"So, this is something I've always wanted to do: draw a Pokemon comic! But no, this isn't a Nuzlocke run, or even one of those comics making fun of general incongruities within the Pokemon universe. I specifically wanted to focus on the sometimes very silly things contained in the in-game text and dialogue, and my own reactions to them. So without further ado, TRAINER Wants to Fight!"
— Surfersquid
Trainer Wants to Fight! is a Pokémon Webcomic created by Surfersquid and hosted on Smack Jeeves. The narrative follows the protagonists of each of the main series games as they go on their Pokemon journey. Rather than focus on the Pokemon and the battles, however, the comic focuses on the many trainers the protagonists battle along the way, and all of their individual quirks.
The comic started in 2013 and ended in 2017, with Blue version and Silver covered.
You can read it here.
This webcomic provides examples of:
- Acid Reflux Nightmare: Kris vows to never eat chocolate ice cream before bed again after the dream sequence with Professor Oak.
- Adaptational Villainy: Professor Oak is interpreted as an insane bum that dreams of eating every Pokemon there is. He's not even a certified professor in this comic's continuity.
- Art Evolution: The comic sees a notable improvement in art quality as it progresses, though it still retains its simplistic, cartoonish style.
- Artificial Stupidity: Gary has his Abra spam Teleport, which is absolutely useless in a trainer battle, since you can't escape from one. Apparently he didn't bother teaching it more moves after catching it.
- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: One strip features a 16-foot tall Poliwag.
- Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick: According to Professor Oak, things people use Pokemon for include playing, battling, and unethical scientific experiments.
- Brick Joke: Back in Goldenrod City, a conductor humors the idea of carrying passengers all the way to Saffron City since the Magnet Train is shut down. Later on in Saffron City, it comes out that he's actually doing it.
- Call-Forward: Lucario, Feebas, Musharna, Alolan Diglett, and Mega Stones all appear, despite not being properly introduced for several more generations. One strips also refers to the plots of Ruby and Sapphire, Black and White, and X and Y.
- Demoted to Extra: Silver doesn't even appear until after Jasmine's gym.
- Ditzy Genius: Alakazam has an I.Q. of 5000, and yet it doesn't know how to use a paperclip.
- Exposed to the Elements: One Youngster claims that he always wears shorts, even in winter. He's had to go to the doctor for frostbite five times in just December.
- Every Man Has His Price When a fat guy tries to sell a Slowpoke Tail to Kris, she goes on a lengthy tirade about how you can't charge such an obscenely high price for an item that has no established value, among other rules about item pricing.
- Flanderization: In the first book, the joke about Professor Oak eating Pokemon was quickly dropped after the scene ended. In the second book however, it's evolved into a borderline obsession, and has overwritten virtually all of Oak's other personality traits.
- Gonk: Mary is portrayed this way, but she still has a glowing personality.
- Hated by All: Professor Oak is disliked by almost everyone in the cast, and when Kris's Jinx made him a Twinkle in the Sky, there was much rejoicing.
- Hidden Depths: Red turns out to be far more interested in pyrotechnics than the Super Nerd in the Cinnabar Gym expected.
- Ignored Epiphany: A Bug Catcher realizes that he needs to collect more than bugs to get stronger... only to decide to collect stamps as well.
- Kitchen Sink Included: The Master Ball really can catch anything...
- Laughing Mad: Professor Oak here.
- Lazy Bum: Professor Oak is apparently "too old" to go into the next town over and get his own mail. He doesn't even bother denying it.
- Minion with an F in Evil: Team Rocket grunts, oh so much. You know you suck at being a villain when your organization won a Nobel Prize."You guys are the worst criminals ever."
- Nice Guy: Compared to Red before her, Kris is far more restrained in her snark, and one of the first things she does is express sympathy towards Mrs. Elm for her husband's safety.
- Professor Elm is nothing but helpful and supportive towards Kris.
- Mary offers a genuine compliment to a rocket grunt and gives away cookies.
The author outright claims she has a beautiful personality. - Lance is quite level-headed and friendly, and doesn't mind losing his champion title to Kris.
- Only Sane Man: The entire basis of the comic is having the ordinary protagonists react to the zany people they meet during their travels.
- The Pig-Pen: Professor Elm, as a side-effect of having never left his lab in two weeks.
- Running Gag: Bug Catchers insisting on catching new Pokemon instead of training the ones they already have.
- The Lass trapped underground and slowly going insane.
- Repel, and it's side-effects.
- 10-year olds doing taxes.
- Getting Sabrina's badge without having to actually fight her.
- Samus Is a Girl: Red is a girl in this comic.
- Shout-Out: To avoid being seen by trainers, Red decides to hide in a cardboard box.
- "What if the Pokemon get loose and rampage in a brutal reminder against tampering with nature's course?"
- "Shining Finger!"
- How do we make trades with the past? Using a phone booth.
- DIG DUG DIG DUG.
- "Stop Having Fun" Guys: "Pokemon Fan Club: All Pokemon fans welcome. Except for casual ones.""GET OUT OF HERE WITH THAT WEEDLE YOU NOOB!"
- Took a Level in Dumbass: Compared to his game counterpart, Gary is a completely incompetent trainer, not understanding type matchups at all, forcing his Pokemon to spam useless moves, and not knowing that Cubone even evolves.
- Workaholic: Professor Elm hasn't left his lab in two weeks, and he doesn't plan to change that.
