Pokemon The Movie White: Victini and Zekrom

Momota Inoue – Viz – 2012 – 1 volume

Ash and company find their way to Eindoak, which is host to a legend about a mysterious and very empty castle perched atop a mountain. While approaching the city, and again during a pokemon tournament, Ash is befriended by the super-rare and super-auspicious pokemon Victini. But it turns out Victini is trapped in the city of Eindoack, and one of the natives is coming to the end of a quest that he believes will bring the original inhabitants of Eindoack back together and restore the empty castle to its former position. In this, he is aided by legendary dragon pokemon Reshiram, and he uses Reshiram and others to subjugate Victini and use its power to move the castle. But Victini doesn’t want to be forced to make the same mistake his old master did, and moving the castle might unleash a terrible power on the land. Will Ash stop it?

Well, I bet the answer is yes. Then again, this manga isn’t really for me, exactly, raving pokemon fan though I may be. Having said that, I did enjoy it. I’m not up on who all the people currently hanging out with Ash are, but they play little to no role in the story here, and it’s mostly about Ash, Victini, Reshiram, and the other legendary pokemon Zekrom. And that’s fine. Bonus points, too, for neither the bad guy nor Reshiram being actually bad, just misguided. And Victini’s cute.

About the only other thing I feel like commenting on is the presence of Team Rocket. I’m not even sure why they’re in here. There in four panels, and simply hang out at the bottom of the castle while everything else is going on. I can’t believe they’re even still in the series.

Anyway, there’s not much to say about this. It is what it is, and if the story sounds like it would appeal to you, you won’t be disappointed. It’s a decent adaptation, though not one that will win any new fans. Odds are a young pokemon fan will love it to pieces.

This was a review copy provided by Viz.