Pokémon Adventures: Ruby & Sapphire FCBD 2024

Pokémon Adventures: Ruby & Sapphire Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue was released by VIZ Media as a preview in 2024 (paired with a Splatoon 3 preview). The FCBD comic is an excerpt designed to introduce new readers to the Pokémon Adventures manga, which tells the story of the Hoenn region from the video games. 

Story Overview

The Pokémon Adventures: Ruby & Sapphire storyline focuses on two main protagonists with opposing goals: 

• Ruby: The son of Gym Leader Norman, Ruby has no interest in Pokémon battles. Instead, he wants to become a Master Coordinator by winning all the Pokémon Contests in the region. He is typically seen as posh and a bit selfish.
• Sapphire: The daughter of Professor Birch, Sapphire is a wild, tomboyish girl who loves battling and aims to defeat all eight Hoenn Gym Leaders. 

Upon meeting, they immediately clash over their different philosophies on Pokémon training and decide on an 80-day bet to see who can achieve their dreams first. 

The specific FCBD issue contains preview material, typically focusing on early chapters where the duo's paths cross in places like Dewford Town while trying to deliver a mysterious letter, all while encountering the initial schemes of the villainous Team Magma and Team Aqua. 

Key Differences from Games

The manga provides a more intense and detailed narrative than the video games: 

• Character Depth: It explores the backstories and internal conflicts of Ruby and Sapphire in detail, including a childhood trauma involving a Salamence that shaped their personalities.
• Serious Stakes: The series features more mature themes and higher stakes, including the potential destruction of the world during the battles between the legendary Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre.
• Creator: The manga is written by Hidenori Kusaka and illustrated by Satoshi Yamamoto.