Compulsory is a 20-page comic made during my senior year at the School of Visual Arts. Compulsory is proposed as a YA graphic novel that focuses on Jolee Crawford, a sophomore in college, who is caught in an on-and-off relationship with Abriel. Throughout the story, Jolee grapples with compulsory heterosexuality, constantly questioning and doubting her feelings towards Abriel — and men in general. As the story unfolds, Jolee goes through a journey of self-discovery and acceptance with the help of her best friend Sage, wrestling with the realization that she might be a lesbian. It’s a blend of drama and romance, peppered with moments of levity/humor. Compulsory is an exploration of feminine emotional and sexual identity.

Read the entire comic on Issu here.

Noir-Monet Purviance