CAVEWOMAN by Bud Root

image from BUDD'S BEAUTIES AND BEASTS 2, Feb 2007

This is another of those posts that were part of a larger topic, that I feel really deserved its own topic:

Originally Posted By: Wonder Boy

Anyone interested in Budd Root's work who isn't already familiar with
it.

Bud Root began CAVEWOMAN in 1994-1995 as a 6-issue series.
His art from 1994-2001 has more of an early John Byrne look to it.

The other series in order are
CAVEWOMAN: RAIN 1-8 (1996-1997)
CAVEWOMAN COLOR SPECIAL 1 (Nov 1999, only 12 pages)

After that, Budd Root's art started to change. He was hanging out
with Dave Stevens, and whether on his own or because of
Stevens' influence, his art began to evolve in a beautiful way.

And it was about the time Budd Root started improving his art that he
began CAVEWOMAN: PANGAEAN SEA (2000-present).

If you were to begin
reading Cavewoman, I'd skip the earlier stuff and go right to this PANGAEAN SEA series.
At this point, 11 of 12 issues have been
released, and he's taking his sweet time producing the last one.
Once you've seen this run, then I think you can go back and enjoy the
earlier issues, and how Root evolved
up to this point.
Also showing Root at his peak are the shorter nudity-laden series:

CAVEWOMAN:JUNGLE TALES 1-3,
and
BUDD'S BEAUTIES & BEASTS 1 and 2.

The first 6-issue 1994 series was a few years ago re-released in a
new "director's cut" type reprint series, as CAVEWOMAN: RELOADED 1-6, where Root
added about 10 pages of new scenes to each issue. I guess this is a
good starting point too. But while it starts you at the beginning and has some nice
new pages, it's kind of a warts-and-all package that forces you to read
his cruder early work that is far below what he's doing now.

Aside from that, you have CAVEWOMAN:PREHISTORIC PIN-UPS 1-7 (or so)
that aren't stories by Root, but 32 pages each of
pin-up pages and convention sketches. I think he stopped these, and
now just does annual convention books.

The other Cavewoman books are all by other artists, and may have Bud
Root covers, but are either by Devon Massey (most of them)
or Paul Renaud (the last 5 years or so of new CAVEWOMAN titles).
And, like Mignola's farming out HELLBOY, I've mostly hated any
CAVEWOMAN titles that Root didn't write and draw himself.

The one exception was Devon Massey's first effort, in [url=]CAVEWOMAN: ONE-SHOT[/url] (2000).
But his art got much looser and out of proportion after that. With huge boobs flopping everywhere, akin to a black and white comic version of a Russ Meyer film.

You can probably find the cheapest price on these from the source, at
http://www.amryl.com

Or mycomicshop.com

Regrettably, Bud Root hasn't produced a new issue in a few years now, but I've been promised "Soon, soon! No, we really mean it this time!" in my inquiries with its publisher, Amryl. That the final issue of PANGAEAN SEA will be out in the near future. Bud Root seems to make a lot of money doing convention sketches and other commission work, that apparently pays better than doing the actual series he began with. His publisher told me that he is very backed up with commitments to do commissions that he has to take care of before he can do more series work.

But regardless, Budd Root is among the best of the smaller independent-publishing comics artists, and his occasional covers (on new Cavewoman limited series, with interior art by other artists) and new Bud Root pin-ups are both fun and beautifully rendered.

Root has created a character and fanbase over 25-plus years comparable to Dave Sim's CEREBUS, Wendy Pini's ELFQUEST, Colleen Doran's A DISTANT SOIL, Jeff Smith's BONE, Mike Mignola's HELLBOY and other independent publishers who have presented a similar long-term vision and consistent but sporadic run on a series over many years.

A budd Root variant cover for CAVEWOMAN:LOST, cover E.

I got a laugh out of this one. The CENSORED bar is in itself suggestive, erotic and phallic.

Bud Root on every issue has a mainstream cover, and then several variant covers, one or more of which is an "adult" variant with nudity.

Another variant cover for CAVEWOMAN: MONSTER DREAMS, incorporating Root's sexy good-girl art combined with his love for classic Hollywood monsters and Warren magazine type material.
Interior art by Devon Massey.

Amryl Entertainment, for 20 years has offered complete runs of CAVEWOMAN series available through them. They first display their newest books, then you can scroll down and see the titles for the older series, and click on them. As small as the runs are on these titles, I'm surprised they still have complete runs. Because of a change in the format of their site, I initially thought they were no longer available. But they are.

http://www.amryl.com/index.php?pagename=cavewomanmain

Here at Lone Star, they at least list all the series and show the covers for each issue, whether or not they're in stock. If they become unavailaable from Amryl.

https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?q=cavewoman&pubid=&PubRng=

Again, I think the best of the bunch that I'd start with is the CAVEWOMAN: PANGAEAN SEA series:

http://www.amryl.com/index.php?pagename=ps1

https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=251691

https://www.google.com/search?q=cavewoma...f=1572235994847

A color version of a page by Root from CAVEWOMAN: JUNGLE TALES 1, 1998.

Here's the black and white version, in a larger size.

http://www.12comic.com/issue.jsp?p=7&id=1902270732567bo7

One of my favorite Bud Root pages, sexy, and cleverly posed.

Another page by Root, that displays his trademarks of sexy good-girl art, monsters and/or dinosaurs, and playful humor.

Cover to CAVEWOMAN COVER GALLERY 5, special edition cover by Budd Root.

A variation of Budd Root's CAVEWOMAN: 007 HEAVEN variant cover.

There's a second version too.

Bud Root does a lot of pages like this one, that are an amalgam of all his nostalgic favorite stuff.

CAVEWOMAN: RAPTORELLA'S REVENGE variant cover by Budd Root.
Interior art by Devon Massey.

The last page of CAVEWOMAN: PANGAEAN SEA # 0, August 2001. (That continues in PANGAEAN SEA 2, Dec 2001). It's particularly across these early issues you can see Budd Root's art evolve.

A variant cover for CAVEWOMAN:CASTAWAY by Budd Root.
Interior art by Devon Massey.
This is a black and white version, possibly a pinup or convention sketch, before it was colored and used as a cover.

You can sample and read the complete issues of # 0 (1999 CAVEWOMAN: PAGAEAN SEA PROLOGUE SPECIAL), and issues 1-11 (2000-2009).

In the upper left is a pulldown menu, where you can just select the issue, and then read the whole story, every page.

https://comiconlinefree.com/cavewoman-pangaean-sea/issue-_Prologue

A good way for you to enjoy the series in its entirety, or just sample one or several issues before purchasing them.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cavewoma...f=1562113347282

Cavewoman sunbathing with the dinosaurs, in a color version of a page from CAVEWOMAN PREHISTORIC PIN-UPS 2.
Reminiscent of the old Coppertone suntan lotion ads.

CAVEWOMAN: ROAM, variant cover (version E) by Budd Root.
Interior art by Devon Massey.
https://comicbookrealm.com/cover-scan/56...am-issue-1e.jpg

The variant cover for CAVEWOMAN:JUNGLE TALES 3, March 2006:

And here's the last page of that issue (a color version, the story version is black and white) :

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cj1YlBOWYAAvH_V.jpg (WARNING! Nudity, not work safe.)

https://westfieldcomics.com/wow/art/large/AUG181530.jpg

CAVEWOMAN:RAMPAGE variant cover.

Bud Root's HEROES CON 2011 pin-up book cover.

CAVEWOMAN: RELOADED 3 (of 6) reprint of the first six-issue 1994 CAVEWOMAN series, with about 10 pages per issue of new Bud Root art.

Variant cover for CAVEWOMAN: BUNNY RANCH.

From CAVEWOMAN: PREHISTORIC PIN-UPS 4, Sept 2004.
Root has done several versions of this particular image, as both a cover and as pin-ups. The view of Cavewoman from more than one angle from a reflection is something Root has pulled off well in a number of images.

A page from PANGAEAN SEA 6, April 2003. The published story is black and white, not as you see it in color above.

Root used to offer 11 X 17" prints of many pages, including this one (in black and white).

The variant cover for CAVEWOMAN: PANGAEAN SEA 7.
One of the few variants I've purchased.

CAVEWOMAN: MONSTER DREAMS variant cover by Budd Root.
Interior art by Devon Massey.

URG am ain't seen no hawt ass cave babe like in your little pictures,Wonderingboy person. But it am make for a good dream!

All right, URG is here!
Yeah, Budd Root draws a cave-woman hotter than the norm.
For which we can all be grateful.

A variant cover for CAVEWOMAN: ANKHA'S REVENGE 2. Variant cover by Budd Root, interior art by Devon Massey.

A captionless version of the variant cover for CAVEWOMAN:PANGAEAN SEA 3, March 2002.

Separate from the CAVEWOMAN:PANGAEAN SEA series but part of it, this PANGAEAN SEA PROLOGUE one-shot that preceded the series.

So the correct order is PROLOGUE 1 (and only), PANGAEAN SEA 1, then #0, and then 2-11.

And still waiting for issue 12, the planned last issue.

https://read-comic.com/cavewoman-pangaean-sea-issue-11/

(click to enlarge)

From one of the latter PREHISTORIC PINUPS issues, either 6 or 7 (I have the first 5).
Love the pose. Very flirtatious and feminine, sexy but elegant.

From CAVEWOMAN COVER GALLERY 2, one of the titles I haven't picked up yet.
I assumed they were reprints of covers, so I initially skipped them, but might be worth it for the new covers alone.

The cover for CAVEWOMAN COVER GALLERY 1.

I was just going through my Budd Root collection, and found JAMES GANG 1 (and only), Bud Root's first published work from April 1993.

38 pages, and better work than I remembered, recognizable and consistent with his CAVEWOMAN work, and most of it actually better and more detailed than some of the early CAVEWOMAN issues. Like virtually everything from London Night Studios, typical bad-girl stuff, leather, motorcycles and blazing guns. But a thick sampling of early Bud Root.

Another page from CAVEWOMAN:PREHISTORIC PIN-UPS 2.

Just in time for Halloween!

https://cafans.b-cdn.net/images/Category_2739/subcat_36142/meriem%20monroe%20sm.jpg

Budd Root's Cavewoman, channeling Marilyn Monroe.

Another of my favorites, Budd Root's CAVEWOMAN version of ACTION COMICS # 1.

In dire times, hopefully a little Cavewoman brings a smile to your face.

[Linked Image from media.dcbservice.com]

With plenty else to look at in the picture, you might not see right away that she just killed a giant crocodile.

CAVEWOMAN: HE SAID, SHE SAID DEUX # 1 variant cover.
(With interior art by Devon Massey.)

Ahh. What's not to like?

CAVEWOMAN: HABROK'S WITCH variant cover by Root.

CAVEWOMAN: MARSHVILLE'S BEAUTIES variant cover by Root.

For about 12 years now, the interior stories are by other artists, with one or several variant covers by Root.

.

The Budd Root variant cover for CAVEWOMAN ONE-SHOT SPECIAL.
https://viewcomiconline.com/cavewoman-one-shot-special-full/

The interior contents are all by artist Devon Massey, the first of many he has done, and I think this issue was his best. There's another cover by Massey as well.

.

The double-page splash from BUDD'S BEAUTIES AND BEASTS 2, Feb 2007, pages 2 and 3, with color added.

I actually posted the page that preceded it in my opening post to the topic.

Originally Posted by Wonder Boy

Variant cover for CAVEWOMAN: BUNNY RANCH.

Updated image.

Originally Posted by Wonder Boy

Bud Root does a lot of pages like this one, that are an amalgam of all his nostalgic favorite stuff.

Updated, with a relevant pin-up linked from the back of CAVEWOMAN: PANGAEAN SEA 7.

Plus similarly themed pin-up pages by Root in many other issues of the CAVEWOMAN:PANGAEAN SEA series.
And CAVEWOMAN JUNGLE TALES series.
And CAVEWOMAN: PREHISTORIC PIN-UPS.

Budd Root's primary affections clearly include 1960's, 1970's and 1980's Marvel and DC, classic Hollywood monsters, FAMOUS MONSTERS magazine, Warren's other CREEPY, EERIE and VAMPIRELLA magazines, the Beatles, and other 1960's pop culture.

Budd Root also did some similar nostalgic pop-culture pages in other issues. The ones that stand out for me are two pages in his 10th anniversary special, BUDD'S BEAUTIES AND BEASTS 1, out in 2005, with two pin-ups of Root's versions of the Thing and the Hulk (with a little Frank Miller DARK KNIGHT RETURNS tossed in). This was also the issue I first discovered Budd Root's CAVEWOMAN work, the first one I purchased off the stands.
All other issues I mail-ordered from Amryl itself.

Originally Posted by Wonder Boy

[Linked Image from comicvine1.cbsistatic.com]

The cover for CAVEWOMAN COVER GALLERY 1 .

.
A page from CAVEWOMAN: PANGAEAN SEA 7, but here in color.
I think it was reused as a variant cover on a later issue.

[Linked Image from media.dcbservice.com]

in black and white, within the story :
https://viewcomiconline.com/cavewoman-pangaean-sea-issue-7/

.

The image in my opening post, but in color. From BUDD'S BEAUTIES & BEASTS 2, Feb 2007.
I like it both ways.

Here's a link to issue 1, issue 2 is not posted yet.
https://view-comic.com/budd-s-beauties-beasts-issue-1/

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[Linked Image from freshcomics.s3.amazonaws.com]

I found a larger image of this Budd Root cover from CAVEWOMAN MONSTER DREAMS. I was going nuts trying to recall who the hairy character in the derby hat is in the lower left.
It's "Cousin Itt", one of the fun but creepy relatives on The Addams Family tv series. With some other family members framed on the wall in the background.
https://www.cbr.com/addams-family-members-ranked/

Some might not recognize "Rat-Fink", the signature character of Ed "Big-Daddy" Roth, who did cartoons for t-shirtss that evolved into hot rod monster trading cards in the 1960's and 1970's, and spray-painted similar stuff on actual hot rod cars, and built hot rod cars. I love the way Budd Root inserts these bits of nostalgia and popular culture in his interior art and covers.