Manga is typically not seasonal with very few exceptions. One of these exceptions is Cowa!, which is a perfect manga for Halloween. The manga was initially published in 1997-1998 and was later reprinted in 2008 in a single volume. The story focuses on a half-vampire half-werekoala, a ghost and a human as they go on an adventure to get medicine for their village. Cowa! is a perfect read for Halloween as it has many elements that relate back to Halloween and can be purchased here.
Cowa!’s story is a simple one. A village of monsters is exposed to a disease that will slowly kill them and they have to go get medicine. The normal people who go to get the medicine are sick and as a result it is up to Paifu, the half-vampire half-werekoala, Jose the Ghost, and the human they promised 1,000,000 yen, to get the medicine. On their quest they encounter gangsters who are trying to kill them, which they defeat. They also are subjected to other monsters with whistling traits, while Jose falls ill and they slowly make their way to the doctor who will prepare the medicine. In reaching the doctor they are subjected to a challenge/riddle to obtain the medicine, which requires Paifu and the human Maruyama skills. The story wraps up nicely, as the characters are successful in obtaining the medicine and over coming the Monster Flu.
Cowa!, despite it being a short manga, is a well established story. Cowa! has exceptional character development. In particular, the main character Maruyama from the first pages is an unlikable grumpy man, but as the story goes on he becomes more likable. In each chapter the author Akira Toriyama makes the character slightly more likable, which gives his character an organic development. Furthermore, the manga introduces the combination of monster hybrids with the character Paifu who is a vampire and werekoala. This idea was innovative in 1997 and still remains so in 2015. Finally, the manga is a simple story with simple art resulting in one element of the manga not out doing the other but rather complimenting each other.
Cowa!, can be read anytime but is perfect around Halloween as it deals monsters going on an adventure which captures many elements of what Halloween is about. Cowa can be purchased here.
