The first three chapters of Cowa! could almost be standalone strips, but the seeds of the larger story are being planted even as you laugh at what seem like carefree hi-jinks. In Chapter One, we are introduced to Paifu and his friend Jose Rodriguez. Paifu appears to be a small boy dressed in a vampire costume, who lives in a house shaped like a giant pumpkin, with a rather attractive mother. He's a monster, a werekoala on his father's side and a vampire on his mother's. Jose is a flatulent ghost that serves as Paifu's sidekick. The two friends get into a fracas early on with a melon-stealing escapade, resolved with a strong dose of potty humor. The characters and the locations of Bat Ridge, where monsters and humans live in harmony, make Cowa! instantly likable.
Cowa! seems an unlikely project, standing as it did in the shadow of Toriyama's rather heavy saga, Dragon Ball Z. There are some threads connecting the two stories, but Cowa! placed its focus on a younger audience and stressed cuteness over toughness. The common hook between the two is steady pacing and page-turning energy generated between panels. After the first few chapters, Paifu and Jose are launched into a rescue mission, teaming up with unlikely allies along the way. The human that accompanies Paifu on his journey, Mako Maruyama, is certainly anchored in the pages of Dragon Ball Z. His boundless strength, quiet pride, and dark past make him a great foil for Paifu's immature, goofball antics. The monsters do pull out some great moments and achieve their share of nobility by the end of Cowa!, but Maruyama (or "Makoleen" as Paifu jokingly refers to him) is the character that will stick in your head long after you turn the last page.
Viz Media bills Cowa! as "a spooktacular manga for kids" and labels it as "rated A for all ages," which might be true for Japanese audiences but not on this side of the Pacific... Parents may be surprised to see frequent references to killing and fights with guns, whips, and bloodied faces. Smoking is portrayed casually and by one of the good characters, while drinking is shown as dangerous in the hands of a "bad guy." It might be worth qualifying that "all ages" designation to fit with whatever you think equates to a PG-13 in this country. Parents obviously will make their own decisions, but should at least make them well informed.
Compared to manga series that often seem endless, it is nice that Cowa! runs its course in one book. Paying $10 for classic Toriyama is more than a bargain; for Dragon Ball Z fans that want to enjoy a different slice of the master's work, this is must-have material. Don't be fooled by the cutesy appearance of Cowa!, because there's major manga mojo contained here. Considering that Cowa! came at the end of a decade of explosive creativity from Toriyama, it should be no surprise that this - even as a side project - stands as yet another reason why any otaku's knees shake and quiver at the mention of the man's name. Recommended, and not just for kids.
