Jaxx’s new manhwa was supposed to mark the celebrated Boys’ Love creator’s long-awaited return after the conclusion of Under the Greenlight: In Dreams in 2025.
Instead, Song of the Wasteland was cancelled before it could officially debut.
Just one week before the series’ scheduled launch, creator Jaxx announced that she would no longer proceed with the project following criticism surrounding the story’s historical setting and its depiction of race, slavery, and power dynamics.
For some fans, the decision came as a surprise. The preview chapter had only been released days earlier, but discussion around its content quickly spread across social media and online communities.
Jaxx’s new manhwa Song of the Wasteland timeline
More than half a year after Under the Greenlight ended, Jaxx began teasing her new project, Song of the Wasteland.
The first teaser arrived on April 3, showing a muscular dark-haired man taking a selfie while deliberately obscuring his face. Few details accompanied the image, sparking speculation among fans.
Additional teasers followed in June, eventually confirming a Western-inspired, cowboy setting.
Excitement continued to build when a preview chapter was released on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The full launch was scheduled for June 30 on RIDI and Manta Comics.
What happened in the Song of the Wasteland preview chapter?
The preview chapter introduced Gerald Dern, the eldest son of a wealthy Illinois family.
After volunteering for the Union Army during the American Civil War in 1861, Gerald returns home to discover that, due to various reasons, his entire family, head butler and nanny had died, leaving him as the sole heir to a sprawling 700-hectare ranch and his father’s debts.
The chapter’s most discussed scene occurs when a broker suggests that selling the property together with its enslaved workers would increase its value. Gerald rejects the proposal, frees them, and gives them money before sending them on their way.
The chapter concludes with the introduction of a mysterious blue-eyed cowhand, the second half of the series’ central Boys’ Love pairing.
Why Jaxx’s new manhwa Song of the Wasteland was criticized
Set in 1861—the year the American Civil War began—the story touches on slavery and race relations during one of the most painful periods in American history.
Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries on Unsplash
While Gerald is portrayed as compassionate, some readers felt the chapter framed him as a “white savior” figure, with enslaved people existing primarily to highlight his morality.
Others were concerned by speculation that the romance would involve a Native American character, arguing that a Boys’ Love story set against slavery and colonization required a far greater level of historical sensitivity.
For many critics, the issue was less about the inclusion of difficult historical subjects and more about how they appeared to be used in service of a romance narrative.
Jaxx apologized and cancelled the series
On Thursday, June 25, 2026 Jaxx announced on X and Instagram that Song of the Wasteland would be discontinued.
In a public statement written in Korean and English, she acknowledged that parts of the chapter contained depictions that readers found disrespectful and admitted that she had not approached the historical setting with sufficient care.
“In my eagerness to focus on the characters, I failed to fully recognize that I was replicating problematic historical contexts and representational tropes found in past works,” she wrote.
And although she noted that the story’s intended direction differed from some readers’ assumptions, she ultimately concluded that the project’s premise had fundamental limitations.
“What I had told myself was passion for the stories, I now recognize as arrogance. I was not as prepared or as careful as this story required me to be,” she added.
“I apologize for any displeasure caused to you, and I will carry this reflection with me as I continue,” Jaxx concluded.
Fans were divided, but many respected Jaxx’s decision
Many readers praised Jaxx for responding quickly, accepting criticism, and taking responsibility rather than defending the project. Some noted that cancelling a series after months—or potentially years—of preparation could not have been an easy decision.
Others felt it was premature to judge the story based on a single preview chapter and wished the series had been given more time to develop.
At the same time, some disappointed readers acknowledged the concerns raised around the subject matter, particularly given the historical realities of slavery and Indigenous oppression in the United States.
A manhwa that ended before it began
Few high-profile manhwa are cancelled after releasing only a single preview chapter.
Whether readers viewed the decision as necessary or unfortunate, Song of the Wasteland never made it to its scheduled June 30 launch.
Instead, it became a rare example of a series ending before its official debut—and a reminder of how carefully historical representation is scrutinized in modern storytelling and the impact it can have.
About Jaxx: From illustrator to one of BL’s biggest names
Before becoming known as the creator of Under the Greenlight, Jaxx started off as an illustrator.
Between 2018 and 2020, she worked as the artist for Walk on Water, written by Jang Mokdan. The series helped establish her reputation for detailed artwork and expressive character designs.
Jaxx later took on both writing and illustration roles for Under the Greenlight, which debuted in March 2021.
The series quickly became one of the most recognizable Boys’ Love titles on platforms such as RIDI and DNC Webtoon before also receiving an English release through Tapas.
Its first season ran from 2021 to 2022, followed by the sequel Under the Greenlight: In Dreams from 2023 to 2025.
