Tile: Cowa!
Author: Toriyama Akira
Artist: Toriyama Akira
Original Run: 1997-1998
Chapter Number: 14 (1 volume)
Genres: action, adventure, children, supernatural
Official English Translation: Shounen Jump
When you hear the name Toriyama, lots of people think of androids, monkey-aliens and “over nine-thousaaaaand!!” without thinking about the fact the man drew things other than the Dragonball series. Cowa! was a project Toriyama Akira accomplished after the lengthy series in which he was known for, but ended up becoming about 1/42th of the length. What a change of pace, eh?
The series centers around a small half-vampire, half-were-koala boy named Paifu who lives with his vampire mother in the town of Batwing Ridge, a place where monsters and humans coexist peacefully. Together with his ghost friend Jose Rodriguez, he ends up going around town having a few adventures. Most of the series, however, is concerned with Paifu, Jose and a classmate named Arpon travel across the country with the help of a human loner who is rumored to have killed a man, in order to retrieve a special medicine for the “Monster Flu” ravaging the supernatural beings in Batwing Ridge.
Overall, I found the art cheery and unique for a story that has to do with ghosts and were-beings. For being a young children’s manga the story is engaging enough for an older individual to read though without feeling dumbed-down. The overall feel is light and friendly, as the monsters hardly ever pose to be a serious threat. The main character is mischievous to the point of resembling small children I know to a tee.
Oh, and there’s a Deborah-wannabe and a few fistfights… but it’s all cool.
For being what it is, I would rate this manga fairly high. The quality is good, characters and plot work together and it is not a bunch of people standing around and trash-talking. It is definitely a volume that one can use in any argument with a doubtful friend or family member over the appropriateness of Japanese comics for children and makes for a fun read during Halloween, or anytime for that matter. It is not, however, for people who love their epic-battle scenes, blood, boobs and swearing. I let a third-grader read it; it's gotta be clean.
Further Information: Wikipedia, Anime News Network
