Publisher: Heavy Metal Magazine. 1993. - 64 pages
ISBN: 1882931238This book features mainly beautiful drawings with very little written story, but it still captures the essence of Druuna along with the depth and complexities of her quest. Druuna is an incredibly complex character, one to be admired for more than just her sexuality. Those who only see the beautiful woman are definitely missing something. Though we can't "see" her brains, she has great intelligence.
The "Obsession" story is not seamless or traditional storytelling; rather, it is somewhat ethereal - voicing Druuna's thoughts, mindset, and reasoning. What is especially exceptional about this is the insight we receive regarding her two primary motivations - to save/help Shastar (her love) and to survive. Her means to accomplish these things is where her intelligence really shows. She is smart enough to use bartering and manipulation to achieve her goal, mainly to obtain serum to slow or reverse the mutation caused by the disease that has infected everyone. Druuna is not the typical warrior science fiction/fantasy woman. Sure, she could pick up a sword and inflict some serious damage and death. She chooses not to do this because she is intelligent. In a brutal world inhabited mainly by evil men, who are naturally stronger than she is, she would be killed fairly quickly if she chose to fight. Since she must live to help Shastar, she uses other means to survive, and to get what she needs.
Of course, the primary purpose of this book is sexual stimulation, and Serpieri accomplishes this beautifully. However, I am impressed that this story includes less fetish and bondage than many other graphic fantasy novels. There is more raw or pure energy and stimulation, so we can focus simply on Druuna and the meaning in her quest. For those who enjoy the grittiness, violence, and other graphic horrors depicted in the Druuna serial from Heavy Metal, this book includes some of those things such as leeches, snakes, and giant spiders. However, if you are seeking the most violent and explicit images of Druuna and her encounters, they are not included in this book. The many websites featuring the art of Serpieri would be a better source for "extreme" Druuna, or possibly other books that are available.
Of note in this tale is Druuna's conflict and self-hate regarding the small amount of pleasure she occasionally gains from her encounters with the men and mutants of this festering, stagnant world. Yet, in a world full of horrors, how could she continue to survive without some pleasure to counter the torment? There is a brief reference in this book to the even greater evil that exists in Druuna's world: The inhabitants of the upper city, who likely have the power and ability to help the others but chose not to, which is much more despicable than the actions of those in the lower filth whose evil is born of pain, despair, and violence.
Another credit to Serpieri's genius is the fact that he does not portray Druuna as an ultra-thin woman. Real and healthy women of the world can look at her and not feel bad about having muscles and a normal amount of padding. Druuna does not inspire poor self-image. She makes women with curves feel beautiful instead of ashamed.The most exquisite drawings in this book are the two of Druuna and Shastar together; their expressions are very touching, along with the way they hold one another. However, since both characters are clothed in these scenes, some people may not find them as enjoyable as the rest of the art in this book.The art of this book clearly showcases Serpieri's "obsession" with Druuna and Druuna's "obsession" with her journey. For those who are able look beyond Druuna's beauty and erotic encounters, the important reasons for her quest and the intelligence of her character are presented. Having enjoyed Druuna's saga for years in Heavy Metal, I only hope someday the complete Druuna story will be available in one volume, though I doubt this will be possible since she is a fantasy woman whose quest will never really end, and a complete volume would need an ending. This review includes more words than are in the entire "Obsession" book, but the "search" for Druuna includes more depth than can be described briefly.
