Though it may seem like I'm not, I'm really rather critical of the manga and comics I read. Though I'm not immune to enjoying common favorites, I would normally classify them as "fun" opposed to "good" or "well made". Tired themes, constant "so random~!" moments, and overdone personalities are just not enough for me anymore. To be honest, I'm just a picky person overall.
When I picked up Genkaku Picasso, I wasn't sure I'd be impressed. However, after realizing that the creator was Furuya Usamaru, painting degree holder and artist/writer of Short Cuts, Palepoli, Suicide Circle, and many other satirically dark works. His work in the past has been wonderful, multilayered stories that normally poke fun at the younger crowd in some way, the jokes are quite thought provoking and subtle, you may have to sit and ponder a while on how certain characters are a parody or a satire, but there's a point when it all hits you, and you can't help but marvel at how much thought is put in it all. Genkaku Picasso is no different, though definitely still entertaining, even if you don't feel like giving the story thought on a deeper level as a manga nerd like me would. The story follows a 17 year old boy in high school who's jokingly called "Picasso" because of how dedicated to drawing he is, and his name being mistaken for "Hikaso" quite often.( His real name is Hikari.) While the rest of his class avoids him, he has only one friend, a girl who has an interest in Psycology and isn't put off by Hikari's sour and antisocial nature. Due to sudden, tragic events, Hikari must now save others in distress using his newfound talent of not only drawing peoples "hearts", but also his ability to jump into these drawings when the time is just right. I guess for someone like me, who would love for my drawings to be this useful, this is like reading a dream come true. What I love even more is that unlike most manga, the "fun" yet overplayed kind, Picasso doesn't fall into traps of 2 dimensional personalities, common reactions or predictable twists, but rather takes the reader from a less cool perspective, one that isn't going to get popular, get a girlfriend, and doesn't want to. Hikari's personality remains rather charming despite his standoffish ways, uptight personality, and general dislike for people. As someone who sees negative personas like this as childish, I wonder if Furuya's intent was for this to be a growing up story. I wonder even further, from a fine artist protagonist who probably wouldn't mind writing dark stories himself and doesn't mind manga, if maybe this was about the mangaka (creator) himself. In a book I own there is an interview with Furuya stating how he likes to put a bit of himself in each manga he creates. While that is one of many theories about this manga that I have, I'll stop before you start thinking I'm trying too hard (oops, maybe it's too late).
But what I really enjoy about this series is how actually cryptic and well thought out the pictures of the hearts were. They weren't obvious, but the symbolism was there and it kept you wondering till the end of the arc. This is where I can tell Furuya has some serious formal art training, it takes a certain eye to make visual connections with emotional traits and problems. It takes intellect to make them so deep and yet, within grasp to understand, as they are in this comic. These pictures make these deep and strong connections without them being out of reach for the readers, and I fully respect that. It's also great if interpreting art is your thing (it's not mine but I certainly love it). There are a few of the first chapters available to read here, but volumes 1 and 2 are out in bookstores now, with 3 on the way in May.
But wait, what does this have to do with me as an artist? That's what this blog is about, right? Well, I personally think a lot, it's things like this that completely change what I make or how I make it, sometimes for a short time, sometimes long. Lately I've been reading things like this and realizing that comics aren't a lost cause.They don't need to be about the same thing and they don't have to be executed the same way. Manga can have meaning, good art, and leave you thinking about more than just what two characters will get together, or something as shallow. As much as I enjoy reading just about anything with talk bubbles, those don't really fuel the fire for making something I consider meaningful. If the world was working out perfect I'd make comics with subtlety, wit, fashion, and the darkest of themes. I'd rather write and draw of themes like eternal youth, transcending death, and other things that would end up being like a historical gothic tale with clothing conscious and modern protagonists. Which might sounds silly, but my point is that before I didn't think that making comics that would suit my fancy and possibly appeal to an audience could exist. Now, however, it might be possible if Furuya can do something so similar. I would feel complete if I could talk about a phase I went through in my life, and pulled out a comic I made every time I did so, that record the person I was at that moment perfectly. I guess I just need to stop with the incredibly high standards and just make a comic no matter how awful it is, because at this rate, I'm really just an annoying critic with no tangible proof that I'm a connoisseur.
http://7.p.s.mfcdn.net/store/manga/5604/01-002.0/compressed/fgenkaku_picasso_ch2.picasso_002-014.jpg
http://0.p.s.mfcdn.net/store/manga/5604/01-003.0/compressed/qgenkaku_picasso_ch03_pg06.jpg
From Short-Cuts:
