Hidden Details: Pokémon Lad's Go

YES! New Pokémon games! New Pokémon starters! A new region! A new generation to make fun of and make comics about! I should probably start thinking about a Galar-replacement for Alolan Exeggutor!

But, since we know very little as of now, I limit myself to the starters and the region for the time being. I LOVE the fact that Galar is based on the UK. I live right across the pond and my girlfriend has lived in Scotland for a year, so I've visited the UK tons of times. Love the English/Scottish/Irish culture and the history, as well as the beautiful nature, both rural and coastal. Can't wait to explore a Pokémon region based on this beautiful country! I also love all three of the starters, which is very rare. The last time I loved all three of them was Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald. Based on what we've seen on the trailer, I am a bit afraid Pokémon Sword and Shield will just be an updated version of the same game, like virtually every Pokémon sequel this far, but I'll be willing to give Game Freak the benefit of the doubt until we've seen more.

Sorry, it seems I'm rambling about what I think of the reveal. Let's dive into the hidden details. There aren't that many, so sit tight and enjoy the short ride.

Twitter user @ZanzibarCrumpet helped us write the text for this comic and his help is greatly appreciated!

Squirtle and Charmander are playing the Pokémon Trading Card game. Intern Jamie drew those cards while I worked on other stuff. Originally, Squirtle was holding a Charizard and a Bulbasaur card, but when I decided I wanted to use Bulbasaur in the bonus panel, I asked Jamie to change Squirtle's cards to Wartortle and Blastoise and I added a Charmander and a Charizard card lying on the grass in front of Charmander. They're playing with their evolutions, isn't that cute?

Grookey is based on a very specific English stereotype: the teenage girl you see late at night in the big cities, drinking and partying. They always wear EXTREMELY short clothes (I've been in Glasgow in the winter and I've seen numerous short skirts and pants. Mental.), often sport those boxer braids and are plastered with a HEAVY layer of make-up. I changed Crookey's little stick in his "hair" to a sigarette for extra measure.

Crookey is also carrying around a bottle of Glen's Vodka, one of the biggest brands of vodka being sold in the UK. She also mentions the PokéTesco in the fourth panel, which is a reference you won't get if you've never been to the UK. If you have been to the UK, you must have noticed the Tesco grocery store on EVERY street corner. They're as common as Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Nero Coffee and the Pret a Manger.

Sobble is a typical English gentleman with an umbrella and a monocle and stuff. Scorbunny is a loud and somewhat violent football hooligan.

He's wearing a Manchester United jersey, but Jamie changed "Fly Emirates" to "Flygon Emirates". Flygon is a Ground/Dragon Pokémon from generation 3.

In the first two panels, Piplup is fishing in the background. After the group of English starters came along, his fishing rod is magically replaced with a portion of fish & chips. That happens.

In the final panel, you can faintly see a UK flag in the background. "Going on the pull" means "going out to try to score chicks", according to @ZanzibarCrumpet. I have no choice but to believe him.

Just like Scorbunny, Squirtle is also wearing a football jersey. A Chelsea one. Jamie changed Yokohama to Pokohama. I think she fits right in with us in terms of stupid background jokes and puns! There's also a Pret a Manger cup lying next to Squirtle. I mentioned before that the Pret a Manger, a coffee shop/lunchroom chain, is SUPER common in the UK. I think it's a pretty boring shop that doesn't offer anything unique, but the general public doesn't seem to agree with me. There's even a Pret in Utrecht Central Station right next to our office now. I hate it.

In the bonus panel, the group of English starters (+ Squirtle) has broken out in song. They're singing You'll Never Walk Alone, the famous football anthem by Gerry & the Pacemakers (originally by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II). I know this song is mostly associated with Liverpool FC, but it was just too iconic not to use.

And that's it! There might be some other UK-related jokes and references I haven't explained yet, so if you have a question about anything, feel free to ask away.

As always, have a wonderful weekend! I'll see you all next week.

Cheers!

- Abel