Pika
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April 1st, 2010






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65 . by: January 20, 2022, 10:58 pm

Nyoro~n
64 . by: Hawkpelt April 1, 2019, 11:54 am

HAH! The stickers on Pikachu's pokeball remind me of the little decorations you could put on your pokeball back in D/P/P. Fuck, that brings me back...

Gonna have to go back and read this again, I know for a FACT there's more than enough hidden meaning in here. (Also, given the fact that this Pikachu has seen enough of it, I wouldn't be surprised if he suddenly obtained the facade used to overcome life's hardships...)

URL : http://twitter.com/FrittyKitters
63 . by: 61 December 9, 2016, 9:29 pm

@62: Aaah, thank you! :D
62 . by: December 9, 2016, 6:40 am

@61 Click on the link, and then click through the image for the sequel!

URL : http://pika.nofna.com
61 . by: December 9, 2016, 4:33 am

Aw man, I was just thinking about this comic the other day, and hoping it was still hidden away on the site somewhere. NofNA features some of my absolute favourite comics (or just stories in general) ever, and this one's no exception. Strange to think that it's nearly seven years old... Anyway, I'm really happy to see it again, thanks to #60's comment showing up in the "recent comments elsewhere" feature!

Now I'm wondering if the apparent sequel from 2011 is lying around anywhere... I don't think I ever saw that one, but the comments on the next page sound as if there was one. Unless those are an April Fool's joke themselves, haha.
60 . by: December 8, 2016, 10:15 pm

This is still one of the best things I've ever found online.

Some of the other best things include Secretary and... well, actually, everything else here. You're like an unsung hero of webcomics.
59 . by: September 26, 2013, 2:14 am

Holy crap it's been over three years and I had to come back to say that I just noticed the Pokeyman trophy is actually a hockey trophy.
58 . by: Z July 15, 2013, 7:42 pm

Considering that religion is a primary source of all the world's strife, I DON'T find it odd that the pikachu didn't embrace religion. To the contrary, it makes perfect sense.
57 . by: Demut October 24, 2011, 9:52 pm

Awesome.

It’s kinda weird though that while this Pikachu seems to have become a pacifist (which is of course the only sensible position to arrive at) it did not embrace any religion. Odd.
56 . by: Heresiarch Without A Hope 2010-07-17 17:00:10

Fantastic.
55 . by: T 2010-05-23 22:19:38

mind = blown. seriously this is god-level cartooning
54 . by: Guilen 2010-04-19 14:04:37

goddamn brilliant. nuff said
53 . by: 2010-04-16 06:21:51

This proves once and for all that a little knowledge is dangerous.

Especially when that knowledge is all dark with absolutely no light to balance it out.

Which is why I can't help but compare this to SV in Secretary.
52 . by: natoon 2010-04-06 18:38:56

I see I have been training my pokemon all wrong.

A very enjoyable story!

What the heck is a pokewalker?
51 . by: Sombra29 2010-04-04 21:36:32

(I keep the pokewalker in my poket,too!:D Man,I love the thing,I hope it becomes a staple in the next games.Even if its solg separeatly.)
50 . by: Sombra29 2010-04-04 21:34:17

this takes the "godchu" meme to enterely new levels.

On a serious note,this comic is so inspiring on so many levels.
49 . by: Shannon 2010-04-01 23:15:45

Taking April Fools to the next level...sheesh...this was really enjoyable and compelling. Great use of that hard shading. I'm just amazed by the level of thought put into this whole thing. You can't draw mind blowing things unless you really kinda understand them...

Zacks work is so rewarding to me on so many levels.
48 . by: Nobody 2010-04-01 20:45:26

... "That man" meaning the man at the beginning; pikachu's trainer.
47 . by: Nobody 2010-04-01 20:44:53

For people wondering what happened at the end, it's like the pikachu is going to repeat the cycle with the baby - he'll grow up to be that man, and that man will find another pokemon to turn into the pikachu. See how the drug needles in the beginning are now zinc (lol it's a reference to vitamins you use in the game to make your pokemon stronger) and energy roots? It's like a two step circle where each side is a reversed role, and will cue the other side of the circle to start it again.
46 . by: kuu 2010-04-01 20:20:07

so what happens in the end? the comments...must read comments so many times
45 . by: Furrama 2010-04-01 19:11:28

You had better archive this on the site somewhere.

Also, yay for Ghandi Pikachu.
44 . by: Aul 2010-04-01 18:49:27

At first I had little idea what was going on, but really all your comics are amazing to re-read time and time again because of that. It makes us much more perceptive and forces one to think carefully. First time around I could see the Pikachu had been scarred for life and averted the battle with those experiences. Second time I could see all the struggles he endured to be able to understand the world. Third time I understood he was using all of that to change the world in some way, no matter how small it may be; such as makign a website. The baby represents humankind as being infantile and easy to distract I'm guessing. We have so many problems but seem to never see the heart of the matter.

For some reason I have the notion this shows your struggle in making each comic for us. Like what you wrote in the about section on waiting for someone to make comics like you but giving up and doing your own things in the end. Kinda gives me the idea it reflects your experiences in some way. And the bit at the end honestly feels a lot like the way I feel reading them sometimes, trying to grasp each piece quickly to fit into the whole. I want to understand each story so badly, but I'm not very perceptive...

Sorry it's just an assumption, don't mean to be silly or rude or anything.
Still everyone is right, this is the best April Fools gift ever.
43 . by: 2010-04-01 18:44:26

I had been wondering for a while what happened to that Pikachu from 10%+.

I don't really understand why Pikachu saw space, though. And why the other Pokemon run away. Did he scare them off with his knowledge of the world?
42 . by: 2010-04-01 18:04:55

Zack, I love how many of your comics are "slow" reads. I've read this one three times and I think there is still more to see. It is epic. And I'd never have guessed you didn't play pokemon, it feels so true to the show/game!
41 . by: RayJ 2010-04-01 17:59:15

Thank you so much for making my day with this amazing comic.
No I'm totally serious I laughed my ass off and loved every bit of it.
lkjghf,fgdh

URL : http://theroguez.deviantart.com
40 . by: BiggerJ 2010-04-01 17:56:49

If you delete this when April Fools' Day ends, you will horribly murdered. This is not a threat. This is simply a statement of what will probably end up happening.
39 . by: G 2010-04-01 16:58:36

Great story with humor in it too.
I couldn't help but laugh in the 45th pannel at the package that said "not a bomb (true!)" and when pikachu left the arena through the "Depressed pokemom exit." yet I felt real bad for pikachu when he witnessed the electric chair. At first I thought his trainer had made him supply the electricity for the shock...

And for the record, I want to be a pokeyman master too!
38 . by: Mass Treble 2010-04-01 16:18:43

This is the most beautiful story I've ever read.

URL : http://masstreble.livejournal.com
37 . by: 2010-04-01 16:18:30

SORRRYYYY ピカ is unicode for "Pika"
36 . by: Anomalous 2010-04-01 16:17:56

At this point I'm posting my last comment on the issue. I've taken up nearly 10%(+) of the comments thus far with my own comments, and that's sufficient.
I think my new favorite part is where Pikachu (or Pikaché or Kerouacachu) sees first-hand the horrors that his own nature brings to the world.
He sees a man die in the electric chair. ELECTRIC chair.
So much of what he learns out in the world involves electricity, too. From his first time on the internet, to the war machines he sees using electronic systems to kill and cause suffering, to people in hospitals on life support, and even the factory worker strikes... electricity plays a role in it all. In the end:
ピカ


((Bonus points for having the human vicodin addiction translate to "Zinc" for pokémon. If you haven't played, you won't understand))
35 . by: Zack 2010-04-01 13:59:17

Hey 31/32,

I've never played pokemon, but this was inspired by the excitement over the latest games' release at various oekaki boards. I had to do some research.
34 . by: Anomalous 2010-04-01 13:31:15

Katie (#30) and (#29)
I'm glad someone hinted at the fact the hiragana were "Pika". I had no idea, and didn't think an April Fool's joke would be worth looking up.

The first reading I was just taken away by how "epic" a pikachu comic was. The second reading, I started looking into it more and more.

On the third reading I started crying uncontrollably in the Onyx fight.

Thanks again, Zach.
33 . by: Anomalous 2010-04-01 13:28:55

Simply breathtaking.
32 . by: 2010-04-01 13:25:55

This is #31 again, not that it matters anyway, but:

Heart Gold/Soul Silver inspire this, Zach?
31 . by: 2010-04-01 13:24:23

This is the only good April Fools joke I've ever seen.

Ever.
30 . by: Katie 2010-04-01 13:14:23

It took one look to get the just, but a second look to get all the meaning. Pure magical fantasticness. So many layers and layers of meaning.♥
29 . by: 2010-04-01 12:45:42

Essentially...this pikachu achieves a kind of gritty urban nirvana, an understanding of existence on scales both big and small. He describes the human condition with his first attack, the horror and idiocy that is war, but also the beauty and love of the passing of a family member. His second attack is a trestie on the Cosmos, the progress that leads from the birth of the universe to the place man has within it. The final attack is a proof detailing the sublime beauty and complexity of the mind.

This is amazing, filled with meaning in so many layers.
28 . by: 2010-04-01 11:22:49

So much information passed with just a simple "pika"...
27 . by: 2010-04-01 11:21:10

Haha, sometimes the ugly truth is more powerful than physical force. I hope one day you'll color this, because that would be even more awesome. I wonder if it's possible to make it into a poster too.
26 . by: 2010-04-01 11:07:04

I read it again and I think I get it. The Pikachu gets scared at all the books and movies, then it sees that guy and runs into the pokeball to hade, and gets sent all over the world. seeing all that toughens it up and it talks the other pokemon into giving up?
25 . by: Fawn 2010-04-01 10:54:22

I love your story's Zack but they are really hard to follow.
24 . by: 2010-04-01 10:23:55

I don't understand any of this but I love it.
23 . by: 2010-04-01 07:46:40

my mind has been blown forever.
22 . by: 2010-04-01 06:54:20

p-please don't delete this ever
21 . by: Mai 2010-04-01 06:13:55

I- This is... yes... my God, yes.
20 . by: Manda 2010-04-01 05:39:11

Best April Fools ever.


I love how the final three panels mirror the first three almost exactly. <3 Pokemon. At first I thought this was Zach's way of letting us know he'd been too busy playing pokemon to do the next Lycosa page. But this obviously took just as much if not more time than that would have!
19 . by: stuhp 2010-04-01 04:46:21

The embodiment of the world's greatest tragedies, injustices, discoveries, leaders, and so forth...fit into a tiny, nonexistent puffball that is a Pikachu.

I am forever inspired to do well, to do good ... to do awesome. :D
18 . by: Katt 2010-04-01 00:59:52

the several framed ear twitch is my personal favorite. and ewwwww corruptionnnnn
17 . by: 2010-04-01 00:59:42

Not quite the spider battle I was expecting, but it was great!
16 . by: Kg 2010-04-01 00:52:20

Ah. Wow.

This was impressive.
15 . by: 2010-04-01 00:34:14

my pokewalker is clipped to the side pockets of my cargo pants...
14 . by: Kaa 2010-04-01 00:15:00

Okay now, this is awesometastic.

Now everyone:
Who else of you is a poke-nerd?
.....
(I personally prefer to keep my pokewalker inside of the pocket ... lol)
13 . by: Kest 2010-04-01 00:07:21

Oh my.

IT'S SUPER EFFECTIVE. 8D
12 . by: 2010-03-31 23:55:37

This was amazing.
11 . by: Eugene 2010-03-31 23:18:58

Pikachu uses SOCIAL INJUSTICE!
Onix walks out in a fit of moral outrage: KO!!

Pikachu uses his ENLIGHTENMENT ATTACK!
Geodude floats away with a sudden urge to explore: KO!!

Pikachu uses LOGICAL RATIONALITY!
Squrittle realizes he has no choice but to leave: KO

Pikachu uses INTROVERTED BROOD!
girl Pikachu's advances are rebuffed: KO!

Pikachu uses CORRUPT!
The upcoming generation is introduced to cynicism at infancy: KO!!

Pikachu WINS!

URL : econniff.blogspot.com
10 . by: 2010-03-31 23:16:48

A-amazing..
9 . by: 2010-03-31 23:08:57

Haha the Ash parody falls flat on his face it's perfect.

Heh..."life experiences: GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL!"
8 . by: 28 2010-03-31 23:08:18

PI
KA

...This is so epic.
7 . by: Dire 2010-03-31 22:49:58

Oh my god.
6 . by: 2010-03-31 22:45:36

THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING THING
OH MY GAWD ZACH YOU WENT SO EPIC
YOUR COMEDIC TIMING IS GENIUS
JSHDFLKJSDHFLSJKDHFDKSJ
5 . by: Caroro 2010-03-31 22:41:48

computer... lagging.... from awesomeness nbbcjhmjjhjc
4 . by: 2010-03-31 22:14:33

I WANT TO BE A POKEYMAN MASTER.


Also Tamppax Blimp. Magnificent.

10/10, sir.
3 . by: Jen 2010-03-31 22:10:59

Is that Nabeshin I see? ? XDXDXD
2 . by: Nobody 2010-03-31 22:08:46

OH MY GOD

+a million internets for pokemon
1 . by: Swift 2010-03-31 22:06:25

Most beautiful story ever...


THAT PIKACHU BLEW MY MIND.


ANd I was just about to get off the computer for Pokemon. Go figure.

He has seen things. >:[