Pokemon 4Koma Gag Battle

I've been trying my hardest to find information on one of the earliest pieces of Pokémon merchandise, but, due to a Japanese-only release and no signs of republishing the work, the full content of the Pokémon 4Koma series may never be completely unearthed.

"4Koma" is the term for a 4-panel comic, usually arranged vertically (as opposed to the 2-panel 2Koma comics).  A large collection of Pokémon-themed 4Koma comics have been made by various creators, but each serves the purpose of telling simple gags with the characters (both human and monster).

The creatures are put into familiar scenarios in order to get the joke across and rarely have recurring storylines.  However, consistent personalities develop over time, as with any long running series.  The earliest collection dates back to 1996, but they are still being produced today.

However, without access to these books, I cannot accurately review their worth (Although they seem creative and funny to me).  Fortunately, a dedicated Nidoran fan has his own website that has found many 4Koma comics related to his favorite Pokémon family.

I highly suggest you read his analysis and review of his favorite 4Koma author Takahiro Yamashita, as it provides the most analysis of the genre as a whole that I have found thus far.

Aqua Bunny's 4Koma Fansite

Although this is just a slice of the Pokémon 4Koma culture, it is a great look into a world that is completely isolated to American audiences.  Perhaps one day, we'll see some full translations of these collections.