Genkaku Picasso, Vol. 1 (1)

Enjoyable and just a manga that is ultimately fun to read, “Genkaku Picasso” by Usamaru Furuya is a manga series that is imaginative, creative and delightful!Usamaru Furuya, the mangaka known for various stories such as “Palepoli”, “Short Cuts”, “Garden”, “Kanojo wo Mamoru 51 no Hoho” and “Tokyo Magnitude 8.0″ has a new manga series currently available from Viz Media titled “Genkaku Picasso”.“Genkaku Picasso Vol. 1″ revolves around two teenagers: Hikari “Picasso” Hamura is an introverted, creepy aspiring artist and Chiaki Yamamoto, a vibrant, popular teenager who knows a lot about psychology.While Hikari is no close with many students at school but people are in awe of his artwork, because his name in kanji is mistaken as “Hikaso”, he has earned the name “Picasso”.While Hikari just wants to be left alone and become a well-known artist, as a member of the Riverside Club, he likes to draw pictures near the waterside. Meanwhile, the popular Chiaki Yamamoto likes to read psychology books near the riverside and while they have nothing in common, they do share the same passion of sitting near the riverside.But one day, a civilian helicopter crashed near the Tamagawa River Area and both teenagers were essentially killed, until Chiaki shared her life force to bring Hikari back to life.Grieving for Chiaki, Hikari is shocked to find a miniature Chiaki with angel wings. While no one else can see her, she tells Picasso that while he is alive, he is actually starting to rot and Hikari sees his arm with blackness. She tells him that the only way the black can be removed from his arm is if he helps people, that is the only way the decay will stop and that is the only condition for survival.One day, Hikari notices Sugiura starting to glow. He immediately starts drawing and Hikari realizes that he has been gifted with a special ability to see the darkness within people and giving him special illustrating powers to draw what he saw and help the individual clear that darkness by entering his sketchbook.So, as Hikari enters the sketchbook, he must save Sugiura, a strong willed model named Akane, a classmate named Manba and a teenager named Maria.But being a non-social guy who is unable to relate with others, can Hikari (with the help of Chiaki) help these individuals and help remove the decay in his body?Find out in “Genkaku Picasso Vol. 1″!JUDGMENT CALL:“Genkaku Picasso” was a blast to read! While it’s not a deep storyline, one thing that does stand out is Usamaru Furuya’s illustrations. You can tell that Usamaru tries to find a balance with his creative talent with his art sketches and his manga illustration and manages to find that right balance.But it’s the storyline that is quite fun as well as Hikari “Picasso” Hamura is seen as a creepy individual but in fact, it’s because he is communicating with Chiaki and when he goes into the illustrations to help people, he is left unconscious and thus, is looked at his classmates as really strange.The thing is that Picasso is a pretty interesting otaku who loves to draw, intensely to the point that his focus is undeterred. And because he is an introvert, it’s an interesting mismatch when you have Chiaki, who is so unlike him, helping out Picasso and seeing these two at work.The storylines have been quite fun because Sugiura starts to realize something is unusual with Hikari and he managed to capture how he feels through his sketches, meanwhile his introduction to other characters don’t always go to well because of the way he misunderstands things.And how he and Chiaki are able to work together to solve these puzzles to why there is darkness in the life of these teenagers, makes “Genkaku Picasso” a delightful, dark, humorous and entertaining manga series!Overall, Usamaru Furuya’s “Genkaku Picasso” is delightful, wonderfully drawn and a storyline that will no doubt entertain you!Highly recommended!

Those familiar with Furuya's "Short Cuts" series will no doubt remember the beautiful one (and sometimes two-) page spreads of single drawings, usually found in the back of the book(s). Well with "Genkaku Picasso" (Hallucinatory Picasso) Furuya has found a gimmick that allows him to showcase and intricately explore and change his great ability to draw full illustrations instead of mere panels. Hamura Hikari (named "Picasso" for his ability to draw and his inability to learn the Japanese alphabet) and his friend Chiaki are killed in a freak pedestrian helicopter crash. Chiaki prays to "all the gods and Buddha" to save Picasso, and she does, with one condition--he must use his drawing ability to help others. Chiaki is reinstated on Earth as a fairy (it's not made clear what she is, yet) to guide him on his quest, which usually involves "automatic" drawings that he himself doesn't understand until his ability allows him to enter the drawing &--well, I wont' ruin it. A typical shonen manga setup, really (and it was produced by Shonen Jump no less!) and it becomes apparent that subsequent chapters will be exactly the same, but with Furuya, it's his illustrations and attention to detail and shading that comes through the most. His love for the Kogal is still apparent but he's trying to formulate a story this time around, which I admire. Like all serialized works, it probably works better being read week by week (as it was published) but waiting until February for Vol. 2 will be long enough for Furuya; he needs more attention here in the US!Notes: right-to-left format; English onomatopoeia

it's about a "loner" type artist that kind of hates people, but through a series of events, discovers he can help people with their problems (with negative reinforcement haha, he has a scar on his arm that grows if he doesn't). art is VERY detailed and learning about all the different characters was fun.

I love history and its characters, Picasso's personality is not the typical one in a protagonist.

I unfortunately don't have the ability to appreciate great art but even I knew this story was a true masterpiece in both the writing and the art.

I passed this manga many time because of the wierd cover. But this turn out to be an awsome short read

The series was good. The book was in good condition when it came.

I really enjoyed it, especialy's Usumura's artwork. A must read for people that have never read his brilliant work, until you're eighteen, you can read his more adult work. But this is just fine!*

So far I feel its like the opposite of Death Note. Antisocial guy uses art to help people. The style (especially the artwork) is pretty detailed and the story seems realistic (besides the obvious) the characters are realistic. Imaginative

Must read

A underrated Manga for sure!. It's just a 3 book series so can be easily read. The art quality improves as the story progresses. Book was a little damaged and was has very yellowish papers.

Its one of the most underrated manga.. Its short and has 3volume. Best for beginner and pretty good story. If you started your manga collection be sure to get this lovely story