I can't sell it to you if the shops don't have it.

Also, *good news!* books 8 - 13 have been reprinted and what more, book 18 is out too!

So in order to contact me, simply E-mail me @ [email protected] for any enquiries. I ship worldwide from Germany to the US.

Grimsg

[Luis Kazuya]

Me noiw living in Singapore and desperately wants to read SPECIAL in jap. I checked Singapore's Konikuniya but too bad it dosen't haf any Japanese volumes and Chuangyi is terribly slow!

Any methods in buyin Japanese vol. in Singapore without havin to buy in internet as I think internet buying is quite dangerous

[O]

Internet buying is onyl dangerous if there's spyware on your comp or ur using someone else Computer. And how is Chuang Yi Japanese? That's just Mandarin or generally speaking, 'Chinese' Btw The company that translates Pokéspecial in Hong Kong is called Ching Win. ENough said.

[Grimsg]

Chuang Yi is a reputable company. In fact. It's the *only* company in Singapore that translates Japanese, Mandarin comics to English.

Singaporens have a high standard of quality. I can rest assure you that it's not bootleg stuff and of the highest professional standards.

Kazu - Japanese Special is in Kinokuniya Orchard. If you look at the shelves near the stationary area, you'll find all of them. LOTS of them in fact. I used to buy Special in Japanese as well.

Grimsg

[Pokemon AD Fan]

Originally Posted by oni flygon Too many people are asking where to get the manga. So in that case, I'm going to get the manga FAQ from Pokespecial.com... If you have any other ways of getting manga from other country, please do post here. If you are living in Singapore, you can usually get the English version from the nearest bookstores. It is published by Chuang Yi, a local company that translates Japanese comics into either English or Chinese. It is too bad that they don't publish the titles in Chinese, since books in Chinese are often cheaper than English books, being translated beforehand by companies in other Chinese-speaking countries such as Hong Kong or Taiwan. You can order from [email protected] , but be prepared to order the books over the phone. For more information, check http://www.kinokuniya.com. Thanks to Rockman_Neo for the information! It might be a little hard to understand the website if you have no knowledge of Japanese, though. Another place that you can order the Japanese books from is from http://www.sasugabooks.com Try the search words "Pocket Monsters Special" in this case. You can also contact Zapchu of Zapchu.com to help you order and send over the Japanese Volumes of Pokémon Special at no profit. Another alternative will be http://www.whatcomics.com/. According to a guestbook entry no. 311 at the Chuang Yi website, if you want to order Chuang Yi titles (Look out for Pokemon Adventures), you can special order them from they. They are listed. The FAQs part says that deliveries are not done outside of Singapore, but don't fret. Send an email to [email protected] on what you want, to specially order them. You have to pay with PayPal. Airmail is 7-14 days & ground shipping is about 2 months.

[Pokemon AD Fan]

I've waited long enough for 19 to come out! I really want to know what going to happen between these 2 rivals (and Wally too), and is Ruby going to get back his Ralts?