Is there anyone even remotely interested in Anime & Manga who doesn't know "Akira Toriyama"? Despite all its shortcomings, flaws, and cliches, "Dragonball" is undoubtedly one of the most influential manga/anime ever. But do all these people know that Toriyama also wrote quite a few other mangas? "Cowa!" is one of these others and one of the best of these. This is definitely a kids' manga; it does not have any complicated plot, no over-the-top action elements, and no fan service that shounen series are famous for nowadays. This is just a cute adventure story with some simple funny moments and typical yet quite likeable characters. And it's only 1 volume (14 chapters) of material, so a must-read for any Toriyama or even shounen fan.
The story is very simple, starting with a few chapters of the main character Paifu and his friends causing various mischief around his village, Cape Bat. It then takes a new direction when the village has an outbreak of a terminal disease, monster flu. Paifu, along with his friend Jose, rival Apone, and the loner and grumpy human ex-sumo wrestler Maruyama, embarks on a journey to retrieve the cure from a mountain witch in a faraway land. Along their journey, they see new cities and towns, meet new people, and have a lot of fun.
The characters are quite typical for kids' mangas: our naughty yet good-hearted Paifu, his funny little friend Jose Rodriguez who farts when he's nervous, the serious and very strong Maruyama, and the typical rival Apone who opposes Paifu and tries to do better at almost everything. While they may not seem anything special at first glance, as a whole, they really shine quite brilliantly in their roles and provide fun for the reader in a simple yet elegant and enjoyable way.
While this manga may not be groundbreaking or even original, it really does what it tries to do very smoothly. Toriyama's writing is as typical of his style as ever and also as enjoyable and fun too. This manga may take close to 1 hour to finish, so why are you still waiting? Just go ahead and read it and decide for yourself. I myself have thoroughly enjoyed it and will certainly check out other stuff from this straightforward yet somehow brilliant writer.
Story: The initial chapter is humorous, but as the story progresses through the chapters, it becomes more serious while retaining its cute and funny elements. It grows increasingly interesting, then starts to get more thrilling later on, leading to an amazing ending.
Art: The artwork is quite impressive. The monsters are adorable, and the humans are amusing in their depiction, particularly Maruyama and the witch. One thing I don't quite get is why the first chapter is in color while all subsequent chapters are in black and white.
Characters: The characters are fantastic. I admire how they've created diverse characters inspired by various monsters like vampires and ghosts, along with human characters. Every character in this series is enjoyable in their unique way.
Enjoyment: The entire work was executed exceptionally well. It was exciting, cute, funny, had some action, and even a touch of darkness, yet remained thoroughly enjoyable.
Overall: There's not much else to add, but I absolutely loved this manga and believe it deserves a 10 out of 10. It would be incredible if this series got an OVA or a movie.
This manga was a mere fourteen chapters in length, yet it delivered entertainment in every aspect. I found it to be an adorable and funny story. The characters were easy to connect with and love, and they were all beautifully illustrated.
This is another Manga crafted by Akira Toriyama, and I enjoyed it more than some of his other short manga works. He excelled here in crafting a narrative that kept the reader engaged from start to finish.
So, yes, I am going to recommend that you read this story because, if you haven't picked up on it already, I will make it very clear: I thoroughly enjoyed this manga.
This manga is absolutely incredible, ranking among my all-time favorites. The artwork is uniquely stunning, and the story keeps you engaged and surprised from start to finish.
Every time I revisit Cowa!, I uncover new layers and details that I had missed before.
Akira Toriyama is undeniably a genius in every possible way, and the main character, Paifu, is just adorable.
I highly recommend this manga to everyone. If you're hesitating about giving it a try, don't. You'll be thoroughly satisfied.
And if I ever have a child, I'll introduce them to this manga and watch in amazement as they grow to love it with each page turn.
<p>Cowa! is a delightful gag manga that stands out from much of Toriyama's usual style. Rather than the crude slapstick humor prevalent in many of his works, Cowa! elegantly incorporates moral principles that exude charm. Although not particularly mature, it demonstrates refinement in its self-awareness and understanding of the universe. The integration of gags into the plot enhances the story's appeal and effectively establishes the main characters. Cowa! doesn't outstay its welcome; it's rather brief, but could benefit from an additional volume to further expand the universe. It's unfortunate that the character may never be explored again.</p>
Popular Reviews
The second year arc is a landmine of bad writing and character development
Got better after... the incident but the damage was already done
The story is very simple, starting with a few chapters of the main character Paifu and his friends causing various mischief around his village, Cape Bat. It then takes a new direction when the village has an outbreak of a terminal disease, monster flu. Paifu, along with his friend Jose, rival Apone, and the loner and grumpy human ex-sumo wrestler Maruyama, embarks on a journey to retrieve the cure from a mountain witch in a faraway land. Along their journey, they see new cities and towns, meet new people, and have a lot of fun.
The characters are quite typical for kids' mangas: our naughty yet good-hearted Paifu, his funny little friend Jose Rodriguez who farts when he's nervous, the serious and very strong Maruyama, and the typical rival Apone who opposes Paifu and tries to do better at almost everything. While they may not seem anything special at first glance, as a whole, they really shine quite brilliantly in their roles and provide fun for the reader in a simple yet elegant and enjoyable way.
While this manga may not be groundbreaking or even original, it really does what it tries to do very smoothly. Toriyama's writing is as typical of his style as ever and also as enjoyable and fun too. This manga may take close to 1 hour to finish, so why are you still waiting? Just go ahead and read it and decide for yourself. I myself have thoroughly enjoyed it and will certainly check out other stuff from this straightforward yet somehow brilliant writer.
Overall Score - 8 out of 10.
Art: The artwork is quite impressive. The monsters are adorable, and the humans are amusing in their depiction, particularly Maruyama and the witch. One thing I don't quite get is why the first chapter is in color while all subsequent chapters are in black and white.
Characters: The characters are fantastic. I admire how they've created diverse characters inspired by various monsters like vampires and ghosts, along with human characters. Every character in this series is enjoyable in their unique way.
Enjoyment: The entire work was executed exceptionally well. It was exciting, cute, funny, had some action, and even a touch of darkness, yet remained thoroughly enjoyable.
Overall: There's not much else to add, but I absolutely loved this manga and believe it deserves a 10 out of 10. It would be incredible if this series got an OVA or a movie.
This is another Manga crafted by Akira Toriyama, and I enjoyed it more than some of his other short manga works. He excelled here in crafting a narrative that kept the reader engaged from start to finish.
So, yes, I am going to recommend that you read this story because, if you haven't picked up on it already, I will make it very clear: I thoroughly enjoyed this manga.
<p>
Every time I revisit Cowa!, I uncover new layers and details that I had missed before.
Akira Toriyama is undeniably a genius in every possible way, and the main character, Paifu, is just adorable.
I highly recommend this manga to everyone. If you're hesitating about giving it a try, don't. You'll be thoroughly satisfied.
And if I ever have a child, I'll introduce them to this manga and watch in amazement as they grow to love it with each page turn.
<p>