COWA!

Akira Toriyama is a mangaka well-known for creating best-selling manga series “Dr. Slump” and the “Dragon Ball”/”Dragon Ball Z” series. And also for his artwork on video games such as the “Dragon Quest” and “Tobal” series.But while his longer series is well-know in the United States, for many people, they are unaware of his shorter manga series.Having created one-shots and shorter stories since the late ’70s, one of Toriyama’s 1997 short series “Cowa!” will now being released in the U.S. courtesy of Viz Media.Having suffered from an arm injury in 1997, Toriyama was unsure if he would work on a manga again. Knowing he could not work on a long series, he began working on “Cowa!”, a 14-chapter short series serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump.“Cowa!” is a series that revolves around young monsters living in Batwing Ridge. While humans and monsters do co-exist, both avoid each other.The series focuses on a young half-vampire and half-werekoala named Paifu. While a bit mischievous, Paifu has good heart and he often hangs out with his friend Jose Rodriguez (a shapeshifting ghost). Both are night creatures and they attend school during the night.One day, Paifu wants to see something scary, so he takes Jose to the Redfox Coast to see a human killer. It turns out to be Mr. Maruyama, the former champion sumo wrestler. And while on Maruyama’s raft, when Maruyama tries to make a cross with twigs, he finds out that Paifu will turn to a wild, tall, werekoala and the only way to bring him back is to show him something round.But Maruyama explains to the children that the death he caused was throwing an opponent out of the ring and the person landed wrong and died. Disgraced from what happened, Maruyama left to Batwing Ridge to get away from everyone.The following morning, Paifu goes to the homes of his friends, to find out that everyone is suffering from a monster flue and if not treated, the monsters will die in a month.The only cure is medicine made by the witch of Horned-Owl Mountain in the west, 750 miles away. But with all of the town nearly sick, they need someone strong to take them to the Horned-Owl Mountain, so Paifu asks Maruyama to take them. Maruyama agrees if he is paid $10,000, so he can buy a new boat and Paifu lies and tells him that the town will do it.So, Paifu, along with Jose and his rival Arpon go along with Maruyama to get medicine for the town.But are these young monsters ready to venture out into a new world, full of humans, bad people and also bad monsters?JUDGMENT CALL:Akira Toriyama may not be known in the U.S. for writing children’s manga, the fact is that “Dr. Slump” and “Dragon Ball” were based on the life or adventure of child characters. Granted, Arale of “Dr. Slump” is a robot and Goku of “Dragon Ball” is often engaged in fights and battles, but “Cowa!” is not more about the fighting (as there is some action featured) but more about teamwork, friendship and these four individuals trying to do what’s necessary to save the people of the village.The character designs do not resemble other works of Akira Toriyama but the fact that Toriyama managed to create something new and different was quite refreshing.If anything, the series is upbeat and fun and while about monsters, it’s not scary nor is it too violent. And most importantly, the manga is rated for “All Ages”. But for parents wanting to know if there is violence, there are scenes when bad guys try to take land from a family that Paifu and the others are visiting. And to protect them, Paifu and Maruyama take on the badguys. There is no depiction of people getting smacked around or getting roughed up badly. But there are mild action moments throughout this graphic novel.The overall manga is a quick read that readers will probably finish with an hour. But the story is quite enjoyable that I would love to see Akira Toriyam revisit “Cowa!” again.If you are looking for a lighthearted manga that both young and old can enjoy, “Cowa!” by “Dragon Ball” and “Dr. Slump” creator Akira Toriyama is recommended!

Very interesting and childish humor I like it a lot Akira the #Goat

This manga carries the traditional Toriyama story-telling magic. There is adventure; there is courage, and there is friendship. You have to love the interaction between the two main characters and how the story turns out. It looks like a children book on the cover but it is written for all people, young and mature. This manga will make a good Disney movie.

one of my fave Toriyama books, great for younger audiences maybe 6 and up? I'm an adult and i loved it though :) simple cartoon art, less rendering than some of his other styles, funny, fast paced with lots of heart. will get copies for the nephews!

This is one of the coolest and funniest books that I've rad.

it's no dragon ball but a decent kid story.

Funny, cute, and exciting story for all ages.

Really good and funny.

It's a fun story about three little monsters and a human that go on a big journey to find an antidote to stop the monster flu.I think it's quite enjoyable.

Até lí o material em sites gringos de scan, mas queria muito tê-lo fisicamente e acabei comprando. Hoje ví que foi bobágem, infelizmente.A impressão é MUITO mal feita, com páginas pretas tão estouradas, que te obrigam à pulá-las sem ler, pois é impossível distinguir algo no meio do borrão de tinta.O corte das folhas é mal feito; tive que pegar um estilete e dividir algumas páginas que vieram unidas, sem falar que o produto todo é de uma qualidade tão duvidosa, que me pareceu algo falsificado e não de uma editora como a Conrad. Claro, não posso julgá-la baseado em obras prévias, pois é o primeiro contato que tenho com o material deles (e me assustei); espero que o resto de suas obras não sejam nesse nível.Por ter páginas coladas, se perde algum conteúdo dos quadrinhos que ficam mais próximos à 'costura' do mangá (que é onde as páginas convergem), por exemplo, a história começa logo na primeira folha, ao abrir o mangá e essa folha é parcialmente colada na capa, portanto se perde uma boa quantia logo da página de abertura.Tirando esses pontos negativos, temos um desenho de mangaká iniciante e um roeiro meio corrido, que pode parecer algo ruim, mas confie, esse tom ligeiramente acelerado às coisas corta muito daquela enrolação famosa que os mangás foram adquirindo ao longo das décadas e que é tão famosa hoje em dia. Ele vai direto ao ponto com as falas, deixando algumas cenas de fora, subentendidas e as poses, ou retratos dos lugares dão boa noção de movimentação continuidade, ambientação e ação (no caso das cenas de luta).Vemos aqui o esqueleto ou o despontar de ideias, do que um dia viria a compor (claro que com mais robustes) muito de suas obras mais famosas e até silhuetas de personágens que serão familiares para os fãs do autor.Num geral a leitura é bem divertida, com um humor muito parecido com o que se vê em Dr. Slump ou até mesmo em One Piece; um humor muito ingênuo e mais infantil.A tradução é boa, com notas de rodapé bem competentes e as falas dentor dos balões são bem colocadas, com fonte boa, nada de muito apertado, ou com letras apagadas, nem erros. Conheço aliás o trabalho da Drik e não me espanto em ser uma das melhores coisas nessa obra toda.

Die Geschichte über den kleinen Vampirjungen Paifu, ist ganz nett zu lesen, aber ich hatte mehr erwartet. Zeichnersich bewegt sich das Ganze etwa auf dem Niveau von Dr. Slump, was also eine Verschlechterung zu DB oder SandLand darstellt. Andererseits hat Toriyama laut Anhang alles alleine gezeichnet, ohne Assistenten, ein Kapitel pro Woche, sodass man hier Nachsicht walten lassen kann. Man sollte auf jeden Fall optisch nicht zu viel erwarten. Inhaltlich bietet Cowa! eine nette kleine Geschichte, die sich gut liest, aber keinen tieferen Eindruck hinterlässt. Die Charaktere sind sympathisch und Toriyama typisch. Dies gilt auch für die Gags. Alles wie man es von Toriyama gewohnt ist. Der Manga hat mich jedenfalls gut unterhalten und auch wenn er kein Meisterwerk ist, so ist er doch lesenwert.Als Toriyama-Fan würde ich dem Manga 4 Sterne geben, aus objektiver Sicht sind aber wohl eher 3 gerechtfertigt.

Simpático manga en inglés de Akira Toriyama, con su inconfundible estilo. La historia es una aventura para niños, más infantil de lo que nos tiene acostumbrado el mangaka. Se lee en formato japonés, de derecha a izquierda. Páginas en blanco y negro.

O pedido chegou como eu queria e bem embalado. Sem dobras ou desgastes na lombada dos mangás, espero comprar mais nessa loja.