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Genkaku Picasso #2
Genkaku Picasso, Vol. 2
Having cheated death, Hikaru Hamura must save himself by using his artistic abilities to help others.
Suddenly the world around Hikari has gotten so much more complicated. Hikari finds that with every new sketch comes a new mystery. With Chiaki's help, will he be able to solve them before it's too late?
Suddenly the world around Hikari has gotten so much more complicated. Hikari finds that with every new sketch comes a new mystery. With Chiaki's help, will he be able to solve them before it's too late?
296 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2009
3 people are currently reading
87 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 - 29 of 35 reviews
January 28, 2024
I can’t get over how creative all of these drawings are, and all the hidden means in them. I loved discovering what was going on in all these characters' lives and how the drawings fit into them.
Not only is Hikari Hamura socially awkward, but I’m also getting the impression that he may be asexual/aromantic. He doesn’t have any interest in girls (or boys) in that way, and when someone talks to him about girls, he doesn’t understand the intrigue.
It was nice to see the author playing around with LGBT characters in this volume. Loved how all of their classmates embraced these characters when they came out.
Not only is Hikari Hamura socially awkward, but I’m also getting the impression that he may be asexual/aromantic. He doesn’t have any interest in girls (or boys) in that way, and when someone talks to him about girls, he doesn’t understand the intrigue.
It was nice to see the author playing around with LGBT characters in this volume. Loved how all of their classmates embraced these characters when they came out.
June 23, 2021
Just as good as the first and I liked that all three books are just as strong. Picasso has friends and with Chiaki’s help dives into more hearts. Ota’s story was probably the strangest. I felt sorry for Kotone with the bully trauma. I liked how Manba is so wary of Picasso.
I think the one that stuck with me the most was Hishida’s story. A girl stuck in a boy’s body. I liked the outcome and I hope Jeanne continues to have that acceptance after school. Borise world was great, I loved how Picasso’s opinion changed so fast.
I think the one that stuck with me the most was Hishida’s story. A girl stuck in a boy’s body. I liked the outcome and I hope Jeanne continues to have that acceptance after school. Borise world was great, I loved how Picasso’s opinion changed so fast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2011
Reason for Reading: next in the series.
The first book in the series intrigued me but at that time I didn't know this was only a trilogy. I was trying volume two to see if I would continue on with the series. Obviously since there is one book left, , I will finish the trilogy to see how it all ends. However, had this been a sampling of a larger, longer series I would not have continued on.
Picasso's character has developed some. He is no longer whiny and childlike when called upon to help someone through his drawing. He knows it is a necessary thing he must do, as he does not want to rot, but he considers it a nuisance in his life which he would just prefer everyone to leave him alone so he can draw. Now that he's helped several people in his class they are drawn to him and he actually has friends though he doesn't appreciate this at all until he gets invited to join a few of them to an amusement park and we see Picasso enjoy himself for the first time.
Two of the stories this time around deal with very mature subjects and that is why I disagree with the publishers recommended age of 16+ and would myself recommend to 18+. There is a very graphic image in the Bonus extra cartoons section at the back even though "censored" has been written over the part where you would see something. The first story deals with the competitive nature between two boys who've known each other since elementary and one now has a girlfriend who he tells every little detail about their relationship but won't introduce her to his friend. The next two stories deal with very s*xual topics which I could have done without and wish the publishers had mentioned briefly in the copy that this type of topic was in the book, so I could have made a wiser choice in choosing this series to read in the first place. The last story is about a girl whose life revolves around one certain dream coming true and when she hits disappointment her sense of worth is shattered. I'm glad the book ended with a good story. All the main characters are interesting, the stories I didn't like don't affect the overall dynamics of the main group and I am interested to see how the story wraps up. The promo at the back suggests Picasso will have to face some of his own demons.
One thing that keeps this trilogy fresh, is the artwork which is amazing. In this volume Picasso spends time sketching ants and human muscles with fine detail and of course his pictures he draws when he finds the darkness in someone's heart are incredibly detailed and beautiful. Though I do have to say, volume one's art impressed me more. I have a little trepidation as to what vol. 3 will have in store for me story wise but having invested this much I must see the trilogy to conclusion and find out what happens with Picasso and his main group of friends, a boy, a girl, and his fairy/angel (?) helper.
The first book in the series intrigued me but at that time I didn't know this was only a trilogy. I was trying volume two to see if I would continue on with the series. Obviously since there is one book left, , I will finish the trilogy to see how it all ends. However, had this been a sampling of a larger, longer series I would not have continued on.
Picasso's character has developed some. He is no longer whiny and childlike when called upon to help someone through his drawing. He knows it is a necessary thing he must do, as he does not want to rot, but he considers it a nuisance in his life which he would just prefer everyone to leave him alone so he can draw. Now that he's helped several people in his class they are drawn to him and he actually has friends though he doesn't appreciate this at all until he gets invited to join a few of them to an amusement park and we see Picasso enjoy himself for the first time.
Two of the stories this time around deal with very mature subjects and that is why I disagree with the publishers recommended age of 16+ and would myself recommend to 18+. There is a very graphic image in the Bonus extra cartoons section at the back even though "censored" has been written over the part where you would see something. The first story deals with the competitive nature between two boys who've known each other since elementary and one now has a girlfriend who he tells every little detail about their relationship but won't introduce her to his friend. The next two stories deal with very s*xual topics which I could have done without and wish the publishers had mentioned briefly in the copy that this type of topic was in the book, so I could have made a wiser choice in choosing this series to read in the first place. The last story is about a girl whose life revolves around one certain dream coming true and when she hits disappointment her sense of worth is shattered. I'm glad the book ended with a good story. All the main characters are interesting, the stories I didn't like don't affect the overall dynamics of the main group and I am interested to see how the story wraps up. The promo at the back suggests Picasso will have to face some of his own demons.
One thing that keeps this trilogy fresh, is the artwork which is amazing. In this volume Picasso spends time sketching ants and human muscles with fine detail and of course his pictures he draws when he finds the darkness in someone's heart are incredibly detailed and beautiful. Though I do have to say, volume one's art impressed me more. I have a little trepidation as to what vol. 3 will have in store for me story wise but having invested this much I must see the trilogy to conclusion and find out what happens with Picasso and his main group of friends, a boy, a girl, and his fairy/angel (?) helper.
March 7, 2014
Woah...I didn't remember this book being THIS good. The issues it deal with now speak to my heart a lot more, maybe that's why. This is one example of a manga that has to be drawn and would not work in book format due to the heart landscape.
Picasso reminds me of my myself in that we both (in my case, will) work hard since we want to be artists (me, mangaka though). He's considered weird, though.
I love BL-I'm a proud fujoshi XD. I'm glad Kotone came to realize that all types of romances are fine. I was scared she would give up her yaoi, but it's great. Although I've never been in a 3-D relationship, I believe I would be a great girlfriend, but I also ship all kinds of couples. I'm also in love with an anime character and proud of it-Ms. Grell Sutcliffe. It's okay to love a "fake person," like Ota, but never let that get in the way of a 3-D relationship.
The other issue I loved that it brought up was transgender people. I wish I knew a crossdresser...oh well, they'll be plenty at the anime con I'm going to! Hishida is so beautiful. I'm comfortable with my gender-I love being a girl since you get to be all pretty and not judged and I can play the "weak card" without shame. (The thing I don't like is being gaijin). Hishida IS a girl inside and just because she wasn't "born" a girl doesn't mean she isn't one. I feel so sorry for the pain she went through and I'm glad she was able to come out with support; it's rare that everyone understands. I know her classmates were fine with it, but I don't know about her family. Hopefully her parents learned to accept who she is inside too.
Oh yeah, also the Borise World story. Everyone should work as hard as they can and work is what will get them to their dreams. I can be a mangaka by working at my Japanese and drawing skills. Work is more important than talent.
Picasso reminds me of my myself in that we both (in my case, will) work hard since we want to be artists (me, mangaka though). He's considered weird, though.
I love BL-I'm a proud fujoshi XD. I'm glad Kotone came to realize that all types of romances are fine. I was scared she would give up her yaoi, but it's great. Although I've never been in a 3-D relationship, I believe I would be a great girlfriend, but I also ship all kinds of couples. I'm also in love with an anime character and proud of it-Ms. Grell Sutcliffe. It's okay to love a "fake person," like Ota, but never let that get in the way of a 3-D relationship.
The other issue I loved that it brought up was transgender people. I wish I knew a crossdresser...oh well, they'll be plenty at the anime con I'm going to! Hishida is so beautiful. I'm comfortable with my gender-I love being a girl since you get to be all pretty and not judged and I can play the "weak card" without shame. (The thing I don't like is being gaijin). Hishida IS a girl inside and just because she wasn't "born" a girl doesn't mean she isn't one. I feel so sorry for the pain she went through and I'm glad she was able to come out with support; it's rare that everyone understands. I know her classmates were fine with it, but I don't know about her family. Hopefully her parents learned to accept who she is inside too.
Oh yeah, also the Borise World story. Everyone should work as hard as they can and work is what will get them to their dreams. I can be a mangaka by working at my Japanese and drawing skills. Work is more important than talent.
May 23, 2022
Thumb-biting Hikari returns with his little angel still riding on his shoulder. He’s still a little closed off and resenting being dragged into other people’s problems. He has his pencils and his ever-present sketchbook to keep him company. Why would he want anyone else?
You begin to suspect that Hikari is asexual. Even though he’s at the age to explore sex with others, he doesn’t get the interest in girls and he doesn’t seem to care for boys. But his constant oddball doodling, some dealing with nudity, are getting him a reputation as being a sexual pervert, much to his frustration.
This is relevant in this volume. Sexual matters are causing those mysterious auras to appear over other people and Hikari must figure out what’s troubling them. His cluelessness about amorous natures makes such explorations especially difficult for him, resulting in hilarity and unexpected tenderness.
The illustrator presents us with more spectacular drawings. Even when some appear serene or downright cute, closer inspection reveals disturbing aspects. A doll-like figure surrounded by stuffed animals is shown to be holding a box cutter and slitting them over to show their stuffing. There’s so much f-f-f-fluff…
Hikari also shows that he has a playful side. Shown Borise, the Japanese version of Disneyworld, he throws himself wholeheartedly into its joyful atmosphere, noshing on junk food, yelling in glee on the rides and getting silly souvenirs. It makes him appear unexpectedly youthful, a charming change from his usual morose demeanor.
This second volume pleases even more than the first and explores the growth of its titular fictional artist in a very believable fashion. Here’s hoping that the final volume is just as enticing as this one.
You begin to suspect that Hikari is asexual. Even though he’s at the age to explore sex with others, he doesn’t get the interest in girls and he doesn’t seem to care for boys. But his constant oddball doodling, some dealing with nudity, are getting him a reputation as being a sexual pervert, much to his frustration.
This is relevant in this volume. Sexual matters are causing those mysterious auras to appear over other people and Hikari must figure out what’s troubling them. His cluelessness about amorous natures makes such explorations especially difficult for him, resulting in hilarity and unexpected tenderness.
The illustrator presents us with more spectacular drawings. Even when some appear serene or downright cute, closer inspection reveals disturbing aspects. A doll-like figure surrounded by stuffed animals is shown to be holding a box cutter and slitting them over to show their stuffing. There’s so much f-f-f-fluff…
Hikari also shows that he has a playful side. Shown Borise, the Japanese version of Disneyworld, he throws himself wholeheartedly into its joyful atmosphere, noshing on junk food, yelling in glee on the rides and getting silly souvenirs. It makes him appear unexpectedly youthful, a charming change from his usual morose demeanor.
This second volume pleases even more than the first and explores the growth of its titular fictional artist in a very believable fashion. Here’s hoping that the final volume is just as enticing as this one.
February 28, 2019
I felt like this volume had a little bit more heart to it. I especially liked the chapters that focused on bullying, as well as the one featuring a character embracing their trans identity. That section was handled pretty well. I also liked the rip-off Disney section commenting on bringing a person's dreams to fruition by hard work. The story lines were stronger in this one versus the first installment, which was a nice surprise.
The art the main character draws continues to be trippy, but in a fascinating way. Artwork not found in that context is still average though. Nothing special about the character designs or backgrounds in general, but Picasso's sketches are cool and make the story more interesting. On to the next volume!
The art the main character draws continues to be trippy, but in a fascinating way. Artwork not found in that context is still average though. Nothing special about the character designs or backgrounds in general, but Picasso's sketches are cool and make the story more interesting. On to the next volume!
October 12, 2019
I'm really enjoying this series! Lighthearted and well-meaning. Some of the psychology isn't complex, but I've never seen such things addressed in manga before and I could see a teenage audience seeing the benefit of something like counseling, which is akin to what "Picasso" does. We're also starting to see how the process of helping others is changing him as well...
January 13, 2018
Another lovely volume of episodic, coming-of-age stories. I really enjoyed a well-handled trans episode in this volume. It’s always fun breaking down Usamaru Furuya’s symbology of what is hidden in the characters’ hearts. I look forward to reading the last book. A short and sweet series!
September 25, 2024
This was a cute volume 2 with good stories! My favorite was Jeanne's, which was heartwarming. I really enjoy the artwork and how the emotions are clearly captured in the drawings. The stories are pretty funny too sometimes. On to the last volume of the series!
February 20, 2018
My joy continues!
March 23, 2018
Un po' ripetitivo dopo un po', ma senza dubbio con dei disegni magnifici. E le risate non mancano di certo!
April 1, 2019
Pretty great manga, Loved the story and art 😁😻❤️❤️
February 17, 2020
This manga is hilarious. The short extra scene at the back of the book had me in stitches and disbelief haha
December 20, 2020
Le daría 3,5
March 8, 2021
1.5 stars.
January 10, 2022
I seriously cried over it, it hits a special spot when you see the problems people go through and have a chance to relate to it! It’s a seriously good manga.
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December 31, 202212/31/22
March 3, 2023
listen i wasn't sure if i was gonna go for a 3 or 4 star but those gag shorts in the end took me OUT so 4 stars it is
October 17, 2023
I loved this second book even more than the 1st one! Really cool illustrations and a good interesting and diverse story!
November 26, 2025
Story is the same all throughout? Okay
August 29, 2022
The arcs improve on the first volume, and the trans storyline was a welcome surprise with how it was handled, but the central characters are still lightly sketched at best. It is beautiful, though.
September 8, 2011
Genkaku Picasso, Vol. 2
by Usamaru Furuya
So this is the next book after the other thrilling andintresting book that pulls a person in.It gives you jsut the right amount of anxiousness about what is going to happen and when all these people surround picasso the more change there is in him because he made a friend.And all the people he help even thou they dont remeber want to be near him or jsut think hes intresting enought to follow him more then before.
The grapgisc in the book really make you understand te story ,his drawings are realistic and yet still cartoonish.who would have understood a picture of a girl being held by ballons and siting on a city?this bring you to an intresting piont where every one waits to find out the answer while still ponddering in thier head what could it possibly mean.I think the way the author makes people do this is great becasue it pull you in to the world without you knowing so it is around you.
I'd still recommend it to people who like mystery and psychology becasue this does show they way people can think, and if you can determine why the picture picasso drew is as it is then you will know you are pretty good at profiling.And the whole story is so mysterious so they reader will keep following untill it is finishe and still want more, till the next book.
by Usamaru Furuya
So this is the next book after the other thrilling andintresting book that pulls a person in.It gives you jsut the right amount of anxiousness about what is going to happen and when all these people surround picasso the more change there is in him because he made a friend.And all the people he help even thou they dont remeber want to be near him or jsut think hes intresting enought to follow him more then before.
The grapgisc in the book really make you understand te story ,his drawings are realistic and yet still cartoonish.who would have understood a picture of a girl being held by ballons and siting on a city?this bring you to an intresting piont where every one waits to find out the answer while still ponddering in thier head what could it possibly mean.I think the way the author makes people do this is great becasue it pull you in to the world without you knowing so it is around you.
I'd still recommend it to people who like mystery and psychology becasue this does show they way people can think, and if you can determine why the picture picasso drew is as it is then you will know you are pretty good at profiling.And the whole story is so mysterious so they reader will keep following untill it is finishe and still want more, till the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2016
This series continues to have some very interesting "internal fantasy world" sequences, in the service of some fairly generic real-world teenaged angst. Of particular interest is the whole "Borise World" thing where it's so very very obvious that Borise is Disney, but just enough small details are changed to avoid lawsuits. It's a nice touch though, that Borise/Disney the person himself is depicted as a key figure in the resolution of the story, rather than just his company's creations.
For more shounen manga reviews, see http://www.skjam.com/tag/shounen/
For more shounen manga reviews, see http://www.skjam.com/tag/shounen/
November 4, 2011
I think that this book can teach you guys a lesson. Its shows that bullying and harassing is a bad thing. there was this part in the book when Piscasso was in Art Class. He was drawing girly things and some of his classmates saw it and started to call him a girl. I think that's really mean. It was so cool when Picasso was drawing and all of a sudden he gets sucked into it. Its like a whole new world to him. Its a world where he has to solve other peoples problems. This was a very interesting book to me.
January 25, 2015
Vol. 2 was definitely better than Vol. 1, and didn't spiral down into a same-old the way I'd thought it might. The pattern is still the same: Hikari sees "the darkness in people's hearts," draws it, and then tries to help them solve their problems, with the help of his ghost-friend, Chiaki. The students' difficulties get more interesting and complicated in this volume, mostly revolving around gender and sexuality (which makes sense in a teen manga). Since this is only a 3-volume story, I will definitely finish it up.
August 8, 2011
The storyline is great and I love how there is only three books inatead of like the usual 12-20 that generally comes when reading manga, and all the books are realitively big, but not like monsterous which is awesome! I just love the whole plot, but I feel so bad for Picasso since even though he helps people (reluctantly) no one knows it so they think he's juat this random creeper...haha well I can't wait to read more! :P
October 16, 2011
This one had a few good stories in. A FEW, mind you.
Everything takes a weird turn in this one. Not with the main characters, but the people Picasso helps. Quite a lot of homosexuality being posted around in this one, and that includes the story with the cross-dressing boy too.
Everything takes a weird turn in this one. Not with the main characters, but the people Picasso helps. Quite a lot of homosexuality being posted around in this one, and that includes the story with the cross-dressing boy too.
February 14, 2015
I'm kind of loving the more realistic art of this, although for a realistic style the content itself is goofy and idealistic. Picasso continues to be weird and alienating, but he's making more friends as he helps more people.
February 15, 2011
I really like the art and the stories were varied and tackled many different and hard issues.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 35 reviews