Pokémon Black and White (manga) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pokémon Black and White
The English/US cover of the first volume of Pokémon Black and White.
Manga
Written by	Hidenori Kusaka
Illustrated by	Satoshi Yamamoto
English publisher	NA Viz Media
Original run	July 5, 2011 – February 3, 2015
Volumes	20 (mini-volumes) 9 (tankoban volumes)
Related
Pokémon Adventures (1997–present)

Pokémon Black and White is a fun manga series. It's based on the popular Pokémon video games with the same name. This manga is the tenth part of the Pokémon Adventures series. It tells the exciting story of a boy named Black and his journey through the Unova region.

The manga was released as 20 smaller mini-volumes between 2011 and 2015. Later, these stories were collected into 9 larger books called tankoban volumes, released from 2013 to 2015. Hidenori Kusaka wrote the stories, and Satoshi Yamamoto created the amazing art. Viz Media and VizKids published the series in the United States.

Promoting the Manga

To help people know about Pokémon Black and White, a special free sample of the manga was given out. This happened during the movie premiere of Pokémon the Movie: White—Victini and Zekrom. The sample included part of the second chapter from the first volume. This event took place on December 3 and 4, 2011.

The Story of Black and White

The manga follows two main characters: Black and White. Their adventures take them across the Unova region, where they meet many Pokémon and face challenges.

Black's Big Dream

Black is a very energetic boy who dreams of winning the Pokémon League. He has a Munna named Musha and a Braviary named Brav. Black thinks so much about his dream that he sometimes faints! To help him focus, Musha "eats" his overwhelming thoughts.

Professor Juniper sends a package with three starter Pokémon from Unova: Tepig, Snivy, and Oshawott. It also has three Pokédexes for Black and his friends, Cheren and Bianca. But things go wrong! Tepig runs off, and the other two Pokédexes get broken. Black chases after Tepig, becomes friends with it, and names it Tep. Then, his journey officially begins!

Meeting White and Team Plasma

While filming a commercial, Black accidentally gets involved with White. White and her Tepig, Gigi, work for the BW Agency. This agency helps Pokémon get roles in movies and TV shows. Black is blamed when a Galvantula attacks the set. He catches the Galvantula and names it Tula. To pay for the damage, Black has to work for White's agency.

In Accumula Town, Black and White hear a speech from Team Plasma's leader, Ghetsis. He tells people to free their Pokémon, saying trainers are holding them back. Black strongly disagrees and tries to stop Team Plasma. But he is stopped by N, a mysterious trainer who believes in listening to Pokémon. N challenges Black to a battle, saying Poké Balls and the Pokédex are wrong. Black loses, but Tep's bravery surprises N.

Continuing the Journey

Black and White keep traveling through Unova. Black meets Cheren and Bianca again in Striaton City. They work together to defeat the city's Gym Leader. White then plans a Pokémon Musical for Nimbasa City.

Black battles Team Plasma many times:

• In Route 3, they kidnap Musha.
• In Nacrene City, they try to steal a fossil.
• In Castelia City, Black finds a place where "freed" Pokémon are kept.
• In Liberty Garden, Team Plasma tries to catch the Mythical Pokémon Victini.

The Pokémon Musical in Nimbasa City goes well. But right after, N kidnaps White and traps her on a Ferris wheel. Black's Tepig evolves into Pignite (which White isn't happy about!) and is renamed Nite. While Black battles Gym Leader Elesa, N tells White that he is Team Plasma's King. Ghetsis gave him the job of saving Pokémon from trainers. N convinces Gigi to leave White by showing its fighting ability. Upset, White jumps from the Ferris wheel, and N's Servine follows her. White is shaken, but she decides to stop her business for a while. She starts training to become a Pokémon battler on the Battle Subway in Nimbasa City.

Battles and Discoveries

While White trains, Black continues his journey to win the Pokémon League. He defeats a Zorua causing trouble near Driftveil City. He also teams up with Cheren to fight Team Plasma in the Cold Storage. Black defeats the Driftveil City Gym Leader, Clay. Clay reveals that Team Plasma plans to invade the Nacrene City Museum. They want to get the Dark Stone, which holds the Legendary Pokémon Zekrom. Zekrom represents Team Plasma's extreme ideas.

Black defeats Gym Leader Skyla to prove he can face Team Plasma. The Gym Leaders and Black go to the Nacrene Museum to fight Team Plasma. While the Gym Leaders battle outside, Black goes inside for the Dark Stone. However, most Gym Leaders are defeated and kidnapped. A Team Plasma grunt, disguised as Elite Four member Brycen, takes the Dark Stone. He gives it to Ghetsis, who uses N to awaken Zekrom.

Black learns he must awaken Reshiram, the Pokémon of Truth, from the Light Stone. He needs Reshiram to defeat Team Plasma. Black trains at Tubeline Bridge. His Pignite evolves again into Emboar and is renamed Bo. Black defeats Gym Leader Brycen. But he panics when he learns the Pokémon League is in one week, not three months! He almost decides not to get his final Gym Badge. Meanwhile, White, now with a full team of Pokémon, helps Bianca figure out her life. Bianca feels she hasn't improved as a trainer. As thanks, Bianca gives her Pokédex to White.

The Pokémon League and Final Showdown

Black and White meet again. They learn that N has defeated Alder, the Unova League Champion. N wants to prove he is the best trainer and convince everyone to free their Pokémon. N tries to talk to Black, White, and Professor Juniper. He says professors have been treating their Pokémon badly. Black tries to battle N to find Team Plasma's headquarters. But his Pokémon refuse to fight N. Black tries to get Musha's help, but Musha flies away. N says this is because Musha doesn't want to eat Black's dream anymore. Black's dream has changed due to the stress of fighting Team Plasma and his worries about the Pokémon League. Black faints from the shock, and N flies off.

The day of the Pokémon League arrives. Black wakes up to find the opening ceremony has already started. Black thinks about going home. But he feels better when he realizes he would disappoint his Pokémon. Black challenges Drayden to a last-minute battle for the final Gym Badge. A message from the other Gym Leaders gives him confidence. He defeats Drayden and enters the Pokémon League as the 32nd contestant.

The final 8 contestants are Black, Iris, Cheren, Marlon, Leo, Gray (a Team Plasma Sage in disguise), Looker (disguised as Lou Karr to investigate Team Plasma), and Hood Man (later revealed to be Colress). White tries to investigate Hood Man during the League. In the finals, Black faces Cheren. Cheren was tricked by Team Plasma and believes he can win with pure strength. White discovers Gray's true identity and tells Black that Team Plasma has invaded the Pokémon League. But she is teleported away. Black defeats Cheren with Musha's help (Musha finally evolves!). Black's anger at Team Plasma for tricking his friend awakens Reshiram from the Light Stone.

The Castle and Ghetsis's Plan

Reshiram's awakening makes Team Plasma reveal their final plan. A huge castle rises from under the Pokémon League stadium! N flies on his Zekrom. The Gym Leaders, Elite Four, other trainers Black and White met, and Black's Pokémon fight the Seven Sages. Black flies on Reshiram and faces N. Black uses his Pokédex to understand Reshiram's abilities. This is against Team Plasma's ideas. Because of this, Black can "hear" Reshiram's voice, which surprises N.

While Black fights N inside the castle, White wakes up in N's playroom. N's caretakers explain that N was an orphan. He could always hear Pokémon. Ghetsis used this ability to create Team Plasma. N has also released all his Pokémon, including Gigi. Gigi reunites with White! Black defeats N. N's Zorua suddenly appears, making N realize that Pokémon want to be with their trainers.

Just when things seem calm, Ghetsis appears. He reveals he is N's adoptive father. He also shares his true plan: to take over the world and trick people into giving up their Pokémon. This would make Ghetsis the only one who can use them. Ghetsis fights all of Black's Pokémon at once. But Black defeats Ghetsis using Musha. Black and White reunite after the battle. N wakes up and flies off with his Zekrom, wondering what he will do next. Reshiram starts turning back into the Light Stone. Ghetsis manages to force Black inside it! The Light Stone flies off as White watches. A Team Plasma member becomes friends with a Foongus as they leave Team Plasma's castle with other members.

Volume List

Here is a list of the Pokémon Black and White manga volumes released in English by Viz Media.