I'd been out here for days because, unfortunately, I caught a really bad cough, plus my nose has been really dripping for almost a day. It was awful during the days because it's either I'm sniffing or sneezing, but honestly, nights are more torturous. Ok, enough with my little misery sharing—it's been more than a week since the cancellation of Windbreaker manhwa. That news really shocked the hell out of me because I didn't see it coming. I thought it was just one of my sister's crazy jokes because cancellation is a pretty heavy thing. Like, there must be a grave misdeed that the author has done because Windbreaker is quite well-known, that's why I delved further into the issue.
I reread the statement more than five times for it to sink into my mind, but until now, it's still like a bitter pill that's hard to swallow. So, to give you an idea of what the controversy was all about that took my long-time webtoon favorite down, so apparently after investigation, the Naver Webtoon finds striking resemblances with its panel to the panels from manga and even artworks of other artists. The accusers said that Jo Yong-seok traced those artworks to make some panels of his own. Honestly, these tracing allegations weren't new because I once read about it somewhere in one of my socmed accounts, but I just pay no mind to it. I never thought that these allegations would surface again, and this time, it now led to its cancellation.
Jo Yong-seok already expressed his apology—on how he acknowledged his fault, how he longed to show the final story up until the very end, and ultimately how sorry he is that he let down his readers. My heart was pinched all over again as I read it repeatedly. I couldn't believe that this is how it ends. It was so heartbreaking because it had been with me during the worst moments of my life in the hospital. It's one of the things that cheered me—reading the journey of Hummingbird became one of my escapes and comforts during those times.
It was so sudden because it's like days ago from that announcement I'm laughing at the latest updates with the cat landing on Sangho's face. I decided to let it marinate again for a while so that when I come back, I can read more chapters. Only that when I came back to it, the final chapter, which was chapter 556, was up with the supposedly ending that was undeniably rushed and definitely not how it's supposed to end it all. I was so sad while reading it, and like how I reread the apology statement, I reread its supposed ending. I thought I would find answers after reading it, but it turned out it add more to my existing questions.
How did Vinny's mom surgery go? Was it successful? Who are those people drinking wine? They seemed like big shots, but what are they exactly to the story? And June! What happened to him after the doping scandal blew up? Was he set up, or did he—no, he can't do that. How did the Hummingbird react to the news? Seeing Minu's reaction in the last chapter, I know Dom's reaction will be worse. They are really in good spirits in the last chapters, so I know that would be a huge blow to the Hummingbird and also their supporters. Plus, who's that man in chains? Is that June?! Because some said it's Mahon, but that can't be Mahon.
I mean yearsssss passed and there's no way his physique would be like that if he's being taken captive for years (except if they regularly feed him with good food and also let him exercise to maintain that body—sort of like a high maintenance prisoner...in chains—which is impossible). Also, with the new team—Windbreaker, does that mean the Hummingbird has already disbanded? Vinny and Jay are there, so that means Dom didn't pursue cycling, and neither did Shelly. They weren't mentioned in the ending summary, but I guess they're in the background supporting the Windbreaker team.
And June...just imagining how he will cope with that scandal is heartbreaking. Those last illustrations of a man in chains were so unsettling because they seemed like him in Gwon Jae-uk's hands. I know that would definitely haunt me for some time, as it has these past days. This end was far from what I imagined way back the time I first read it. It was almost 6 years ago when I first read it in the computer shop. That was before the pandemic, and during the pandemic, I got more hooked on it, along with the mangas I also became addicted at that time. It had been with me for most of my high school years, so seeing it end like this was really a loss for me.
It may ended unexpectedly, but that won't changed the fact that I'm undeniably thankful to Jo Yong-seok for my past 6 years of memories and learnings from reading and following Windbreaker manhwa. Honestly, it's the very first one in its genre that got me interested in sports genre comics—I even followed it earlier than I followed SlamDunk and finished its manga. I know the backlash must have been so heavy, considering how toxic the Korean cancel culture is, but I'm praying for Jo Yong-seok that amidst it, he may stand strong and resilient to those. Also, I'm hopeful that now that it's cancelled, he can get the rest he was deprived of, and when things have calmed and settled, I hope he can make a comeback. Even if it's not the continuation of Windbreaker, I'm hoping he can create another masterpiece someday.
This felt like a goodbye, but I'm still kinda hopeful it won't be. I know deep down it won't because their memories will live on with me forever ahhhh. I'm sounding really sentimental right now, so before I go on forever rambling about how this shouldn't end, let me share with you all my tribute fanart to Jo Yong-seok!
Again, for the 11 years of sharing the inspiring story of the Hummingbird crew...정말 고마워요
(I'm not crying...huhuhu)
The first picture was edited in Canva while the pictures with no source are screenshots from the manhwa. The last picture was drawn and taken by your truly, ridgette.
It was hard to read your emotions and analysis, but honestly, it's so necessary to share such feelings. Thank you for expressing them so clearly.
Really...It felt so necessary to vent out my emotions about its cancellation because it had been an important part of my beginner years as an otaku. It's just so sad that it ended that way, but life must go on.
You're welcome, and I do hope I didn't spoil your day or night with my sadness.
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