Phoenix: Early Works contains stories serialized from 1954 to 1957. This volume contains an early version of the story Dawn, as well as a chapter on ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. The stories collected here showcase an earlier phase of Tezuka's art and storytelling—and expose a more youthful, sweet side of the master creator. They also illustrate the link between early manga and American comics and cartoons, and reveal Tezuka's deep fascination with Walt Disney. The work was originally geared toward a younger audience than the Phoenix sagas, which began in the 1960s.