Brock (Pokémon)

Template:Pokémon character Brock, known in Mexico as Jose, is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise. In the Pokémon video games, he is the Gym Leader of Pewter City and uses mainly Rock-type Pokémon; in the anime series, he left said position to travel alongside Ash Ketchum and become a revered Pokémon Breeder. He has also appeared in several Pokémon manga series, including Pokémon and the Ash & Pikachu manga.

In the anime

In the Pokémon anime, Brock, an East Asian male, aspires to be the greatest Pokémon Breeder, and gives up his title of Gym Leader after Ash Ketchum wins his first Kanto League Gym Badge from him. He is first seen taking care of his nine siblings. After Ash loses to Brock, a stranger offers to help make his Pikachu stronger. Pikachu (after being hooked up to a local hydro-power station) becomes stronger and manages to defeat Geodude, but Onix remains too strong. Onix has Pikachu in a body bind; however, Pikachu's previous electric attack ravaged the gym, which set off the sprinklers, weakening Onix. Ash declines the badge on the grounds that he unfairly beat Brock, but Brock later catches up to him and presents to him the badge, saying that he wants Ash to fulfill his dream of becoming the best. The stranger that first helped Ash reveals himself to be Brock's father, Flint, who has a tendency to not notify people it is him. Brock is now free to train himself, and joins Ash and Misty on their journey.

Since then, he travels with Ash and Misty on his many adventures. In the Orange Islands series, he leaves the team to join Professor Felina Ivy, but mysteriously returns to Pallet Town when Ash wins the Orange League Championship. Rejoining Ash and Misty, Brock travels to Johto, where he continues to help Ash and Misty. Upon the conclusion of the Silver Conference, the three part ways, Brock heading back to Pewter City. It is there (in an episode of Pokémon Chronicles) that he discovers his estranged mother Lola (Mizuho in the original), who, because she is a Water Pokémon Trainer, has ruined the reputation of the Gym he defended so long ago. By defeating his mother, he restores the Gym's reputation, and proceeds to leave all his Pokémon (except Forretress) to his younger brother Forrest, before departing for the Hoenn region, where he catches up with Ash and his two new friends, May and Max. The group travel across Hoenn and then return to Kanto to participate in the Battle Frontier. The group went their separate ways and Brock met up with Ash in Sinnoh.

During this time, both Brock's father, Flint (Munō in the original, who was also Brock's predecessor as Gym Leader), ran off again, and his oldest younger brother Forrest (Jirō in the original) have taken the role of Gym Leader in Pewter City, as well as the responsibility of caring for his many other younger siblings. Brock is the oldest of ten siblings, with five brothers and four sisters.

Brock is always well-equipped, and is sometimes the voice of reason when Ash and Misty (and later, May and Dawn) get into an argument. He is also hardworking and is always willing to help others. Coupled with his experiences in taking care of others, Brock often prepares food and does most of the chores for the main characters. Brock is also exceptionally good at making food for Pokémon.

Running gags

Girls

One of the most notable running gags in the anime is that Brock makes advances on virtually every girl his age or older he meets and is usually met by rejection, confusion, or forced retreat by Misty or Max often by the ear (though Misty also used to have a hammer for such a purpose), or in Croagunk's case, Poison Jab. One of several exceptions was Professor Ivy, the Pokémon Professor from the Orange Islands, with whom he spent some time away from the show. He later returns but refuses to explain why he left her, simply saying "Don't mention that name!" (He even falls into depression when something sounds like it, for instance, in one of Team Rocket's many schemes, Jessie dresses up as a live news reporter, spelling out the word "live", and "I-V" sounds like "Ivy") Pike Queen Lucy of the Battle Frontier in Tohjo Falls seems to have a liking towards Brock (partially because she has a soft spot for Pokémon with squinty eyes) almost traveling with him, before Max interrupts. Other girls who had feelings for Brock include Wilhemina, Temaku and Holly.

His crushes include the various Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys, which he can differentiate with ease based on very perceptive but minute observations (like one Joy's hair is a centimeter shorter than another's or one Jenny's skirt is slightly longer than the rest). Because of this, he can spot impostor Joys and Jennys instantly. Only twice has he been fooled by an imposter— once when Jessie of Team Rocket disguised herself as a Joy (he suspected that something was off when his heart wasn't beating like it usually did, but he failed to figure it out anyway). He also failed to recognize an actual Nurse Joy posing as Mewtwo's servant in Pokémon: The First Movie (however, he did see a strong resemblance and even asked her if she was Nurse Joy).

Brock has also done things like physically harm himself to get attention from girls, such as in the episode "A Goldenrod Opportunity." In this episode, Whitney, the attractive gym leader of Goldenrod City, gives Pikachu a kiss when he's knocked over, Brock hits his head extremely hard (enough to make the screen shake) against a building in order to ask for a kiss.

After Max left, the gag began deviating from the ear-pull, as Bonsly took to knocking Brock over with Flail. However it should be noted that at the times Bonsly attacked Brock when he was flirting he had been previously feeding it and it was angry at the lack of attention. When Brock was surrounded by girls holding Bonsly, Bonsly did nothing. It was only the appearance of Harley that ruined Brock's moment. When he caught Croagunk, it began to use Poison Jab on Brock to knock him out, and later took to dragging him away by the leg.

Sideshow

Another one of the notable running gags is how Brock is forced to entertain an audience while other characters retrieve something (typically, a Pokémon that would have been putting on a show for the audience) stolen by Team Rocket, in which he does so by repeating one song (usually an English version of "Takeshi no Paradise", one of the Japanese ending themes) ad nauseam to the point that he is either booed offstage or loses interest in singing. He has been accompanied by Lombre and Corphish in such a gag.

Pokémon

Brock's Pokémon are mainly of the Rock- and Ground-types, although as a breeder, Brock has steadily trained Pokémon of other types such as the fire-type Vulpix and the poison-type Croagunk.

On hand

• Bonsly → Sudowoodo

Bonsly is a fourth generation Pokémon. Brock captured Bonsly in the episode "From Cradle to Save", while the group is at a ninja school. It often shrieks but it usually does that to get the opponent to drop their guard. It also uses its Double Edge to stop Brock from flirting with pretty girls. Bonsly is the only Pokémon Brock brings with him to Sinnoh. In the episode "Leave It To Brocko!," Bonsly evolved into a Sudowoodo. As a Sudowoodo, it treats Brock like a respected leader, and takes to saluting him like a soldier. Sudowoodo is a very able fighter, but like all of its species, it is terrified of water.

• Croagunk

Croagunk is a fourth generation Pokémon who is rather stubborn. Brock captured Croagunk in the episode "Gymbaliar". With Misty, May, and Max gone from the series, Brock's Croagunk takes up their role, stopping Brock from flirting with pretty girls by using its powerful attack Poison Jab, to paralyze him, following it up with dragging him away. Croagunk has a good sense of hearing that can expose hidden things such as a Buneary that was hidden in the bushes. It is presumed Croagunk has a relaxed nature, due to it seeming very laid back most of the time, and that in the episode "An Angry Combeenation!", Croagunk was seen not liking the honey it was given, which was said by the characters to be very sweet (In the games, Pokémon with a relaxed nature do not like sweet flavored Pokéblocks/Poffins).

• Happiny

Brock received an egg in the episode "All Dressed Up With Somewhere To Go!", which hatched into a Happiny in the episode" One Big Happiny Family!" Brock is very fond of his Happiny and shares a very special bond with her. She carries a fake rock that Brock made for her. Brock carries her in his arms instead of putting her in a pokeball just as Misty did with her Togepi. He also grooms and plays with his Happiny regularly. She is very strong, managing to throw Seviper into Team Rocket and flip Brock all by herself when playing.

At Pewter Gym

• Onix → Steelix

Onix was the very first Pokémon Brock started with, and it was given to him by his father on his tenth birthday. As a rock Pokémon, Onix is somewhat aquaphobic, weakening after exposure to water. For example, it was Pikachu accidentally setting off the Pewter Gym's sprinklers that won Ash his first gym badge over Onix. However, in an episode where all of Ash and company's Pokémon had to help Gym Leader Blaine in an underground cave in Cinnabar Island, Water-type Pokémon had to refresh the working Pokemon. Onix is sprinkled with water and nothing happens, since this was obviously not an attack. Onix is also depicted as the largest or heaviest Pokémon on any of the main character's team's, with the possible exception of Ash's Snorlax, and as such is often used as a stepladder or a way to travel fast on rocky surfaces. When Brock returned to Pewter City after traveling around Johto, he gave Onix to his brother, Forrest. Onix had evolved into Steelix prior to Brock visiting home before Ash went to the Battle Pyramid. In addition to its usual weakness to water, Steelix also dons a weakness to fire. Onix was one of Brock's 2 Pokémon in the original Pokémon games (Red & Blue Versions). Despite this, Onix bravely fought Brock's mother's Mantine to turn the Pewter Gym back into a Rock-type rather than the Water-type she had changed it to, taking water attacks head-on without fear.

• Geodude

Geodude is the only other Pokémon that Brock acquired prior to meeting Ash. Geodude is often depicted as a friendly and agreeable Pokémon, and was effectively the first Pokémon other than Pikachu that Larvitar opened up to. When Brock returned to Pewter City after traveling around Johto, he gave Geodude to his brother, Forrest. Geodude was often used as a helper Pokémon, aiding in difficult situations such as cave-ins and fires. Geodude was one of Brock's 2 Pokemon in the original Pokemon games (Red & Blue Versions).

• Zubat → Golbat → Crobat

Brock caught a Zubat when he first traveled through Mt. Moon with Ash. Its main use is its Supersonic attack, which made it the first Pokémon used for searches. Brock raised it extremely well, to the point that when it evolved into a Golbat, its Supersonic was so powerful it shorted out a number of computer sensors. When it evolved into Crobat, it became Brock's fastest and most loyal Pokémon. Crobat was used to find other Pokémon, and, on one occasion, Ash. When Brock returned to Pewter City after traveling around Johto, he gave Crobat to his brother, Forrest.

• Pineco → Forretress

Brock caught a Pineco with a Fast Ball he received from Kurt, and it is the only Pokémon that Brock catches in Johto. One of Pineco's notable traits is its use of its Self-destruct attack as a sign of affection. Evolved as a Forretress, it is the only Pokémon that Brock brings to Hoenn. Among one of its frequently-used attacks is Rapid Spin, which is often used to clear away gases, to dry wet clothes, or to dig pitfall traps. Forretress has also used Spikes which gives it a useful long ranged attack. Forretress was left in Pewter City before Brock left for Sinnoh.

• Lotad → Lombre → Ludicolo

Lotad is the first Pokémon that Brock captured in Hoenn. As a Lotad, it was an eccentric Pokémon who was constantly dreaming, to the point that it was often completely unaware of what was going on around it, which is very similar to Misty's Psyduck. It also knew Water Gun, which was strange. When it evolved into Lombre, it became somewhat more dependable. Its arsenal of moves was also unconventional, knowing both Razor Leaf and Water Gun. It later evolved into Ludicolo and learned Bullet Seed in the process, but Brock left it with his family after returning from Hoenn.

• Mudkip → Marshtomp

Mudkip was a gift from a man named "Swampy" in the episode "Mudkip Mission". Swampy was a breeder working for the pokemon league and only breeds Mudkip. Of course Team Rocket comes in and tries to steal all of the Mudkip. And one of the Mudkip (The one that Brock befriends) is given to him after saving all of the Mudkip from Team Rocket.

File:Vulpix-Anime.JPG

Brock, Suzie (right) and Vulpix, with Ash, Misty and Pikachu

Given back

• Vulpix

Brock received Vulpix from Suzie, another Pokémon breeder. Vulpix is a powerful Fire Pokémon that Brock regularly grooms. However, Brock has always considered Vulpix to be Suzie's Pokémon that he was merely "borrowing", and as such he gives it back to her when they meet again in Johto. In one later episode, however, he claims that he had previously owned a Ninetales, though this seemed to be a mere show of flattery to a girl whose Ninetales took an instant liking to Brock.

Befriended

• Stantler

Brock befriended a young Stantler in Johto after helping it recover from an injury. Brock wanted Stantler to be his Pokemon but decided that it should be with its family.

• Nuzleaf

Brock met Nuzleaf in Sinnoh when it became separated from its family. Nuzleaf, like Bonsly, would cry a lot. It looked up to Brock's recently evolved Bonsly, Sudowoodo, when Sudowoodo helped rescue it. Nuzleaf was returned to its family at the end of the episode.

• Sharpedo

Brock helped the leader of a group of Sharpedo on their way to Dewford who had been poisoned by Jessie's Seviper and then since he hurt it in battle with his Lotad he healed it. Sharpedo later foiled Team Rocket's plans with the help of his pack.

Other

• Tauros

Brock caught a Tauros in the banned episode "The Legend of Miniryu". It has not been seen since.

File:GymLeader-Brock.png

Brock as seen in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.

In video games

In Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, FireRed and LeafGreen, Brock is the Pewter City Gym Leader, and the first Gym Leader the player faces in Kanto. His role in the games is no more important than any of the other Gym Leaders, and he would be considered a minor character in the franchise were it not for his status in the anime as a main character.