A Daunting Team (1983)
A Daunting Team, written and illustrated by Lee Hyun Se in 1983, is a scathing statement on Korean politics in the guise of a sports drama. The comic was set against the backdrop of President Chun Doo-Hwan’s military dictatorship (1980-1988). Chun continued the repressive policies of his predecessor, Park Chung-Hee, but during his rule civil society pushed back harder: large public protests were routine, especially on college campuses.At the same time, baseball was becoming an increasingly important sphere of public discourse. During the 1980s, professional baseball teams were launched and watching televised games, in color for the first time, became a national pastime.The protagonist of A Daunting Team is Kkach’i, a headstrong player with unkempt hair and wild eyes. Kkach’i resisted authority, but it didn’t diminish his talent. By continuing to play, Kkach’i served as a hero for a society in the mood for rebellion.