It's a motherfucking dragon you get for free.
It's a starter in the most popular JRPG that was ever made (Red Green Blue, you even get it the earliest of the three in Yellow).
It's in the experience group that reaches level 25 the fastest (like any starter). Thanks to that it reaches level 9 after a hand full fights where it learns Ember.
Ember makes it super effective against the trainers and wild encounters in the first area, so it makes a strong impression right from the start.
It easily beats the first boss since its attacking type hits his weak point, despite being displayed as "not very effective". This is impressive to any non retarded 90s kid that understands the typing system, but has not necessarily worked out how special and physical attacks work due to the lack of documentation.
After that it becomes over-leveled and therefore strong enough to solo the rest of the game thanks to the progression system in this franchise being dogshit.
It has passable attacking stats while it is the fastest starter. Venusaur may have higher special attack, but Vine Whip has a pathetic 10 pp, which sucks ingame (where pp actually matters), and even Razor Leaf is so so, since Grass typing is a shit offensive type, especially with all the Poison and Grass enemies around. Ivysaur/Venusaur may also be outspeed by fast enemies, whereas Charizard basically always goes first and therefore never has to tank a hit. Charizard also beats Venusaur with Flame Thrower and Blastoise is just irredeemably mediocre, so its no contender.
The top reason to like it however is how it lives rent-free in the heads of nu-gen zoomer and alpha aged 4channers.
