Fantasy And Eroticism
Budd Root, an American illustrator and comic creator born in 1958, gained widespread recognition in the 1990s with his series Cavewoman, featuring a character named Meriem Cooper in a prehistoric world where dinosaurs coexist with humans. Cavewoman revolves around Meriem's growth and adventures, yet the visual and narrative eroticism is one of its defining traits, making it a prominent example of adult comics focused on fantasy and sensuality. Meriem’s character blends strength and sensuality, a hallmark of the eroticism that permeates Root’s work. She, who combines characteristics of strength and sensuality, was, according to Budd Root, created under the influence of Harvey Kurtzman and William Stout, as the artist himself notes:
“It's really Harvey Kurtzman and William Stouts fault. Almost a quarter-century ago, they did a short comic strip in Heavy Metal magazine called “Shmegegge of the Cavemen.” It was like Little Annie Fanny had time-traveled to the age of dinosaurs!! Blew me away!! I started planning Cavewoman soon after that. I had to get those big boobs and prehistoric beasts out of my head before I could do anything else in comics”.
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Accentuated Curves
Eroticism in Budd Root’s work unabashedly explores the sensuality of his protagonist, emphasizing her accentuated curves and minimal attire. Meriem’s physical portrayal aligns with the classic pin-up imagery of the 1940s and 1950s, a clear inspiration for Root, who celebrates voluptuous femininity with a nostalgic and sometimes exaggerated touch. Meriem is drawn with exaggerated proportions, featuring ample curves and strong musculature, embodying a form of female power that combines physical allure and raw strength. Unlike other female characters who are often portrayed in vulnerable positions to highlight fragility, Meriem is depicted as a rugged and indomitable survivor in a wild world, giving her sensuality a sense of autonomy.
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Eroticism And Ferocity
Meriem’s interaction with her prehistoric surroundings also contributes to the series’ eroticism, as this world of dinosaurs and primal creatures amplifies basic instincts and impulses. In Cavewoman, the fight for survival and constant dangers within an untamed jungle evoke humanity’s instinctual and carnal nature, amplifying the contrast between Meriem’s beauty and the brutality of the world around her. This duality of her erotic appeal and the setting’s ferocity is reflected in Meriem’s physicality, where her near-constant state of partial dress adds a natural and uninhibited aspect to the eroticism.
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Challenging Stereotypes
A central aspect of Budd Root’s eroticism is how he uses Meriem to explore traditional elements of femininity. Although Meriem is an overtly sensual character, she transcends this role, simultaneously embodying both desire and fierce warrior qualities, making her multifaceted and subverting stereotypes of female passivity. Her sensuality, often explicitly depicted, is embedded in a context of action that elevates the eroticism beyond mere visual appeal, serving as an affirmation of sexual and physical freedom.
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In the extended Premium edition of the article more on Root's style and themes, the influences of the classic film icons King Kong and Frankenstein, Cavewoman's eroticism, the artist's use of meticulous details, an analysis of the explicit sensuality of the character Meriem, 53 additional images of his seductive cavewomen, and much (MUCH) more...!!
Click HERE for an article on the sensuality and eroticism in Frank Cho's comics
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