(Photo: The Pokemon Company)

ComicBook.com previously reported on the Pokemon General Election, a Japanese popularity poll run by the Pokemon Company to determine once and for all who the most popular Pokemon was. The election is part of the Pokemon Company's promotion of this summer's Volcanion and the Exquisite Magearna movie, although ironically neither Volcanion or Magearna are eligible as they haven't appeared in the actual Pokemon games. With just over a week left for Japanese fans to vote on their favorite Pokemon, a surprising frontrunner has emerged in the preliminary results, one whose name isn't Pikachu.

Greninja, one of the Pokemon introduced in Pokemon X and Pokemon Y, is currently leading the general election. Greninja is the final evolution of Froakie, the Kalos starter water Pokemon, and enjoys a prominent role in the ongoing Pokemon XY & Z anime as one of Ash's strongest Pokemon. In addition to his exposure via the anime, Greninja has also appeared in the Wii U/3DS versions of Super Smash Bros and is also featured in the Pokemon Trading Card Game.

Coming in second is Arceus, the mythical Pokemon who allegedly created the universe. In third place is Mew, the first mythical Pokemon introduced in the game and the "parent" of Mewtwo. Pikachu, the face of the Pokemon franchise, is in a surprising fourth place. Rounding out the top ten are Sylveon (Eevee's Fairy-type evolution), Charizard, Genesect, Rayquaza, Meloetta and Zygarde.

The election ends on May 7th, so there's still time for Pikachu to snatch victory out of Greninja's webbed hands. Still, the electric mouse's disappointing results so far has to be a shock to many Pokemon fans, who are used to Pikachu appearing on just about every piece of Pokemon merchandise and promotional items.