Is Pokémon Nintendo’s darkest series to date? Maybe. There are certainly a lot of questionable things in the games and anime even though it’s a franchise primarily meant for kids. This mentality may be used to shrug off these complicated issues, but they’re ones worth exploring as a sort of mental exercise. If I became a teacher I would structure a debate class around Pokémon. Are you to say a Pokémon debate isn’t as valid as one regarding the existence of God? Am I not alone in that right? I literally had to do that debate as if there was an answer. I realize that bringing that up may have started a debate in the comments, but that’s good as long as you’re all civil.

Point is, the Pokémon universe is full of questionable subjects that fans have parodied since the series launched in 1996. Why would parents let their kids travel the world at age ten when it’s inhabited by a bunch of dangerous monsters? Why is it okay for humans to enslave monsters to do their bidding? Why doesn’t Ash age in the show? All these subjects and more have been translated into videos. More importantly, for today’s topic, they've written comics. I could’ve broadened my research to include all the games released up to this point, but I thought it was a better idea to focus in on the original three: Pokémon Blue, Pokémon Red, and Pokémon Yellow. Why? Simple. It’s where these topics began so let’s get to it. Gotta laugh at ‘em all!

20 Four Move Woes

Via Brawl in the Family

One of the worst things about Pokémon that hasn't changed is the move set limitations. Giving a Pokémon only four moves gives the game a strategic edge, I guess, but the show doesn't follow these rules. Maybe if it limited you to only 1-2 types of moves then it'd be okay. You know like Pikachu could have 2 Normal, 2 Electric, and 2 Dark-type attacks. Again, I understand why, but it's still irksome. There are some moves that seem natural to have on all Pokémon as this panel points out. What Pokémon doesn't know how to bite? It's just kind of ridiculous. On that point, why doesn't a water-type like Squirtle know a water move from the beginning? Oh, the woes of Pokémon abilities.

19 Overkill

Via Brawl in the Family

On the subject of moves, I don't understand why more Pokémon don't die. I mean, the obvious answer is its aimed toward kids. That said, even in the first game they acknowledge death via Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower. It’s a place people can erect gravestones to pay respects to the dead. Plus, Ghost-type Pokémon haunt the halls. No one said Pokémon wasn't edgy. So it's known but ignored. How do they die, though? I mean if a Pidgey can withstand a Gyarados' Hyper Beam then surely only something godlike in nature can destroy a Pokémon. And believe you me, I've used that on these scrawny birds before. Overkill is just kind of a funny concept. It’s just another rule that doesn't make sense in the Pokémon universe.

18 Pika Power

Via Omake Theater

I've often wondered how I could exploit Pokémon to get through daily life. They're basically the answer to the energy source and water crisis. Apparently, Water-type Pokémon can just pump out water like it was nothing. Boom! That bill is gone from my life. Do I need power for my house? Boom! Hooked up a bunch of Pikachu to a generator. They even do that in an episode of the anime. Even a crappy Pokémon like Garbodor would probably eat my garbage since it literally is just a bag of garbage itself. So there, no more pollution. Boom! This may sound like enslavement, but I'd take care of them. I just wouldn't pay them and they couldn't leave (oh God I see the dilemma now).

17 Gambling With The Devil

Via Nerd Rage

One of the strictest things enforced in law is gambling. If your game contains it, then that assuredly means some action will be implemented, whether it's awarningn or an increased rating. We don't want kids addicted to gambling. That's why it's restricted to 18 in reality (at least in the U.S.). Whether that should be enforced is another subject and one I'm not comfortable, or smart enough to discuss. Regardless of which, sometimes they can sneak into games like Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Red. One of Team Rocket's hideouts is located in a gambling hall in Celadon City. You can just walk right in and start gambling as a ten-year-old. Neat! More importantly, slamming walls will also help you locate the secret entrance to said hideout.

16 Child Attacks

Via Penny Arcade

Speaking of money, let’s talk about trainer battles. When you defeat an opponent in Pokémon you'll be rewarded with money. It’s never explicitly mentioned why trainers give up money after losing, but it’s probably a secret gambling discussion before matches. Best to infer so Nintendo can skate by censors. Anyway, taking money from snobby adults is one thing, but what about all the children younger than you? Specifically, there are trainers categorized as Preschoolers, which means they have to be around four, or five years old. Think about it. Not only do you humiliate them by annihilating their cute Pokémon, but you also take their money. Why are they even battling with Pokémon already? I'll say it again. No one ever said Pokémon wasn't edgy.

15 My Rival Has A First Name It's D...

Via VG Cats

Did you get that one? That's the Bologna jingle. Even I’m too young to remember that 70s promo so don’t feel bad. Anyway, one of the best things about the Pokémon games is the ability to name things. If you want to be immature and call your Pikachu Prophylactic, or something like that, that’s fine. Makes using certain moves more hilarious. For example, having Prophylactic use Protect only to have the game say, "But it failed!" I don't think I need to explain that one. Aside from creating dirty jokes with your adorable horde of monsters, you can also have some fun naming your rival. Specifically Gary, since Professor Oak can't remember his own grandson's name. It's a classic joke for the annoying jerk.

14 Revisionist History

Via Nerd Rage

Here's a little history lesson to explain this comic’s joke. Venusaur isn't mad it doesn't get his own handheld as one of the three original starting Pokémon. It's angry because it was one of the original two Game Boy games. When this series first debuted in Japan in 1996 they didn't get Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue like we did. Instead, it launched as Pokémon Green and Pokémon Red. Pokémon Blue released later that year and altogether still two years before it came westward. They sort of rectified this "injustice" when the games were remade on the GBA as Pokémon LeafGreen and Pokémon FireRed. Technically the original Pokémon Green version still has never left Japan though. So that's why this joke is funny. Knowledge is power!

13 Right in the Pokéballs

Via Firman Productions

This comic is amazing. Of all the awesome strategies I've come up with over the years, this one is unexpected. Who needs to use Pokémon to win a battle? Simply being stronger and faster than your opponent is a good way to win too. This strip brings to mind another question. Why do Pokémon battles decide everything? The dastardly Team Rocket and the copycat gangs that followed could easily just use guns. How powerful are Pokémon anyway? As I pointed out earlier, apparently not enough to kill another Pokémon even though their energy output seems large. That could be just for show. Take into account that Pikachu zaps humans to a crisp all the time in the anime and everyone turns out all right. Of course, you can chalk that up to cartoon logic, but you get my point.

12 The Laws of the Pokémon Jungle

Via J. Hall Comics

Okay, let's finally answer that age old question. What happens to a wild Pokémon if you defeat it, but don't capture it? The games never explain how fainting works. Are they passed out for minutes, or hours, or days? How do they recover without the help of a potion, or Pokémon Center? It has to take weeks, just like a real injured animal. Maybe a bit less since they're magical monsters, but still, they're vulnerable. This also begs the question, what do Pokémon eat? Simple. Other Pokémon. Now, there's our answer. Some Pokémon are probably vultures and like to hang around humans in hopes they'll defeat a wild Pokémon without capturing it. You're a monster for leaving a Pokémon to die, but at least you're helping somehow. That's the law of the Pokémon jungle.

11 The Evolution of Pokémon Fandom

Via Awkward Zombie

Time to sound old again. I'm lucky, I think, to have grown up during the height of Pokémon back in 1998. It was insane! If you were seen with the games, or cards in the classroom, or even in the halls, they'd get taken away like kids were doing substances. Again, insane. Now, as I've rattled off before, I stopped after Pokémon Crystal because, well, I was getting into High School and the next generation didn't interest me. I got back on the Pokémon train in college once I bought a DS Lite. And now I've been hooked again ever since! Well, actually, I've been in a lump since Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, but I'm mostly on board. I wonder if this cycle happens to all Pokémon fans, or if it was just a byproduct of my original generation.

10 Fake Mews

Via Nerd Rage

There’s a treasure troves of secrets that got passed around the playground surrounding Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Red. For example, there’s MissingNo., which coincided with the duplicating items trick. Probably the most infamous was the rumor about a 151st Pokémon: Mew. Now, Mew, as it turned out, is real, but acquiring him in the games was another story. One way was to use Strength on a truck parked near the S.S. Anne in Vermilion City. It was fabled that Mew would be underneath. Unfortunately, that’s not really true, but it remained popular even after it was debunked. So I can understand why a Pokémon Trainer, in a frantic rush to become the best, would run around harbors to shove trucks into water with his Pokémon.

9 The Biggest Mistake Ever

Via Nerd Rage

Mew was hard to get, but obtaining its clone, Mewtwo, was more straightforward. There’s a cave near Cerulean City that unlocks once you win in the Pokémon League. Inside, at the end, is Mewtwo. Now, the easiest way to catch him is through the one Master Ball you get from the Silph Co. President. In my mind, this was always meant to capture Mewtwo, as he’s extremely difficult to capture otherwise. In order to prove yourself a true Pokémon Master I bet you tried, like I did, to snatch him the hard way. It’s not impossible, but it’s so easy to accidentally make it faint. The comic perfectly summarizes that frustrating feeling. Even worse? What if you forgot to save before the fight and then defeat him? I’m sure that cry could be heard around the world.

8 Pokémon Lagann

Via VG Cats

You can pretty much dismiss any Pokémon you can acquire in the starting areas of Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. They just suck, except for a few rarities, which we’ll get to later. Who wants Bug-type Pokémon on your team? They’re weak, especially in their evolved forms. Still, if I had a Beedrill with the drilling power of the mechs from Gurren Lagann, I’d be ecstatic. I’d create a team of six Beedrills and no one could stop me. To those unaware, Gurren Lagann is an over-the-top mech based anime show with a huge emphasis on drills, or spirals. It’s a bit complicated to go over now so this comic may be a bit obscure, but if you know the show, I’m sure you’re crying from laughter right now.

7 All Out of Pokéballs

Via VG Cats

As I teased previously, there are a couple Pokémon in the early sections worthy of your lineup. In Viridian Forest you can find Pikachu, but its appearance is very rare. That said, to encounter and accidentally beat it would be heartbreaking. What’s worse that that? Getting Pikachu down to the perfect level of HP only to find out you’re out of Pokéballs. It’s honestly been so long since I played these games that I can’t remember if this happened to me, but I do know I had a heck of time capturing one. Now the critter is a bit easier to find in the games, but maybe, as controversial as it is to say, is not worth your time. There are better Electric-types out there.

6 Gotta Catch ‘Em All

Via Walking Squares

Let’s continue on with the quandary of bad Pokémon in the original games. You’re encouraged to “catch ‘em all” even though a lot of Pokémon are just not worth catching. It was hard, but I actually caught all 150 Pokémon in my original copy of Pokémon Blue. Don’t believe me? I put out a video a while ago proving it when the Game Boy turned twenty-five. I was surprised my cartridge still carried that save. Needless to say I haven’t successfully captured every Pokémon after that because why would I? Seems impossible what with there being over 700 now. It’s basically a marketing ploy for you to buy two games anyway. So yeah, shut up Professor Oak. I’m not buying into your capitalist propaganda anymore.

5 To Evolve, Or Not To Evolve

Via Magical Game Time

There’s a mentality among some that evolving your Pokémon is the superior way to play. Sometimes, that isn’t the case though. Keeping your Pikachu as a Pikachu and not a Raichu will improve its overall speed. There was a whole episode about it: Electric Shock Showdown, where Pikachu refuses to evolve using a Thunder Stone just to beat a rival Raichu. That final battle still gets me teary eyed to this day. Another example is Eevee, who is just adorable. It’s basically a cross between a rabbit and fox. It started with three evolutionary choices: Jolteon, Vaporeon, and Flareon. Now there are a total of eight. I’m a fan of the Psychic-type Espeon myself, but while powerful, it doesn’t hold a candle to Eevee‘s simple cuteness.

4 Scope It Out

Via Nerd Rage

Remember the Team Rocket HQ I mentioned earlier in Celadon City? I failed to mention storming that hideout is one of my favorite moments in the original games. It’s a culmination of every Team Rocket fight before it. You’re basically the kid version of John McClane, busting in to take down a bunch of terrorists with Pokémon standing in for a barrage of bullets. Defeating the leader, Giovanni, will reward players with the Silph Scope. It basically looks like a pair of Night Vision Goggles, but it’s used to see Ghost type Pokémon. You need it in order to fight Gastly and Haunter in the Pokémon Tower. The joke here says three, but technically you can’t encounter Gengar in that tower. What a weird and specific item. Thankfully it was ditched past this generation.

3 Pokéroids

Via Nerd Rage

This comic brings up a good point. I never really thought about it back then, but yeah; Rare Candy is basically a steroid. Don’t get me wrong. I exploited the heck out of them using that duplicating item cheat. Not just Rare Candy, but Gold Nuggets and Master Balls too. What does Rare Candy do, you ask? It makes your Pokémon level up automatically, but the stat increases are not as great as if you actually used that Pokémon in battle. It may be hard to believe, but I never used Rare Candy on my main team. I instead used them to level up Pokémon I didn’t care about just so my Pokédex would tell me I caught them. It was a simple trick that saved me some fighting time.

2 The Dangers of the Safari Zone

Via Nerd Rage

Using a steroid-like substance to beef up your Pokémon is pretty sketchy, along with taking money from young children. More screwed up than that is the Safari Zone, which I never liked in Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Red. It’s a needlessly complicated stage with rare Pokémon you can only catch there. The catch is you’re only allowed a certain number of steps before you’re asked to leave. Plus you can’t use Pokémon in battle. Instead, you can distract Pokémon with bait, or, throw rocks at them. Rocks! No matter which way you slice it, that’s mean. A thing only a Pokémon trainer like Lucius Malfoy would do for kicks. You know, if he was a Pokémon trainer instead of a crappy wizard.

1 Charmander’s Inferiority Complex

Via The Jay Stack

It’s expected at this point that I end these comic articles with a depressing joke, right? Well, I don’t want to disappoint anybody, so here we go. It follows the same lines of logic as the Eevee comic. This Charmander wants to be a cool adult, but doesn’t want to evolve. Charizard is actually one Pokémon I think is superior to its previous two stages, which is sad because Charmander is still cuter. He’s just not an epic fire breathing flying dragon like Charizard. Tack on the Pokémon Card as a fake ID and this comic is golden. Okay, it’s perhaps not as depressing as my previous two closing comics, but I do feel bad for all the Charmanders out there trying to go out for a night on the town.