Bulbasaur Vs. Heracross (Pokemon) by Jason L. Grossman (MangaNEXT 2012)

This was an idea I worked out with Jason L. Grossman at his booth. In the anime, Ash Ketchum's Bulbasaur was one of my favorite Pokemon. For something so small, it acted as an enforcer; tough as nails, capable of beating opponents twice its size.

In the second wave of the franchise, there came Heracross . . . a one-stage Pokemon that was basically an overgrown Hercules Beetle. Ash snagged one early in that season. It had a love of tree sap. Bulbasaur was basically a dinosaur with a flower on its back. So Heracross would frequently try to suck on Bulbasaur's bulb for a yummy snack. Yes, I mean that literally. Needless to say, the little guy never took it well. This sketch captures a typical moment of Bulbsaur bringing out its Vine Whip attack to teach Heracross a lesson.