Spoiler warning: This article discusses events from the Yona of the Dawn manga finale and its follow-up side stories.
Yona of the Dawn may have wrapped its main manga run, but the series clearly isn’t done making fans emotional yet.
Creator Mizuho Kusanagi has shared a new illustration of Hak, the fan-favourite male lead, to promote the latest chapter of the manga’s ongoing side story. The artwork shows Hak in a fresh outfit, carrying buns while Ao chills on his shoulder — very domestic, very post-war, and honestly the kind of small peaceful moment this cast has more than earned.
The update comes after the Yona of the Dawn manga officially ended in December 2025, closing a 16-year journey that began back in 2009. The series then returned with side stories in Hakusensha’s Hana to Yume magazine, with the second chapter appearing in the combined issues 10 and 11 released on April 20.
Kusanagi also noted that the chapter includes a lead colour spread, plus a Hak/Yona acrylic stand bonus for readers who pick up the magazine. The cover theme this time is an amusement park, which the creator joked was fun to draw because Hak “goofing around” in that kind of setting is not exactly something fans get to see often.
For Malaysian and SEA anime fans, this is one of those updates that hits differently because Yona of the Dawn has always lived in that slightly painful space of “beloved series that deserved more anime.” The first season ended around a decade ago, and while an anime return has been confirmed, there still hasn’t been a proper fresh update on what exactly fans can expect next.
That silence is why even a new piece of Hak art gets people talking. This isn’t just random promo art — it’s proof the franchise is still active after the manga’s ending, and that Kusanagi is still giving readers more time with these characters.
Hak’s importance to the story is massive. He starts as Yona’s childhood friend and protector, but after the king is assassinated and Yona is forced to flee the palace, he becomes the one person who refuses to abandon her. Across the manga, their bond slowly grows from loyalty and buried feelings into a proper romance, after years of danger, separation, and all the emotional damage this series loves throwing at readers.
The manga’s final arc also changed the status quo in a big way. Zeno’s decision to end the long cycle of suffering tied to the Dragon Warriors led to the disappearance of the Dragon Gods and their blessings. That means the Dragon Warriors lose their powers and become ordinary humans, finally free to decide their own futures instead of being chained to an ancient duty.
Yona, meanwhile, remains at Hiryuu Castle with Hak and Yoon, stepping into her role as ruler. It is bittersweet, but fitting: the girl who once ran from the palace returns as someone completely transformed.
For local fans who followed the anime first through streaming, clips, or old recommendations, the big question now is simple: when are we actually getting the anime comeback details? If the sequel adapts later material, there is a lot of rich, painful, and hype content waiting.
Until then, this new Hak visual is a nice little reminder that Yona of the Dawn is still alive — and bro, after ten years of waiting, even crumbs like this matter.
Source: ComicBook Anime