Phoenix of the South

Senior Honors Thesis, Undergraduate • Three Completed Volumes

Phoenix of the South was my undergraduate thesis and my first major graphic novel project. I completed three small volumes that function as episodes rather than one larger collection of work. The story’s overarching themes are that looks can be deceiving and that neglecting mental health can have consequences.

The story follows Alex Clemson, who seems to have everything she could ever want: perfect grades and a perfect body. But she’s just good at hiding her scars, both mentally and physically. After finding out that she was adopted by her guardian, Jeremy, she dreams of finding her perfect family. As time passes, these dreams turn into graphic nightmares involving fire and death.

With burn scars covering her back, she believes that her dreams of flames are connected to her scars. Now she wants to find out why and how. Jeremy tells her that they were both in a house fire when she was a baby, and he shares her burden with scars on his face. Although she has a good relationship with her adoptive father, they are both hiding secrets from each other—secrets powerful enough to drive them apart.