The Pokemon franchise has obviously been controversial lately as childhood dreams clash with bitter reality. But this manga hold's true to my initial daydreams of what pokemon is like.

The first few chapters take recognizable characters and makes them ICONS. The story is dark but digestibly so- and believable. It's just my precious little guilty pleasure that I'll never let go of even as I grow up.

Gender roles are nonexistent here (impressively so back in the 1990s) and you can tell the authors love pokemon just the same as we do. I'm only finishing the DP/P arc but the characters are still a joy even if the heavy charm of early pokespe wore off. I love this manga! Please give it a read.