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Genkaku Picasso #1
幻覚ピカソ 1 【期間限定 無料お試し版】
Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for T+ audiences. Having cheated death, Hikaru Hamura must save himself by using his artistic abilities to help others.
Hikari Hamura, nicknamed Picasso because of his natural artistic abilities, survived a horrible accident, but his friend Chiaki wasn't so lucky. Suddenly, Chiaki appears in front of him and tells him in order to keep living he must help the people around him. Can Hikari save people with his sketchbook and a 2B pencil?
1 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2009
7 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
Usamaru Furuya
101 books176 followersUsamaru Furuya (古屋兎丸) is a Japanese manga creator from Tokyo. His production covers a variety of art styles and genres, such as horror, humour, slice-of-life, erotica, sci-fi, always with a personal surrealistic touch. Society oppression and the human condition are common themes in his body of work.
Furuya showed an interest in comics making since elementary school. He graduated from Tama Art University, where he had studied sculpture and oil painting.
His manga career started in the alternative magazine 'Garo', in which he published a series of one-page comics called Palepoli (1994-1995). He then worked on Short Cuts (1996-1999), a gag manga serialised in the mainstream magazine 'Weekly Young Sunday'. Other short stories from the same period were collected in the books Garden (2000) and Plastic Girl (2000).
Over the years Furuya has created work for a number of manga magazines, underground and mainstream. Among his series available in one or more Western languages are: the dystopian The Music of Marie (2000-2001); the surreal horror Lychee Light Club (2005-2006), loosely based on a play by Norimizu Ameya; the post-apocalyptic 51 Ways to Save Her (2006-2007); Genkaku Picasso (2008-2010); No Longer Human (2009-2011), adaptation of a novel by Osamu Dazai; Amane Gymnasium (2017-2020).
Furuya showed an interest in comics making since elementary school. He graduated from Tama Art University, where he had studied sculpture and oil painting.
His manga career started in the alternative magazine 'Garo', in which he published a series of one-page comics called Palepoli (1994-1995). He then worked on Short Cuts (1996-1999), a gag manga serialised in the mainstream magazine 'Weekly Young Sunday'. Other short stories from the same period were collected in the books Garden (2000) and Plastic Girl (2000).
Over the years Furuya has created work for a number of manga magazines, underground and mainstream. Among his series available in one or more Western languages are: the dystopian The Music of Marie (2000-2001); the surreal horror Lychee Light Club (2005-2006), loosely based on a play by Norimizu Ameya; the post-apocalyptic 51 Ways to Save Her (2006-2007); Genkaku Picasso (2008-2010); No Longer Human (2009-2011), adaptation of a novel by Osamu Dazai; Amane Gymnasium (2017-2020).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
May 2, 2019
A lot of manga have the most convoluted, pernickety premises – I can’t fault the imagination behind them though they do get awkwardly set up within a short space of time. So it goes with the first volume of Genkaku Picasso!
A high school student miraculously escapes death because his actually dead classmate made a deal with Buddha to spare his life. In return, he must use his drawing skills to help those in need or he will rot. He senses troubled people’s auras and sketches enigmatic visions whose meaning he must unravel whilst also inhabiting the drawings!
It’s a strange idea for a series but this first book wasn’t bad. It’s a little too contrived – Picasso always manages to intervene at the exact time the people are about to do something crazy like commit murder or suicide. And all the people he has to help happen to be in his class at school or in a nearby class.
The main character isn’t particularly likeable or interesting and resembles a weasel at the best of times. Not sure why the book is called “Genkaku” either as it’s not his name though I get that “Picasso” is a pun on his real name. And I’m not sure if she was meant to be but the suicidal ultra-emo goth chick was really funny!
Still, the mysteries of what was wrong with the various characters was compelling to see solved and I wouldn’t say I found it a boring read. The haunting, dream-like imagery was quite arresting and I liked the difference in art styles between the drawing world and the real world – normal, clear lines for the real world and shaggy, sketch-lines for the drawing world.
Usamaru Furuya’s first Genkaku Picasso book wasn’t bad but it didn’t do enough for me to want to keep reading the other two books in the run – it’s just a tad too gimmicky and it was already feeling repetitive towards the end of this first volume. I’ve said it before but not every manga needs to be a series!
A high school student miraculously escapes death because his actually dead classmate made a deal with Buddha to spare his life. In return, he must use his drawing skills to help those in need or he will rot. He senses troubled people’s auras and sketches enigmatic visions whose meaning he must unravel whilst also inhabiting the drawings!
It’s a strange idea for a series but this first book wasn’t bad. It’s a little too contrived – Picasso always manages to intervene at the exact time the people are about to do something crazy like commit murder or suicide. And all the people he has to help happen to be in his class at school or in a nearby class.
The main character isn’t particularly likeable or interesting and resembles a weasel at the best of times. Not sure why the book is called “Genkaku” either as it’s not his name though I get that “Picasso” is a pun on his real name. And I’m not sure if she was meant to be but the suicidal ultra-emo goth chick was really funny!
Still, the mysteries of what was wrong with the various characters was compelling to see solved and I wouldn’t say I found it a boring read. The haunting, dream-like imagery was quite arresting and I liked the difference in art styles between the drawing world and the real world – normal, clear lines for the real world and shaggy, sketch-lines for the drawing world.
Usamaru Furuya’s first Genkaku Picasso book wasn’t bad but it didn’t do enough for me to want to keep reading the other two books in the run – it’s just a tad too gimmicky and it was already feeling repetitive towards the end of this first volume. I’ve said it before but not every manga needs to be a series!
January 2, 2024
This series has kind of a weird opening with Hikaru and Chiaki both being involved in a helicopter crash, and Hikaru supposedly only survived because Chiaki made a deal on her friend’s behalf; Hikaru will use his art skills to help others or his body will start to rot. Hikaru (nicknamed Picasso) was a very talented artist, though, and did find a way to help people through his drawings. It was a very creative plot idea.
For each of these cases, there was so much detail in the drawings. Finding out the meanings behind all the symbolism was fun.
Hikaru was a quiet and socially awkward character. It was great to see him being forced to actually let people in and he started to gather a small friend group.
The chapter involving Kana’s problem was my favorite. It was the most elaborate of the stories.
For each of these cases, there was so much detail in the drawings. Finding out the meanings behind all the symbolism was fun.
Hikaru was a quiet and socially awkward character. It was great to see him being forced to actually let people in and he started to gather a small friend group.
The chapter involving Kana’s problem was my favorite. It was the most elaborate of the stories.
January 26, 2011
Reason for Reading: The publisher's simple one line tag at pre-publication grabbed my attention and piqued my interest. "Having cheated death, Hikaru Hamura must save himself by using his artistic abilities to help others."
Hikaru, who has been nick-named Picasso, is pretty much a loner type of guy who really likes to spend his time alone drawing in his sketchbook whenever he can. He has one close friend, a girl named Chiaki. They are both in a terrible accident and Chiaki is killed but Hikaru survives. What he soon learns is that he really did die but he has been allowed to live if he uses his drawings to help others. If he lets too much time go by his body begins to rot, starting with his arm. This is the driving force that compels him to help other people, that and Chiaki has come back as a little angel of some sort to be his companion.
I was at first surprised to find that this is not one continuous story but each chapter is episodic being more of a short story centering around the person and their problem that Picasso and Chiaki help out. As the stories move on, he gathers friends and an overall running story arc about the characters begins to take shape. The stories are quite interesting and I must say surprised me in how dark they became as the cover and summary gave no indication of this element. I like dark so this is when the book picked up for me, though some of the themes are a bit on the weird side and this is definitely an older Teen book as recommended by the publisher.
The first story sets up the whole plot of the book, with the accident and Picasso finding out his unfortunate future and helping his first person. The person's problem and resolution were a little far-fetched and I wondered what the rest of the book would be like but I was ready for the next story. We've now picked up Sugiura, a boy, as a friend from the first story and Picasso helps a girl who is a teen model. This story deals with childhood grief and again was a bit out there but the story became darker and we picked up Akane, the girl, as another new friend for Picasso. Next is when things really went dark and weird with the next story where Picasso helps a boy and the story touches on the theme of S&M as well as teens who are loners and finally the last story, another very dark one, deals with suicide and hero worship. A very eclectic mix of stories! By the end of the book Picasso had grown from a whining complainer who didn't want this to be happening to him to someone who was beginning to take charge of his new calling. I certainly enjoyed the main characters and am interested to see where this goes with the next volume. The first two stories were a little overdone and had they all been like that I would not have enjoyed the book but the characters kept my interest through them and then the last two stories were very creepy and dark, as well as insightful. The art is amazing. When Picasso draws his pictures we get full page detailed drawings that are intricate and gorgeous in their weirdness. Still, I'll be reading Volume 2 before making a final call on whether to continue with the series.
Hikaru, who has been nick-named Picasso, is pretty much a loner type of guy who really likes to spend his time alone drawing in his sketchbook whenever he can. He has one close friend, a girl named Chiaki. They are both in a terrible accident and Chiaki is killed but Hikaru survives. What he soon learns is that he really did die but he has been allowed to live if he uses his drawings to help others. If he lets too much time go by his body begins to rot, starting with his arm. This is the driving force that compels him to help other people, that and Chiaki has come back as a little angel of some sort to be his companion.
I was at first surprised to find that this is not one continuous story but each chapter is episodic being more of a short story centering around the person and their problem that Picasso and Chiaki help out. As the stories move on, he gathers friends and an overall running story arc about the characters begins to take shape. The stories are quite interesting and I must say surprised me in how dark they became as the cover and summary gave no indication of this element. I like dark so this is when the book picked up for me, though some of the themes are a bit on the weird side and this is definitely an older Teen book as recommended by the publisher.
The first story sets up the whole plot of the book, with the accident and Picasso finding out his unfortunate future and helping his first person. The person's problem and resolution were a little far-fetched and I wondered what the rest of the book would be like but I was ready for the next story. We've now picked up Sugiura, a boy, as a friend from the first story and Picasso helps a girl who is a teen model. This story deals with childhood grief and again was a bit out there but the story became darker and we picked up Akane, the girl, as another new friend for Picasso. Next is when things really went dark and weird with the next story where Picasso helps a boy and the story touches on the theme of S&M as well as teens who are loners and finally the last story, another very dark one, deals with suicide and hero worship. A very eclectic mix of stories! By the end of the book Picasso had grown from a whining complainer who didn't want this to be happening to him to someone who was beginning to take charge of his new calling. I certainly enjoyed the main characters and am interested to see where this goes with the next volume. The first two stories were a little overdone and had they all been like that I would not have enjoyed the book but the characters kept my interest through them and then the last two stories were very creepy and dark, as well as insightful. The art is amazing. When Picasso draws his pictures we get full page detailed drawings that are intricate and gorgeous in their weirdness. Still, I'll be reading Volume 2 before making a final call on whether to continue with the series.
June 23, 2021
I can’t sort my bookshelves out without stopping to read something. Manga is so easy to get caught up in. This one is short but it’s one of my favourite series. A doom and gloom guy only interested in drawing, suffers the loss of his friend and has to help other people’s hearts.
The art style is interesting and I liked the twist on psychology. Without realising it, Picasso slowly makes friends and connections. Unfortunately I can’t stop at the first one and it always ends up as a binge read.
The art style is interesting and I liked the twist on psychology. Without realising it, Picasso slowly makes friends and connections. Unfortunately I can’t stop at the first one and it always ends up as a binge read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2023
Reading it for the illustration art, not necessarily for the “good story”. Although it is an interesting en creative one!
November 26, 2018
This is the second manga by Usamaru Furuya that I've read, No Longer Human being the first. Both of these series have one thing in common, and that thing is first volumes that are decent but underwhelming. My hope is that this will follow the same pattern as NLH and improve drastically on the following volumes.
The story is fairly simple, following a "monster of the week" format, but with mentally disturbed people in need of saving. The premise of jumping into people's drawings and figuring out their symbolism in order to understand them and hopefully save them appealed to me, being that I'm a fan of Persona and dream analysis. That said, what we get here is a fairly simplistic set of problems that get solved rather easily and unceremoniously. Hopefully that will improve in the following volumes.
The strong part of the book is definitely the art. The sketchy parts of the art used for Picasso's paintings specifically. They look absolutely incredible and it's a lot of fun to try to analyze the drawing before the characters figure it out. It's also really cool to see the drawing change based on the characters' actions, both inside and outside the drawing. That said, the "real world" artwork leaves something to be desired. While I like it enough for the most part, certain things like the way lips are shaded, were a bit off-putting. The "real world" art style varied in general, and sometimes I felt like I was reading something by CLAMP while other times it would look like Jump's house style; and somewhere in the middle of that, Furuya's own style shines bright. [Edit: Upon flipping through the other volumes, I can see that the "real world" art I criticized improves a lot, so that's great news.]
All in all, the series is good and it has potential, but this volume left me a bit underwhelmed.
The story is fairly simple, following a "monster of the week" format, but with mentally disturbed people in need of saving. The premise of jumping into people's drawings and figuring out their symbolism in order to understand them and hopefully save them appealed to me, being that I'm a fan of Persona and dream analysis. That said, what we get here is a fairly simplistic set of problems that get solved rather easily and unceremoniously. Hopefully that will improve in the following volumes.
The strong part of the book is definitely the art. The sketchy parts of the art used for Picasso's paintings specifically. They look absolutely incredible and it's a lot of fun to try to analyze the drawing before the characters figure it out. It's also really cool to see the drawing change based on the characters' actions, both inside and outside the drawing. That said, the "real world" artwork leaves something to be desired. While I like it enough for the most part, certain things like the way lips are shaded, were a bit off-putting. The "real world" art style varied in general, and sometimes I felt like I was reading something by CLAMP while other times it would look like Jump's house style; and somewhere in the middle of that, Furuya's own style shines bright. [Edit: Upon flipping through the other volumes, I can see that the "real world" art I criticized improves a lot, so that's great news.]
All in all, the series is good and it has potential, but this volume left me a bit underwhelmed.
September 13, 2024
I really liked the first chapter of this story and was not expecting to get teary eyed! I was surprised to see that this had 5 star potential, but the rest of the stories did not hit me as hard emotionally. I loved the idea of Hikari / Picasso going into the drawings to help the different individuals. He was a bit grating and moody sometimes but that is typical for this genre. I wish there was more on grief and processing the death of his closest friend, which happened in the first few chapters and is mentioned in the premise so it is not a spoiler.
July 7, 2013
Quick thoughts: Engaging plot, imaginative illustrations and nice touch of Magic.
Warning: Does contain mild subtle sexual content and nudity – recommended for readers 16 +
I have been reading a lot of Manga and Graphic novels lately. I am really enjoying the different format and styles both storyline and artwork. So when I saw Picasso at my local library and read the blurb I knew I wanted to try it out, if not just for the stunning art work on the front cover and the promise of mystery and a little slice of magic.
I really enjoyed the first instalment. The illustrations are superb and intense. I love how the author used them in an almost dream-scape manner to get inside the characters hearts and how their emotions and behaviours were reflected in the pictures. Some of them were darkly morbid, while others were hilarious and had me chuckling on the train ride home. The style is different to many I have read in being the boys look a lot like the girls, but I really dig it and while I must admit there are some scenes in it that I thought might be better for adults, I believe if your mature enough to handle the more mature content then you will enjoy the stories in Picasso.
I liked the way the stories dealt with certain issues both apparent to teens and adults and the psychological elements in each. It brought something refreshing to the table. Questions to ponder, but not to be consumed by and I really did feel for the characters issues.
Picassso himself is a very sullen character and I guess you could go as far to say he is a Zombie. I enjoyed how he was pulled into the characters lives, and how each story was different and gave him the chance to help others and to stop being the loner he now is after loosing his best friend. But not to fear, there is a little magic and the concept to me is imaginative and really fun to read. I am not sure I would say I have a favourite character but I did quiet enjoy the friendship of Picasso [Hamura] and Chiaki.
If you want to try something different that is a little dark, but a fun, quick and imaginative read then I would recommend checking out Picasso 1# !!
January 25, 2012
I don't know why on earth this got such bad reviews from people I know!
2 Stars: Art style. As usual, I give two stars for art since it is a book based on it's art. I thought that although the main character, "Picasso", is REALLY unattractive (except for one page where his glasses are OFF!!), and the style choices, like for the lips and eyes can annoy me a bit, I think it pulled it off well enough. Especially the scenes that Picasso himself draws. I thought they were unique and beautiful. They were gorgeous sketches and you can see how they'd represent someone's heart :)
1 Star: Characters. Don't get me wrong, I feel like the characters aren't the best, and Picasso is a bit hard to live with, but I think we really do get a lot of both Picasso and the characters when he's inside the drawings of their hearts. Figuring out the problem and helping them get through it was really such a wonderful thing to read. It was touching :3
1 Star: Potential. It has it. Maybe it's been done before, sure, but I think that if this continues the way it is, with it's tender drawing style and maybe, hopefully, an evolving character of Picasso, I think I'll really like this series.
2 Stars: Art style. As usual, I give two stars for art since it is a book based on it's art. I thought that although the main character, "Picasso", is REALLY unattractive (except for one page where his glasses are OFF!!), and the style choices, like for the lips and eyes can annoy me a bit, I think it pulled it off well enough. Especially the scenes that Picasso himself draws. I thought they were unique and beautiful. They were gorgeous sketches and you can see how they'd represent someone's heart :)
1 Star: Characters. Don't get me wrong, I feel like the characters aren't the best, and Picasso is a bit hard to live with, but I think we really do get a lot of both Picasso and the characters when he's inside the drawings of their hearts. Figuring out the problem and helping them get through it was really such a wonderful thing to read. It was touching :3
1 Star: Potential. It has it. Maybe it's been done before, sure, but I think that if this continues the way it is, with it's tender drawing style and maybe, hopefully, an evolving character of Picasso, I think I'll really like this series.
June 24, 2022
I love the concept! It just gets repetitive...
May 23, 2022
This manga is limited to a trilogy. Phew! It’s such a relief to have a manga series that doesn’t drag on for over 15 volumes. Life is too short (and for some of us it’s getting shorter). I practice tsundoku in a big way and I don’t need to get sucked into another Vampire D series.
This manga deals with a tart-tongued introvert named Hikari Hamura. To his irritation, everyone calls him Picasso because his best friend Chiaki dubbed him with that name. Hikari is a gifted pencil artist, to be sure, solitary, aloof and always doodling away in his sketchbook. But he doesn’t care for Picasso’s art. He’s a very big fan of Leonardo Da Vinci, devoted as he is to Da Vinci’s gifted artwork, meticulous artwork and style.
Then Hikari and Chiaki die. Hikari is revived. Chiaki is not. Thus, begins a truly long descent into the arcane world of the inner psyche. Apparently Hikari’s death and revivification has given him to ability to see mystical auras around troubled human beings. Chiaki returns with him as a sort of mini angel/fairy that only Hikari can see.
You wonder if he’s somehow hallucinating, if the accident that killed Chiaki has left Hikari with unresolved issues of guilt and loss. No one else sees Mini Chiaki and Hikari is gaining a reputation for being a real oddball, what with his seeming mutterings to himself, sudden stalking of unaware students, increasingly bizarre drawings and maladroit attempts at detective work.
As an even further spiral into the uncanny, Hikari is able to dive into the pictures he draws. It’s not his physical body that does so but his spirit or consciousness. Others can’t see this either. They only know that Hikari has taken to fainting at the oddest moments…
The manga style isn’t anything special. It doesn’t look much different from what I’ve seen elsewhere. But the diagrams and artwork that Usamaru Furuya place at the pencil of the titular character are truly stunning. These drawings have a different style each time (some reminiscent of famous artists like M.C. Escher or Dali) but each one fairly leaps out at the viewer. They are stunning in execution, exquisitely drawn and downright surreal in content. The artist has also placed a miniature Hikari (with his trademark biting of his left thumb) within the ISBN on the cover. Isn’t that cute?
The putrefaction of Hikari’s flesh is both repulsive (the artist renders it with excruciating detail) and also puzzling. Decay that advanced should be giving off a palpable effluvium. Yet no one around him seems to notice. Even the nurse who examines him during his fainting spells doesn’t see it. Is that rot also in Hikari’s mind? And does it indicate spiritual decay? If so, whose?
All this is to praise this first volume as an original entry into the manga genre. The drawings raise this book above the ordinary and the dialogue touches on the psychological. Clumsily, Hikari explores what is troubling these unhappy adolescents. In doing so, he reaches out, however reluctantly, to other people. Even when he states that he doesn’t care to help others and merely wants to be left alone to draw, he is pulled into other people’s lives. It’s a terrific beginning to what I’m sure will be an ever-fascinating series.
This manga deals with a tart-tongued introvert named Hikari Hamura. To his irritation, everyone calls him Picasso because his best friend Chiaki dubbed him with that name. Hikari is a gifted pencil artist, to be sure, solitary, aloof and always doodling away in his sketchbook. But he doesn’t care for Picasso’s art. He’s a very big fan of Leonardo Da Vinci, devoted as he is to Da Vinci’s gifted artwork, meticulous artwork and style.
Then Hikari and Chiaki die. Hikari is revived. Chiaki is not. Thus, begins a truly long descent into the arcane world of the inner psyche. Apparently Hikari’s death and revivification has given him to ability to see mystical auras around troubled human beings. Chiaki returns with him as a sort of mini angel/fairy that only Hikari can see.
You wonder if he’s somehow hallucinating, if the accident that killed Chiaki has left Hikari with unresolved issues of guilt and loss. No one else sees Mini Chiaki and Hikari is gaining a reputation for being a real oddball, what with his seeming mutterings to himself, sudden stalking of unaware students, increasingly bizarre drawings and maladroit attempts at detective work.
As an even further spiral into the uncanny, Hikari is able to dive into the pictures he draws. It’s not his physical body that does so but his spirit or consciousness. Others can’t see this either. They only know that Hikari has taken to fainting at the oddest moments…
The manga style isn’t anything special. It doesn’t look much different from what I’ve seen elsewhere. But the diagrams and artwork that Usamaru Furuya place at the pencil of the titular character are truly stunning. These drawings have a different style each time (some reminiscent of famous artists like M.C. Escher or Dali) but each one fairly leaps out at the viewer. They are stunning in execution, exquisitely drawn and downright surreal in content. The artist has also placed a miniature Hikari (with his trademark biting of his left thumb) within the ISBN on the cover. Isn’t that cute?
The putrefaction of Hikari’s flesh is both repulsive (the artist renders it with excruciating detail) and also puzzling. Decay that advanced should be giving off a palpable effluvium. Yet no one around him seems to notice. Even the nurse who examines him during his fainting spells doesn’t see it. Is that rot also in Hikari’s mind? And does it indicate spiritual decay? If so, whose?
All this is to praise this first volume as an original entry into the manga genre. The drawings raise this book above the ordinary and the dialogue touches on the psychological. Clumsily, Hikari explores what is troubling these unhappy adolescents. In doing so, he reaches out, however reluctantly, to other people. Even when he states that he doesn’t care to help others and merely wants to be left alone to draw, he is pulled into other people’s lives. It’s a terrific beginning to what I’m sure will be an ever-fascinating series.
November 8, 2025
3.5/5 - My comic and manga guru friend has been trying to get me to read Genkaku Picasso for awhile. I have unfair prejudice against manga . . . I just don’t like it, for the most part . . . but I’m giving my best faith effort.
Genkaku Picasso has a strange premise. A budding artist, nicknamed “Picasso,” and his classmate, Chiaki, are caught up in a helicopter crash. Before dying, Chiaki makes a deal with Buddha to save Picasso’s life: he must help people through his drawings or he will rot to death. She then appears to him post-mortem in miniature with wings to guide him.
After that the setup is established, GP follows an episodic formula: Picasso can “see a classmate’s heart” by drawing, dives into the drawing with Chiaki, and saves the classmate from some terrible fate (murder, suicide, etc.). This formula is repeated four times in this first volume. The stories got a bit too repetitive to me. I’m hoping in subsequent episodes there will be something new or shocking to break the monotony.
One of the things I don’t like about manga is the art style that I think of as “Speed Racer”-style art. That is definitely here. I also don’t like that characters are often so histrionic about everything in a lot of manga. Constant screaming! That’s true here too. This feels very much like an over-the-top teenage drama (it is “shonen,” after all. Manga aimed at teen boys).
That being said, I love hyper-realistic, detailed backgrounds in manga. You get a lot of that here in Picasso’s drawings. I loved that.
So overall, it was fun but doesn’t go on the top of my shelf. It leans a bit too much into teen drama and is quite repetitive . . . but a decent way to spend an hour.
Genkaku Picasso has a strange premise. A budding artist, nicknamed “Picasso,” and his classmate, Chiaki, are caught up in a helicopter crash. Before dying, Chiaki makes a deal with Buddha to save Picasso’s life: he must help people through his drawings or he will rot to death. She then appears to him post-mortem in miniature with wings to guide him.
After that the setup is established, GP follows an episodic formula: Picasso can “see a classmate’s heart” by drawing, dives into the drawing with Chiaki, and saves the classmate from some terrible fate (murder, suicide, etc.). This formula is repeated four times in this first volume. The stories got a bit too repetitive to me. I’m hoping in subsequent episodes there will be something new or shocking to break the monotony.
One of the things I don’t like about manga is the art style that I think of as “Speed Racer”-style art. That is definitely here. I also don’t like that characters are often so histrionic about everything in a lot of manga. Constant screaming! That’s true here too. This feels very much like an over-the-top teenage drama (it is “shonen,” after all. Manga aimed at teen boys).
That being said, I love hyper-realistic, detailed backgrounds in manga. You get a lot of that here in Picasso’s drawings. I loved that.
So overall, it was fun but doesn’t go on the top of my shelf. It leans a bit too much into teen drama and is quite repetitive . . . but a decent way to spend an hour.
February 28, 2019
A loner artist, nicknamed Picasso, is involved in an accident that nearly kills him. He is gifted an extension on life, on the terms that he is to help the people around him. If he doesn't, his body will slowly rot away. He uses his art as a way of understanding those in close proximity to him. Picasso is able to see an aura around people, and can view what is going on in their hearts. He then draws what he sees and jumps into the artwork in hopes of altering the person's fragile mental state.
This is a really cool concept. I enjoyed it for the most part, with the exception of the hurried resolutions to each arc. Each of the plot issues were easily resolved and didn't hold much weight. But, the overall idea that this kid has to help others or else he dies is interesting enough to continue.
I think that the character designs were okay, but the art that Picasso actually draws is gorgeous. Those panels reminded me of surreal dream sequences or something in a similar vein. I'm curious to see more of those types of panels from this manga series.
This is a really cool concept. I enjoyed it for the most part, with the exception of the hurried resolutions to each arc. Each of the plot issues were easily resolved and didn't hold much weight. But, the overall idea that this kid has to help others or else he dies is interesting enough to continue.
I think that the character designs were okay, but the art that Picasso actually draws is gorgeous. Those panels reminded me of surreal dream sequences or something in a similar vein. I'm curious to see more of those types of panels from this manga series.
July 15, 2020
Me encanta el estilo de Usamaru Furuya, y su dibujo como siempre no decepciona, es lo que más me ha gustado de este manga, porque el argumento... no se no me ha terminado de atrapar, además que salta muy rápido de una historia a otra, la resolución también me ha parecido precipitada, no se si continuaré con este manga, una vez las bibliotecas reabran y lo tienen quizás lo termine con eso de que son solo tres volúmenes, pero de momento lo dejo aparcado.
September 23, 2018
A creative idea for a manga series but the solutions to each of the students' problems seem a bit too easy at times... Everything is wrapped up neatly in a nice bow but doesn't always feel realistic in terms of the seriousness of some of the problems. But I think this is fairly typical for the genre.
September 15, 2020
This surreal series was a trap that seemed smooth and easy to get into, but then as soon as I felt comfortable, it dropped me into a pool of existential despair. I recognize that not everyone will relate to these characters or care that much about Hikari himself, but I give credit to the author/editor team for making a terribly strong work of art.
February 16, 2018
The tortured soul of an artist.
I have the manga series on my bookshelves and this is certainly not the first time I read it. It is the kind of feel-good story with enough elements of hardship in it, which makes me come back to it every few years.
I dig it.
I have the manga series on my bookshelves and this is certainly not the first time I read it. It is the kind of feel-good story with enough elements of hardship in it, which makes me come back to it every few years.
I dig it.
December 17, 2018
Antisocial boy was supposed to die in an accident but his friend prayed for him top live. He's alive now but can only stay alive if he helps people. He uses his art ability to draw people's hearts and enters the drawings to help them deal with problems.
October 21, 2019
Interesting graphics and twist on a theme. It’s annoying the kid keeps biting his thumb and pushing his glasses up with his middle finger, but it eventually grows on you.
Favourite Quotes:
"There might be a surprising number of kids who are like trees."
Favourite Quotes:
"There might be a surprising number of kids who are like trees."
March 1, 2023
reading this cuz it's from the same guy who wrote lychee light club. this manga is silly goofy times but also strange and dark?? like *spoiler* dude almost killed some guy to get back at his dad bc he wouldn't pay for his college? bruh. im just here for the ride
April 1, 2019
Pretty great manga, Loved the story and art 😁😻❤️❤️
October 4, 2019
Really interesting premise, fantastic artwork. I'm excited to see where the series goes!
March 10, 2020
I find the way this author deals with real problems that students, and people in general, have to face very imaginative. It leaves an impact but is not invasive.
February 6, 2021
Very weird, but I’m into it.
March 6, 2021
1.5 stars.
April 20, 2021
The drawing is so beautiful and I love the story ♡
August 15, 2021
Review for entire series. Didn't care for it.
August 23, 2022
Beautiful art, paper thin characters and plot.
September 15, 2022
This manga was a weird one..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews