Pocket Monsters: PM009 and PM010

PM009 - Pikachu Was Kidnapped!!

PM009 - Pikachu Was Kidnapped!!

Synopsis: Red and his group make their way into the heart of Celadon City which is home to a large casino, the Game Corner.  While testing their luck at the slots, Pikachu begins winning big, drawing the attention of the casino boss, Giovanni.  As Red and his crew get richer and richer, Giovanni decides to intervene and put a stop to his luck.  He orders his henchman, Hitmonlee to kidnap Pikachu.  Clefairy, in an effort to rescue Pikachu, challenges Hitmonlee to a boxing match. They fight and fight and fight.  It's all very exciting.  Clefairy is greatly overwhelmed during the battle, but eventually tricks Hitmonlee into a defeat.  Pikachu is rescued, but the monetary winnings are returned to the casino (or at least it's never mentioned again).

New Character and Pokémon Breakdown

Giovanni (Number 1)

Okay, so Pocket Monsters is strange in that there are two Giovannis.  And it's not like the case with Mewtwo where the Viridian Forest Mewtwo is retconned and an official Mewtwo takes its place.  There are actually two Giovannis.  They are twin brothers.  I'm not sure if the author just made a mistake and forgot how he depicted Giovanni in his first appearance.  Or maybe he got confused and thought that the multiple encounters with Boss Giovanni were like multiple Bug Catchers or Lasses.  Or maybe he just wanted two Giovannis?  Any way, this first one is a big tough casino owner who is very different from the Giovanni of the games.  The second will be original flavor Giovanni.

Giovanni's Hitmonlee

Maybe the reason for two Giovannis is so one can have a Hitmonlee and the other a Hitmonchan.  I really like the design and character of Hitmonlee.  Even though Hitmonlees don't have mouths, this one does.  Also, this one boxes, which is Hitmonchan's shtick.  He also wears clothes and, like Red's Machamp, can pass for a regular human character.  He's just a thuggish henchman, but he becomes another recurring character allowing us to get to know him and enjoy him as a villain.  I think Anakubo just enjoyed drawing this character, because I found myself surprised at how often I saw him and Hitmonchan.

Setting

Celadon Game Corner

Celadon City appears to be based on Las Vegas in this chapter.  Red and the gang start out in a desert and must travel far to get to the remote, casino based town.  Unlike the games, it doesn't seem to be a Rocket run enterprise (yes, Giovanni is there, but it just seems like a standard casino, with monetary prizes instead of Pokémon captives).  The whole city's economy is centered on the Game Corner and it feels as if our characters are in the real world for a vacation.

Overall Review: A-

The stories are getting more focused.  There are still gags, but each are directly related to the situation at hand.  Only one Pokémon (other than Clefairy and Pikachu) makes an appearance, and the later half of the story focuses on the boxing match.  Since I like this incarnation of Hitmonlee, I don't mind the thin plot.  But, because of the lack of English, I'm not exactly sure why everything happens the way it does.  But, it's simple and exciting.

PM010 - Big Struggle with the Powerful Opponent Venusaur!!

PM010 - Big Struggle with the Powerful Opponent Fushigibana!!

Synopsis: Traveling down a river in a lush jungle, Red encounters Green who causes him to capsize his boat, trapping him among the trees.  Pikachu sets to work on building a temporary habitat and a ship to escape from the jungle (a spaceship).  Meanwhile, threatening Grass Pokémon observe our heroes from the shadows, blending into the surroundings.  Clefairy discovers a potted plant and brings it inside the cabin.  That night, it begins to sprout and grow. The gang awakes to find an angry Venusaur that grew from the plant.  The Venusaur is revealed to belong to the Celadon Gym Leader Erika.  She fights Red with her Pokémon and after a tense battle, Clefairy is the victor.  He then blasts off in the spaceship that Pikachu built because this story is weird and random.

New Character and Pokémon Breakdown

Erika

I don't quite understand where this story is taking place.  Either Erika's gym is as large as a jungle, or she actually lives in a jungle.  She is a lot more anger-prone than her character from the games, who is a soft-spoken, laid back gardener who is at peace among the flowers.  She eventually becomes an ally to Red, but her battle style is still very fierce.

Erika's Bulbasaur/Venusaur

Here is one of those times where rapid evolution and devolution benefits the story.  When Venusaur closes its bulb, it is a Bulbasaur and when it opens it, its a Venusaur.  This is a clever usage of the two creatures and is unique to only this canon.  It spends most of attack mode in the Venusaur state.

Erika's Grass Pokémon: Oddish, Exeggutor, Tangela, Gloom, Bellsprout

I'm unclear as to whether these are actually owned by Erika, but she does watch over them in the jungle.  They are always upset with people invading their territory.  And Exeggutor is a dinky little Pokémon, despite being a fully-evolved tree.

Setting

Celadon Gym(?)

Clearly, this is a huge sprawling jungle.  It may even be the Pokémon Jungle from the TCG.  But Erika is fought here, which makes me feel as if this is her entire Gym.  I wouldn't put it past this manga to place an entire jungle into a building.

The House That Pikachu Built

Apparently, Pikachu is a skilled carpenter and welder.  Out of the trees, he builds a cabin and a rocket ship.  I don't know where this ability comes from or if this is supposed to reference anything.  It's just a bit of character development.

Overall Review: A-

Once again, we get another straightforward story.  My biggest issue with it is the existence of the rocket ship.  It seems utterly disconnected from everything else in the tale.  I do enjoy the Little Shop of Horrors-esque tale involving Venusaur and the humor is in service of the story once more.  The reason I'm rating these stories so highly is because I know they'll get weirder and disjointed soon, so I'm enjoying myself while the stories bear some semblance to the games.

Who's That Pokémon? #112 Rhydon

#112 Rhydon (a.k.a. Sidon)

Bulbapedia Article

Named after rhinoceros (Japanese: sai) and don (Ancient Greek for "tooth," as used in many dinosaur names), Rhydon is a Ground/Rock Pokémon based on dinosaur with rhinoceros characteristics.  Many of the first created Pokémon were dinosaur based (including Lapras and Ivysaur) and Rhydon being the first seemed to set the standard for later creatures (note its physical similarities with Kangaskhan, Nidoking and Nidoqueen).

From the Pokedex:  It begins walking on its hind legs after evolution.  It can punch holes through boulders with its horn.  Protected by an armor-like hide, it is capable of living in molten lava of 3,600 degrees.  Shows signs of intelligence.

Clearly, the most significant attributes are its horn (used for Horn Attack and Horn Drill) and its hide (used for defense and Fire-resistance).  This explains why Blaine was given one to own in the anime, as the volcano gym would be the best place to show off its abilities.

Generation I Moveset and Strategy

Smogon's Analysis

Despite being classified as Ground/Rock, Rhydon only learns normal moves by leveling up.  Yet, it learns moves from a variety of different types by TM, such as Surf, Fire Blast, and Thunder.  Some consider this to be due to Rhydon being the first Pokémon programmed in the game, allowing developers to rely on it to get them through the game quickly.  However, as an attacker, it had a low special stat, meaning it's best moveset would be the following:

Earthquake - Ground Rock Slide - Rock Body Slam - Normal Substitute - Normal

Earthquake and Rock Slide provide the STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) while Body Slam hits hard and paralyzes.  Substitute takes advantage of Rhydon's high defense to add some extra wall strength.  I also like that the Substitute doll is based on Rhydon, making this a fitting move.  None of the Generation II tradeback moves improve upon this moveset, so this is the best choice, making for one of the strongest fighters in the first generation.

Generation I Sprites

    

Each of these sprites do a fine job of representing Rhydon, but I'd probably give the edge to the Yellow sprite.  The Red/Green Sprite has a good pose, but that giant eye is weird.  The Blue sprite is a little better, but the Yellow one is the most intimidating.  The first two are too cuddly.

Generation I Locations

Aside from evolving Rhyhorn, the best place to get a Rhydon is Cerulean Cave at Level 52 and 55 in Red/Green/Blue and Level 58-60 and 62 in Yellow.  This seems to reference the original Rhydon drawing in which we see Rhydon and his trainer exploring a cave.  It makes sense to save this appearance for the very end as a special bonus.

In Yellow, one can also trade a Golduck for one on Cinnabar Island, possibly as a reference to Blaine's volcano dwelling Rhydon from the show.

Notable Generation I Rhydon

1.  Blue/Gary's Rhydon (Red/Green/Blue and The Electric Tale of Pikachu - ET19)

Rhydon is one of Blue's final Pokémon  solidifying his status as a Champion Pokémon Trainer.  His Rhydon is the last reveal of his ever-changing team.  SPOILERS:  Blue will bring this Rhydon with him into the Generation II games and Pokémon Adventures chapters.

2.  Blaine's Rhydon (Anime - EP058)

In a surprising twist, Blaine becomes the first gym leader in the anime to use a Pokémon not of his signature type during a gym battle.  As stated, this is to show off Rhydon's resiliency in a volcanic setting, although this is also the only Rhydon that is susceptible to Electric attacks via its horn.

3.  Koga's Rhydon (Pokémon Adventures - PS007)

Koga leads some Team Rocket grunts through Mt. Moon and uses an experimental drug to induce evolution on his Rhyhorn, making it a more powerful opponent.  It couldn't be defeated by strength alone and a distraction had to be implemented to allow Red and Misty to escape.  Perhaps the forced evolution stunted its intelligence.

4.  Bruno's Rhydon (Pokémon Stadium)

While not a major player in the handheld games, Rhydon is the strongest member of Bruno's team during both rounds of the Stadium battles.  During the first round, it is armed with both Horn Drill and Fissure, meaning it has the power to OHKO anything, while in the second round, it has a moveset similar to Smogon's picks (with Surf as a wild card to take out other Rock-types).

5.  Brock's Rhydon (TCG - Gym Heroes)

Despite not using a Rhydon in the games (yet), one of Brock's holographic rares is a Rhydon that uses its thick hide to defend the Pokémon on the Bench, taking any attacks directed towards them.  That's is just like Brock to have a Pokémon that looks out for its other teammates.

6.  The Fairchild Island Giant Rhydon (Anime - EP104)

A fake giant Rhydon first appeared on Giovanni's Pokémon Land where our shipwrecked heroes found themselves in EP017.  But actual giant Rhydon lived on one of the Orange Islands with equally giant Pidgeot.  A trapped Pikachu and Meowth had to work together to defeat it, using their ability to tickle it into submission.

7.  Junk's Rhydon (TCG - Jungle and How I Became a Pokémon Card - PW14)

The story behind the rampaging Rhydon from the Jungle set is told in the story "Rhydon's Pride."  Although I don't currently have access to this particular manga, I know that Junk is a recurring character and he is the only trainer I've seen thus far whose Rhydon is serving its original purpose.  Junk actually rides his Rhydon and uses it to transport his things, just like in "Capsule Monsters."

8.  Giovanni's Rhydon (Red/Green/Blue, anime, and nearly every manga)

Giovanni seems to have four signature Pokémon   His Persian rarely battles, and his Nidoqueen and Nidoking appear the most, but he is never seen far from his Rhydon.  Unlike the Nido duo, Giovanni only uses his Rhydon in gym battles.  This is true of every canon that the Rhydon appears in, showing that Giovanni feels that it best represents his status as a Ground-type Gym Leader.  While the previous Rhydons are important, Giovanni is the trainer I most associate with the creature.

Final Thoughts

While most important Pokémon usually get some sort of personality trait, Rhydon represents the idea that these are just monsters, fighting and defending their territory.  Every Rhydon appearance is based on its girth and strength.  However, it is not an evil destroyer, but rather a helpful protector.  It's worthy of being the first Pokémon created and it's definitely worthy of being on any trainer's team.

Rhydon's Verdict - Gotta Catch 'Em!