Manga Review: “Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum” Volume Seven

Article first published as Manga Review: Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume Seven by Hidenori Kusaka on Blogcritics.

Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume Seven is a manga based on the Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl video games. The manga was written by Hidenori Kusaka, and the art was done by Satoshi Yamamoto. Viz Media released this manga in North America through its VizKids imprint in 2013. Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum is rated “A,” which means it is suitable for readers of all ages.

In Volume Seven, Team Galactic finally launches its plan to bomb the three lakes in the Sinnoh region where three Legendary Pokemon reside. Dia goes to Lake Verity, Platinum (aka Lady) goes to Lake Acuity with Candice and Maylene, and Pearl goes to Lake Valor with Rad Rickshaw.

As one would expect, all three of our main protagonists have run-ins with members of Team Galactic when they reach the lakes. Unfortunately, Team Galactic end up succeeding in what they were trying to accomplish. This causes Dia to end up aboard a Team Galactic ship without being detected, Pearl training with the gym leader Crusher Wake, and the introduction of the Sunyshore gym leader.

The gym leader at Sunyshore Gym bears a bit of a physical resemblance to Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage in Naruto. For this character’s appearance during the last chapter of this volume, I had to remind myself that I was reading a Pokemon manga so I wouldn’t think of him as Minato.

When I finished Volume Six, I knew that Team Galactic’s plan would have to be launched during Volume Seven, but I also thought there was a chance that this manga series could have also potentially ended. However, there is still at least one more volume to go. With the way the story was developed, it ended up needing at least one more volume to get through the story. After doing some quick research, I discovered there’s actually still two more volumes left in Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum. Hopefully, the story will actually need both volumes and not be stretched out unnecessarily, because by the end of Volume Seven, it’s obvious that the story is starting to wind down.

When it comes to the art, one thing that really stands out are the three Team Galactic members that Dia, Pearl, and Platinum encounter at the three lakes. These Team Galactic members really seem to have a bit of a distinctive feel to them when compared to the other characters in the series. I’m not entirely sure how to describe it, but they seem to have a bit more definition in their faces.

When it comes to Volume Seven, I think one of its strongest points is the character development that Pearl receives near the end of the volume. He’s really come a long way from the kid in the early volumes who spent time spouting lame jokes, and is starting to become a strong Pokemon trainer in his own right.

Overall, I thought that Volume Seven was a good read. I’m hoping that Volume Eight will be just as enjoyable as Volume Seven was.

If you enjoy the Pokemon franchise, then you might find enjoyment in Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum.

I wrote this review after reading a copy of Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume Seven that I checked out through the King County Library System.

New York Times Manga Best Seller List: February 10-16, 2013

Here are the top ten selling manga in the United States for the week of February 10-16, 2013, according to the New York Times.

1. Skip Beat! Volume 30 by Yoshiki Nakamura
2. Negima! Magister Negi Magi Volume 37 by Ken Akamatsu
3. Sailor Moon Volume 9 by Naoko Takeuchi
4. Naruto Volume 60 by Masashi Kishimoto
5. Bleach Volume 55 by Tite Kubo
6. Stepping on Roses Volume 9 by Rinko Ueda
7. Pokémon Adventures: Diamond and Pearl/Platinum, Volume 7 by Hidenori Kusaka and Mato
8. Alice in the Country of Joker: Circus and Liar’s Game Volume 1 by Mamenosuke Fujimaru and QuinRose
9. Fairy Tail Volume 23 by Hiro Mashima
10. Black Butler Volume 12 by Yana Toboso

New York Times Manga Best Seller List: February 3-9, 2013

Here are the top ten selling manga in the United States for the week of February 3-9, 2013, according to the New York Times.

1. Naruto Volume 60 by Masashi Kishimoto
2. Sailor Moon Volume 9 by Naoko Takeuchi
3. Bleach Volume 55 by Tite Kubo
4. Negima! Magister Negi Magi Volume 37 by Ken Akamatsu
5. Alice in the Country of Joker: Circus and Liar’s Game Volume 1 by Mamenosuke Fujimaru and QuinRose
6. Pokémon Adventures: Diamond and Pearl/Platinum Volume 7 by Hidenori Kusaka and Satoshi Yamamoto
7. Fairy Tail Volume 23 by Hiro Mashima
8. Skip Beat! Volume 30 by Yoshiki Nakamura
9. Tenjo Tenge Volume 11 by Oh! great
10. Black Butler Volume 12 by Yana Toboso

New Manga Releases: February 5, 2013

Here are the new manga releases for February 5, 2013. If you see any errors or omissions in this list, please feel free to contact me and let me know.

Ai Ore! GN 8
Alice in the Country of Joker: Circus and Liar’s Game GN 1
Bleach Volume 55
Bleach Omnibus GN 4
Dawn of the Arcana GN 8
Deltora Quest GN 10
A Devil and Her Love Song GN 7
Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends GN 2
Kamisama Kiss GN 12
Knights of Sidonia GN 1
Naruto GN 60
Naruto Omnibus GN 4
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan GN 13
One Piece Omnibus GN 5
Pokémon Adventures: Diamond and Pearl/Platinum GN 7
Skip Beat! GN 30
Slam Dunk GN 26
Stepping on Roses GN 9
Tegami Bachi: Leter Bee GN 12
Tenjo Tenge GN 11
Toriko GN 14

Manga Review: “Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum” Volume Six

Article first published as Manga Review: Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume Six by Hidenori Kusaka on Blogcritics.

Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume Six is a manga based on the Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl video games. The manga was written by Hidenori Kusaka, and the art was done by Satoshi Yamamoto. Viz Media released this manga in North America through its VizKids imprint in 2012. Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum is rated “A,” which means it is suitable for readers of all ages.

In Volume Six, Dia, Pearl, and Platinum continue on their separate journeys to reach the three lakes which serve as the home for the Sinnoh region’s three Legendary Pokemon. They hope to be able to reach the lakes and figure out what’s going to happen before Team Galactic can launch their evil plan.

All three of the protagonists have their own adventures on their journey. Pearl has to outwit a Houndoom at the Fuego Ironworks while trying to save the owner. Pearl is also able to gather some information that could potentially help him figure out what Team Galactic’s plan is.

Platinum has a chance encounter with Candice, the Snowpoint City Gym Leader, when Candice rescues Platinum after she’s collapsed in the snow. After Platinum learns that she was saved by Candice, she has runs into Maylene; Maylene is headed to Snowpoint City to train with Candice. Platinum decides to go along, so she can thank Candice for saving her. When Platinum arrives at the Snowpoint Gym, she ends up in a Pokemon battle against Candice.

Dia arrives in Jubilife City, where he runs into the creator of the Poketch. Dia ends being recruited to help promote the Poketches. During the promotion, a Lickitung disrupts the event. Later in the volume, Dia finds himself at the estate that belongs to someone he knows.

The ending of Volume Six makes it clear that Team Galactic’s evil plan should be launched during Volume Seven. It will be interesting to see how this part of the storyline is paced, because the series could either end in Volume Seven, or it could stretched out to push the story into an eighth volume. Personally, I hope the story will be resolved in Volume Seven. It’s not the story in Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl is bad, but it just feels like it should be wrapping up rather quickly.

When it comes to the art, Yamamoto’s strength seems to be in extreme closeups of facial reactions. It’s in these panels where he takes the time to try to include a little more detail in the characters’ looks. Another thing that really stood out to me was the character design for Rad Rickshaw, because I kept thinking his face might have been inspired by Might Guy from Naruto; I think the look of his eyes and eyebrows that make me think that. Unfortunately, I can’t tell if he shares Guy’s bowl cut, because Rad Rickshaw is always seen wearing a bicycle helmet.

I’m glad to see that Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum has continued the better storytelling that has emerged in the more recent volumes. After having a slow start, it seems Kusaka found his stride a little later in the series. I’m interested in seeing how the story continues in Volume Seven.

If you enjoy the Pokemon franchise, then you might find enjoyment in Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum.

I wrote this review after reading a copy of Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume Six that I checked out through the King County Library System.

Manga Review: “Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum” Volume Five

Article first published as Manga Review: Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume Five by Hidenori Kusaka on Blogcritics.

Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume Five is a manga based on the Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl video games. The manga was written by Hidenori Kusaka, and the art was done by Satoshi Yamamoto. Viz Media released this manga in North America through its VizKids imprint in 2012. Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum is rated “A,” which means it is suitable for readers of all ages.

At the beginning of Volume Five, the truth about Dia and Pearl is revealed. Lady is shocked, and then becomes angry with Dia and Pearl with not telling her the truth. After some thought and contemplation, Platinum realizes that she hadn’t been entirely honest with Dia and Pearl during their travels together, and is willing to forgive them. During her apology, Lady’s real name is finally revealed: Platinum. I nearly groaned when I saw that, and the thought running through my heads was, “I really should have seen that coming.”

After the three main characters patch things up, they learn of Team Galactic’s plan to use the Galactic Bomb to capture the three Legendary Pokemon of the Sinnoh region: Mesprit, Uxie and Azelf. Since there are three Pokemon, they decide to go their separate ways to help the Pokemon, since they know that they don’t have a lot of time until the bomb is detonated.

However, before Dia goes to help his designated Pokemon, he is sent to get some training in order to improve his team of Pokemon. Near the end of the volume, Pearl has his own adventure while he’s on his way to his designated Pokemon. By the end of this volume, none of the three have reached their assigned locations; this guarantees that there’s at least one more volume of this series, if not more, to go.

Unlike the previous four volumes of this series, Volume Five doesn’t utilize Dia and Pearl’s lame comedy routines at all. Considering the tone the series is much more serious in this volume, and the fact that the three main characters go their own separate ways, this really isn’t terribly surprising. But it was a nice change of pace not having to read those attempts at stand up comedy. Hopefully this trend will continue in future volumes of the series.

When it comes to the art, there were three panels in this volume that really stood out to me. After Dia, Pearl, and Platinum have gone their separate ways, they each have an emotional panel when they realize that they’ve become so accustomed to being together and that they miss being with the others. For all of these panels, there is a close-up of each character’s face, and it shows their emotional response to this realization.

Overall, I’ve been impressed with how Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum has evolved, especially in Volumes Four and Five. I’m glad that I didn’t write this series off after reading Volume One and that I gave subsequent volumes a chance.

If you enjoy the Pokemon franchise, then you might find enjoyment in Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum.

I wrote this review after reading a copy of Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume Five that I checked out through the King County Library System.

New York Times Manga Best Seller List: October 7-13, 2012

Here are the top ten selling manga in the United States for the week of October 7-13, 2012, according to the New York Times.

1. Bleach Volume 48 by Tite Kubo
2. Bleach Volume 36 by Tite Kubo
3. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Volume 3 by Masahiro Hikokubo
4. Bakuman. Volume 15 by Tsugumi Ohna
5. Pokemon Adventures: Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume 6 by Hidenori Kusaka
6. Fairy Tail Volume 21 by Hiro Mashima
7. Loveless Omnibus Volume 1 by Yun Kouga
8. Skip Beat! Volume 29 by Yoshiki Nakamura
9. Dance in the Vampire Bund Volume 13 by Nozomu Tamaki
10. The Ghost in the Shell Volume 1.5 by Masamune Shirow

New Manga Releases: October 2, 2012

Here are the new manga releases for October 2, 2012. If you see any errors or omissions in this list, please feel free to contact me and let me know.

Arisa GN 9
Bakuman. GN 15
Bleach GN 48
Bleach GN 49
Cage of Eden GN 7
Dance in the Vampire Bund GN 13
Dawn of the Arcana GN 6
A Devil and Her Love Song GN 5
Girl Friends: The Complete Collection 1
Jiu Jiu GN 2
Loveless Omnibus GN 1
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan GN 11
Pokemon Adventures: Diamond and Pearl/Platinum GN 6
Pokemon Black and White GN Box Set
Skip Beat! GN 29
Slam Dunk GN 24
Stepping on Roses GN 8
The Story of Saiunkoku GN 8
Toriko GN 12
Venus Versus Virus Omnibus GN 3
Witch Hunter Vol. 3-4
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s GN 3

Manga Review: “Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum” Volume Four

Article first published as Manga Review: Pokemon Adventures: Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume Four by Hidenori Kusaka on Blogcritics.

Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume Four is a manga based on the Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl video games. The manga was written by Hidenori Kusaka, and the art was done by Satoshi Yamamoto. Viz Media released this manga in North America through its VizKids imprint in 2012. Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum is rated “A,” which means it is suitable for readers of all ages.

Volume Four opens with Lady, Dia and Pearl trying to capture wild Pokemon at the Great Marsh. After a small accident during this task, Lady decides to return to the Pastoria Gym to have another Pokemon battle against Crasher Wake.

After the battle, the trio ends up at Mr. Backlot’s mansion, where Lady is enjoying his garden, while Dia and Pearl aren’t being treated very well by Mr. Backlot’s help. Cynthia suddenly arrives, because she’s conducting an investigation for Mr. Backlot. Lady, Dia and Pearl join Cynthia in the investigation, which has to do with the group of Psyduck blocking Route 210.

Then, our three leads go with Cynthia’s grandmother to some ruins with hieroglyphs about the Legend of the Sinnoh Lakes. When they get there, they find Cyrus, Team Galactic’s boss, looking at the ruins. Dia and Pearl have a difference of opinion, which leads to a fight between them. At the same time, Dia is doing what he can to try to keep Cyrus from taking a camera with him that has pictures of the hieroglyphs; he’s afraid Cyrus might use them for an evil purpose.

Lady has a gym battle with Fantina. Afterward, Lady learns her father has disappeared, and she reveals her true identity to everyone. Dia, Pearl, and Lady go to Canalave City to try to find and rescue Lady’s father.

The action this manga volume really builds, especially when you read Dia and Pearl’s fight. This, combined with Lady’s true identity finally being revealed, you can tell that the series has to be heading to a conclusion within a few volumes. The sneak preview for Volume Five that’s included at the end of this volume also adds to this sense of the series heading closer to its end.

Another thing I noticed in this volume is that while Dia and Pearl’s lame comedy routines still appear, Kusaka doesn’t seem to be relying on them as much as he had in the previous volumes. I find this to be a refreshing change, because the early volumes of this series relied too heavily on the lame comedy routines.

I also liked seeing Dia finally asserting himself to Pearl and standing up for himself. Dia has finally progressed past the relatively dim-witted character that only seemed to care about eating. I have to admit that the three main characters have come quite a way from the one-dimensional depictions they were given in the first volume of this series.

Art-wise, Yamamoto has kept a rather consistent art style for this series. My only real complaint is the facial design for Cyrus, the leader of Team Galactic. With the black rings around his eyes, it makes him look a little too similar to Gaara in Naruto.

Overall, I thought this volume of Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum is the best one in the series so far. If the preview of the Volume Five is any indication of how the next volume will be, then it could end up being just as good, if not better, than Volume Four.

If you enjoy the Pokemon franchise, then you might find enjoyment in Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum.

I wrote this review after reading a copy of Pokemon Adventures Diamond and Pearl Platinum Volume Four that I checked out through the King County Library System.

New York Times Manga Best Seller List: June 3-9, 2012

Here are the top ten selling manga in the United States for the week of June 3-9, 2012, according to the New York Times.

1. Bleach Volume 41 by Tite Kubo
2. Bleach Volume 40 by Tite Kubo
3. Ouran High School Host Club Volume 18 by Bisco Hatori
4. Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Volume 1 by Kazuki Takahashi, Shin Yoshida, and Naohito Miyoshi
5. Alice in the Country of Clover: Bloody Twins by QuinRose and Mamenosuke Fujimaru
6. Dance in the Vampire Bund Volume 12 by Nozomu Tamaki
7. Pokémon Adventures: Diamond and Pearl/Platinum Volume 3 by Hidenori Kusaka and Satoshi Yamamoto
8. GTO: The Early Years Volume 12 by Tohru Fujisawa
9. Vampire Cheerleaders/Paranormal Mystery Squad Monster Mash Collection by Adam Arnold, Shiei, and Compia
10. Witch Hunter Volume 1-2 by Jung-Man Cho