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A contagious Monster Flu is spreading around town like wildfire. Can the town's troublemaker, a half-vampire, half-werekoala and his friends get the medicine in time to save everyone?!
Paifu, a half-vampire half-werekoala, is always getting into trouble with his best buddy, José the ghost. But when the Monster Flu sweeps through town, the fun and games are over. If the sick monsters don't get the medicine they need in a month, everyone will die! With all the adults sick, it's up to the boys to get the medicine and save the day! Paifu and José are off on a big adventure, but will they get the medicine in time...or will they become victims themselves?!
Paifu, a half-vampire half-werekoala, is always getting into trouble with his best buddy, José the ghost. But when the Monster Flu sweeps through town, the fun and games are over. If the sick monsters don't get the medicine they need in a month, everyone will die! With all the adults sick, it's up to the boys to get the medicine and save the day! Paifu and José are off on a big adventure, but will they get the medicine in time...or will they become victims themselves?!
208 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1998
19 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Akira Toriyama
1,910 books1,725 followersAkira Toriyama (鳥山明) was a Japanese manga artist and character designer. He first achieved mainstream recognition for creating the popular manga series Dr. Slump, before going on to create Dragon Ball (his most famous work) and acting as a character designer for several popular video games such as the Dragon Quest series, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon. Toriyama came to be regarded as one of the most important authors in the history of manga with his works highly influential and popular, particularly Dragon Ball, which many manga artists cite as a source of inspiration.
He earned the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen/shōjo manga with Dr. Slump, and it went on to sell over 35 million copies in Japan. It was adapted into a successful anime series, with a second anime created in 1997, 13 years after the manga ended.
His next series, Dragon Ball, would become one of the most popular and successful manga in the world. Having sold 260 million copies worldwide, it is one of the best-selling manga series of all time and is considered a key work in increasing manga circulation to its peak in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. Overseas, Dragon Ball's anime adaptations have been more successful than the manga and are credited with boosting anime's popularity in the Western world. In 2019, Toriyama was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts.
In October 2024, Toriyama was inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame.
He earned the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen/shōjo manga with Dr. Slump, and it went on to sell over 35 million copies in Japan. It was adapted into a successful anime series, with a second anime created in 1997, 13 years after the manga ended.
His next series, Dragon Ball, would become one of the most popular and successful manga in the world. Having sold 260 million copies worldwide, it is one of the best-selling manga series of all time and is considered a key work in increasing manga circulation to its peak in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. Overseas, Dragon Ball's anime adaptations have been more successful than the manga and are credited with boosting anime's popularity in the Western world. In 2019, Toriyama was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts.
In October 2024, Toriyama was inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
July 15, 2018
In keeping with my theme of adding some lighter fare into my summer reading schedule, I picked up a copy of “Cowa!,” one of the immortal Akira Toriyama’s shorter one-shot manga volumes. Originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997 and 1998, right after Toriyama completed work on “Dragon Ball,” it was released into the U. S. market as a single-volume edition in 2008. Akira Toriyama is one of the acknowledged giants of Japanese manga, and “Cowa!” is a fine addition to his overall body of work.
Toriyama refused any help in drawing “Cowa!,” preferring to work in a three-weeks on, one-week off pattern until the strip was finished. In large part this was because of the freedom afforded him by his editor Kazuhiko Torishima, one of Toriyama’s most respected comrades in the industry. The roots of “Cowa!” go back to a project called “BUBUL of Demon Village,” a single-shot manga that Toriyama drew for a competition.
The basic plot follows child monster characters Paifu and Jose, a vampire/were-koala and ghost respectively. They live in a town called Batwing Ridge, where monsters and humans live in peaceful coexistence. They are joined in their adventures by Paifu’s playground rival, Arpon, who has an outsized opinion of his abilities and constantly finds himself on the losing end of battles with Paifu. The early chapters find the kids getting into pretty standard shenanigans, which are interrupted when they meet and sort-of befriend one of the more mysterious residents of Batwing Ridge, the former sumo wrestler and grumpy-gus Mako Maruyama. Maruyama once killed an opponent in the ring, and this event caused him to retire into obscurity. The introduction of his character provides a nice adult counterpoint to the adventures of the children. Formerly known as “The Volcano” in the ring, he brings a wounded honor and a bit of real depth to the proceedings.
Things are fine in Batwing Ridge until a few of the monsters become ill with what looks like a severe cold. As more and more monsters become sick and the town school is forced to close, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary illness. The old townie and monster Doctor identifies the sickness as the dreaded “Monster Flu,” a horrible and often fatal disease that kills monsters in a month’s time. The only cure for this flu is can be produced by a Witch who lives at the top of Horned-Owl Mountain, a crag that lies 750 miles away and is guarded by a horrible monster who dwells in the forest surrounding the mountain. Paifu decides to take matters into his own hand and recruits Mr. Maruyama into accompanying he and Jose into a journey to Horned-Owl Mountain to procure the medicine needed to affect the cure. Paifu lies to Maruyama and tells him that the town has agreed to pay him $10,000 for his help, and he grudgingly agrees to take the children on the trip. Arpon manages to weasel his way into the group, and they take off on the grand adventure.
No spoilers here. Suffice it to say that there is plenty of action and laughs as the foursome wind their way to Horned-Owl Mountain and the eventual clash with the Monster of the Woods and the Witch herself. Toriyama’s art is fun to look at and his characters are well-developed and interesting. I enjoyed the fact that his kids really ACTED like kids, full of playfulness and mischief. Paifu’s lie eventually comes home to roost, but you can easily figure out that this good-natured tale will be an all’s well that ends well type of affair. Along the way there are gentle messages of tolerance and acceptance and redemption. None of the characters are truly “bad” with the exception of the road gang and the mobsters that the group encounter along the way. But those guys are really just punching bags so that Toriyama can showcase the strength of his central adult figure, the imposing Volcano.
All in all, “Cowa!” is a quick and fun little read, recommended if you like a few lighthearted laughs to go with your ultra-violent manga action. One last observation….”Cowa!” definitely has a Halloween feel to it, and the Monster in the Woods looks like a cross between “Oogie Boogie” from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and Patrick from “Spongebob Squarepants.” That fact alone made me giggle uncontrollably, and it’s worth reading just for that. Hit the used bookstore or the library and give “Cowa!” a shot.
Toriyama refused any help in drawing “Cowa!,” preferring to work in a three-weeks on, one-week off pattern until the strip was finished. In large part this was because of the freedom afforded him by his editor Kazuhiko Torishima, one of Toriyama’s most respected comrades in the industry. The roots of “Cowa!” go back to a project called “BUBUL of Demon Village,” a single-shot manga that Toriyama drew for a competition.
The basic plot follows child monster characters Paifu and Jose, a vampire/were-koala and ghost respectively. They live in a town called Batwing Ridge, where monsters and humans live in peaceful coexistence. They are joined in their adventures by Paifu’s playground rival, Arpon, who has an outsized opinion of his abilities and constantly finds himself on the losing end of battles with Paifu. The early chapters find the kids getting into pretty standard shenanigans, which are interrupted when they meet and sort-of befriend one of the more mysterious residents of Batwing Ridge, the former sumo wrestler and grumpy-gus Mako Maruyama. Maruyama once killed an opponent in the ring, and this event caused him to retire into obscurity. The introduction of his character provides a nice adult counterpoint to the adventures of the children. Formerly known as “The Volcano” in the ring, he brings a wounded honor and a bit of real depth to the proceedings.
Things are fine in Batwing Ridge until a few of the monsters become ill with what looks like a severe cold. As more and more monsters become sick and the town school is forced to close, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary illness. The old townie and monster Doctor identifies the sickness as the dreaded “Monster Flu,” a horrible and often fatal disease that kills monsters in a month’s time. The only cure for this flu is can be produced by a Witch who lives at the top of Horned-Owl Mountain, a crag that lies 750 miles away and is guarded by a horrible monster who dwells in the forest surrounding the mountain. Paifu decides to take matters into his own hand and recruits Mr. Maruyama into accompanying he and Jose into a journey to Horned-Owl Mountain to procure the medicine needed to affect the cure. Paifu lies to Maruyama and tells him that the town has agreed to pay him $10,000 for his help, and he grudgingly agrees to take the children on the trip. Arpon manages to weasel his way into the group, and they take off on the grand adventure.
No spoilers here. Suffice it to say that there is plenty of action and laughs as the foursome wind their way to Horned-Owl Mountain and the eventual clash with the Monster of the Woods and the Witch herself. Toriyama’s art is fun to look at and his characters are well-developed and interesting. I enjoyed the fact that his kids really ACTED like kids, full of playfulness and mischief. Paifu’s lie eventually comes home to roost, but you can easily figure out that this good-natured tale will be an all’s well that ends well type of affair. Along the way there are gentle messages of tolerance and acceptance and redemption. None of the characters are truly “bad” with the exception of the road gang and the mobsters that the group encounter along the way. But those guys are really just punching bags so that Toriyama can showcase the strength of his central adult figure, the imposing Volcano.
All in all, “Cowa!” is a quick and fun little read, recommended if you like a few lighthearted laughs to go with your ultra-violent manga action. One last observation….”Cowa!” definitely has a Halloween feel to it, and the Monster in the Woods looks like a cross between “Oogie Boogie” from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and Patrick from “Spongebob Squarepants.” That fact alone made me giggle uncontrollably, and it’s worth reading just for that. Hit the used bookstore or the library and give “Cowa!” a shot.
January 21, 2019
Es Toriyama en estado puro: amor absurdo+personajes adorables+ternura+(un poco de lucha)
August 18, 2024
yo también quiero vivir en cabo murciélago y salir a jugar todas las tardes con mis amigos vampiros...
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August 3, 2023First comic ive finished in japanese 😇 hopefully many more to come
June 3, 2022
This was the first manga that I officially read all (well mostly) the way through. It was a cute story about some monsters and humans trying to help each other out and do the right thing. I think it would be fun to read in the fall. It reminded me of the old-style comic strips.
March 28, 2019
Akira Toriyama's non Dragon Ball Z work is starting to seem a little repetitive. A lot of the themes here were already seen in Jaco and Sandman, but its such a fun short read that I really didn't care. A little slow to start, but a fantastic finish.
November 10, 2019
Cowa was a cute and funny book about monsters. It was a light-hearted Halloween read. ~ Koala ^-^
November 5, 2024
This was the cutest little manga!! This is a must read for Halloween time and it was genuinely so funny! I miss this story already and one of the main characters lives in a pumpkin!!!
March 9, 2024
Vabbè spettacolare
May 27, 2025
Una historia simple, con un gran sentido del humor.
Historia: 3*
Arte: 3*
Con una premisa simple y desarrollada de la manera más sencilla posible, Akira Toriyama consiguió un volumen divertido, adictivo y bien balanceado entre comedia y aventura. Cowa! cuenta con un humor tan tonto que resulta ser bueno. En serio, hay cuadros específicos que son tan chistosos que nos harán “soltar una carcajada" de forma casi obligada.
El trío de Paifu + José + Aapon es de lo más divertido que he leído, no solo en mangas, sino a nivel general.
El primer capítulo es totalmente a color, y la verdad es que se agradece ya que los colores son muy agradables y nos sirven para tener una idea clara de los personajes y escenarios. Las ilustraciones, por su parte, son decentes, aunque sin impactar visualmente como lo pueden hacer otras obras. Es, claramente, un libro de Toriyama.
Lo Mejor: Cowa! cuenta con un balance perfecto de humor y aventuras.
Lo Peor: Los eventos pueden ser un poco apresurados, lo que tampoco es un gran problema al tratarse de un One-shot.
Y claro, ésta puede ser una lectura interesante durante la actual situación con el COVID-19 hahaha
Historia: 3*
Arte: 3*
Con una premisa simple y desarrollada de la manera más sencilla posible, Akira Toriyama consiguió un volumen divertido, adictivo y bien balanceado entre comedia y aventura. Cowa! cuenta con un humor tan tonto que resulta ser bueno. En serio, hay cuadros específicos que son tan chistosos que nos harán “soltar una carcajada" de forma casi obligada.
El trío de Paifu + José + Aapon es de lo más divertido que he leído, no solo en mangas, sino a nivel general.
El primer capítulo es totalmente a color, y la verdad es que se agradece ya que los colores son muy agradables y nos sirven para tener una idea clara de los personajes y escenarios. Las ilustraciones, por su parte, son decentes, aunque sin impactar visualmente como lo pueden hacer otras obras. Es, claramente, un libro de Toriyama.
Lo Mejor: Cowa! cuenta con un balance perfecto de humor y aventuras.
Lo Peor: Los eventos pueden ser un poco apresurados, lo que tampoco es un gran problema al tratarse de un One-shot.
June 26, 2011
Otro comic infantil que disfruté como un enano. Será mitad mérito de la obra, mitad limitaciones propias, pero el nivel de ingenio y diversión que desprende este tomo está a la altura de algunos clásicos del humor gráfico. Espero que se reedite pronto o encontrar un lugar donde vendan esta edición sin previa extirpación genital.
July 1, 2008
Cute, funny, and made my 8-year-old giggle a lot.
September 29, 2013
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!
December 11, 2019
10/10
Excellent! Toriyama is the master of adventures and fighting. This was super cute and I loved the art style so much.
Excellent! Toriyama is the master of adventures and fighting. This was super cute and I loved the art style so much.
November 27, 2025
Cowa
Divertido manga de aventura, donde un trio de niños monstruos y un humano viajan a conseguir la cura de una gripe mortal que afecta la villa de monstruos donde viven. Divertida
3 stars
Divertido manga de aventura, donde un trio de niños monstruos y un humano viajan a conseguir la cura de una gripe mortal que afecta la villa de monstruos donde viven. Divertida
3 stars
April 21, 2021
Me encantó la narrativa, muy inocente y conmovedora. A pesar que existan diferentes especies, siempre habrá alguien que respete y fortalezca una amistad, no importa la edad que tenga ...
August 20, 2023
Toriyama escapando de Dragon Ball para tentar atoparse sen demasiado éxito. Busca nun comezo un ton de humor máis achegado ao de Dr. Slump, pero menos cáustico, estructurando a historia sobre uns debuxos de corte infantil e uns personaxes que veñen do mundo dos monstros e pantasmas pero sen chegar a definirse realmente nin o seu mundo nin o seu carácter. Ao final, aínda por riba, nesa fuxida cara novos temas e estilos, atópase a si mesmo contando outra aventura fantástica de viaxe en grupo e evolución da relación entre os personaxes, misturado todo con pelexas. É dicir, volver ao de sempre, pero cun aire que se non fose pola carreira previa do autor, a ninguén lle importaría en absoluto.
En fin, é interesante porque a Tori quéreselle. Pero por moito xenio que sexa, e por moito que seguro lle prestase facer esta obra e probarse a si mesmo de novo (e eu que me alegro por el), a perspectiva como público non é demasiado positiva.
En fin, é interesante porque a Tori quéreselle. Pero por moito xenio que sexa, e por moito que seguro lle prestase facer esta obra e probarse a si mesmo de novo (e eu que me alegro por el), a perspectiva como público non é demasiado positiva.
December 19, 2021
Creo que nunca les he contado que soy fan de Akira Toriyama, desde que vi Dragon Ball por primera vez en Tv, pero solo me gusta Dragon Ball y Dragon Ball Gt (aunque ya no exista), pero de que soy fan soy fan, también me gusta Arale, aunque de ese no me he leído el manga, pero como siempre aprendo algo nuevo en mi querido Club Manga, por que no sabia que el mangaka tenia esta historia y que es parte de un conjunto de historias cortas que creo cuando quería según deslindarse de Dragon Ball, pero como todos sabemos vio la lana ahí y pues siguió con Dragon Ball Super.
Pero me enamore y recordé de la forma de escritura del mangaka y vi que me sigue gustando mucho, me encanta su humor todo ácido y para adultos, es que se eligió este manga por esa razón por que la consigna era leer algo del genero Harem, que es un genero con el humor para adultos y algo sexoso, pero que me encanta mucho y es muy genial.
Esta historia nos habla sobre un vampirito llamado Paifu que es hijo de una vampiresa y de un hombre lobo y su mejor amigo Jose Rodriguez, que ame que fuera su amigo mexicano y que es un fantasma que me encanto que cada que se transformaba en algo lo cachaban por que se echaba pedos, jajaja.
Pero algo que me gusta de Akira Toriyama es que puede que sus historias sean con un humor adulto y sexoso pero no dejan de ser entrañables y con mensaje, por que a pesar de las travesuras de Paifu y Jose nos va a contar una historia sobre que esta la gripe del monstruo y tienen que ir a las altas montañas con el antídoto y los va a acompañar un ex luchador de sumo que tiene una historia que quiere olvidar, pero que los ayudara en esta aventura.
Sin duda algo muy distinto que nos trae el mangaka, pero que sigue tiendo su toque, sobre todo lo que vimos en Arale, me gusto muchísimo, creo que de estas historias cortas son 5 que quiero leer y que se que me van a gustar y que les recomiendo checar por que al menos esta que he leído vale la pena, tiene muy buenos mensajes, como el que hacen sobre el cuidar la naturaleza o el amar y cuidar a tus seres queridos.
Sin duda un manga cortito que vale mucho la pena y que me gusto mucho y que como digo les recomiendo leer, es muy bueno y pasaran un gran rato, no dejaran de reír y se llevaran un gran sabor de boca con esos bonitos mensajes que nos presenta.
Entrada completa en: http://calderoliterario7.blogspot.mx
Pero me enamore y recordé de la forma de escritura del mangaka y vi que me sigue gustando mucho, me encanta su humor todo ácido y para adultos, es que se eligió este manga por esa razón por que la consigna era leer algo del genero Harem, que es un genero con el humor para adultos y algo sexoso, pero que me encanta mucho y es muy genial.
Esta historia nos habla sobre un vampirito llamado Paifu que es hijo de una vampiresa y de un hombre lobo y su mejor amigo Jose Rodriguez, que ame que fuera su amigo mexicano y que es un fantasma que me encanto que cada que se transformaba en algo lo cachaban por que se echaba pedos, jajaja.
Pero algo que me gusta de Akira Toriyama es que puede que sus historias sean con un humor adulto y sexoso pero no dejan de ser entrañables y con mensaje, por que a pesar de las travesuras de Paifu y Jose nos va a contar una historia sobre que esta la gripe del monstruo y tienen que ir a las altas montañas con el antídoto y los va a acompañar un ex luchador de sumo que tiene una historia que quiere olvidar, pero que los ayudara en esta aventura.
Sin duda algo muy distinto que nos trae el mangaka, pero que sigue tiendo su toque, sobre todo lo que vimos en Arale, me gusto muchísimo, creo que de estas historias cortas son 5 que quiero leer y que se que me van a gustar y que les recomiendo checar por que al menos esta que he leído vale la pena, tiene muy buenos mensajes, como el que hacen sobre el cuidar la naturaleza o el amar y cuidar a tus seres queridos.
Sin duda un manga cortito que vale mucho la pena y que me gusto mucho y que como digo les recomiendo leer, es muy bueno y pasaran un gran rato, no dejaran de reír y se llevaran un gran sabor de boca con esos bonitos mensajes que nos presenta.
Entrada completa en: http://calderoliterario7.blogspot.mx
February 19, 2018
Originally published in 1997, Cowa! is an incredibly charming all ages one-shot from the mangaka behind Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump, and perhaps one of the most famous Japanese creators in North America, Akira Toriyama.
Not an easy story to really pick apart, suffice to say that this story of a bunch of monster children and famed murderer saving the day is all the charm of Dragon Ball without any of the problematic parts. An obvious companion to the likes of the extremely popular Nightmare Before Christmas, I would also recommend Little Vampire by Joann Sfar if you have not already picked up that one. #365DaysofHalloween
Not an easy story to really pick apart, suffice to say that this story of a bunch of monster children and famed murderer saving the day is all the charm of Dragon Ball without any of the problematic parts. An obvious companion to the likes of the extremely popular Nightmare Before Christmas, I would also recommend Little Vampire by Joann Sfar if you have not already picked up that one. #365DaysofHalloween
September 21, 2020
A perfect one-volume manga that doesn't take itself too seriously and has a lot of fun with its story/characters. Akira Toriyama is a master of the craft of comics, and this one in particular makes it seem every bit like he breathes comics into existence. The volume doesn't leave you with any kind of lasting message or anything like that, but it delivers wholesale on fun, comedy, and entertainment value.
October 14, 2025
Una historia de monstruos super divertida, entretenida y tierna🧡💛 fue una lectura muy amena para este Otoño/ Fiestas de Halloween 😁 me encantó el humor, la inocencia, la valentía y la aventura que rondan en todo el manga💐La casita de calabaza es preciosa y adorable😍🦇👻🔮🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 Paifu y José se robaron mi corazón🩷💚🩷🍪🥞🥞🥞🥞😌
November 14, 2018
The creator of this might be famous, but this isn’t entertaining. The main character is a bratty, lying, stealing monster child that I wanted to be far away from. Too much violence, including the threatening of children with death! Skip this read.
February 12, 2025
Cowa! Is a fun and silly read with real heart, a comedy manga aimed at younger audiences with quality artwork and an endearing story. The first chapter is in full colour and kicks off the adventures and mischief of two monsters and their search for the “monster cure”
August 4, 2025
I wasn't impressed with the first few chapters, but I really liked this by the end. The art wasn't as good as I expected from Toriyama, but he did this series with no assistants, so that makes sense. I especially liked The Volcano as a character. He's the heart of the series.
August 12, 2019
Found this while looking around on the Shonen Jump app, saw an Akira Toriyama series I didn't know and had to read it. Cute, light, fun creatures; a real nice read.
December 5, 2019
2,5 stars
July 19, 2020
One shot akira toriyama ini jenius sekali. Mungkin memang saatnya sedang tepat, saya tertawa terbahak2 di cafe dekat UI ini
December 5, 2021
Paifú y sus amigos (sobre todo el fantasma José) me arrancaron varias sonrisas 🥰
December 14, 2021
another fun one shot by Toriyama, similar to Sand Land, but not nearly as good. a tad too childish for my tastes, but still fun in it’s own right
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December 27, 202212/26/22
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews