Cesar Torres 4/7/15 Cesar Torres 4/7/15

Real Stories of Superhero Fetish: Captain Spandex

The thrill of anonymity; the ego-boost of exhibitionism; the look and feel of hard muscle under silky, stretchy material; the fantasy of transformation and power that comes with roleplay: Superheroes have always been a source of immense excitement for me, but it’s very difficult to trace my superhero fetish back to its roots. In some ways, I feel it’s always been with me.

As far back as I can remember, I was devouring Spider-Man and Superman comics, swooning over reruns of the classic Batman TV series, and waking up early every Saturday to watch the adventures of any superhero cartoon within reach. Seeing costumed heroes on the pages of comics, or in animated form, was a thrill. Seeing those same heroes in the flesh, on a TV or movie screen was an obsession.

Once in a while, as I channel-surfed, I would catch Nicholas Hammond as The Amazing Spider-Man, or Michael Gray as Shazam. The stories were always enjoyable, but when Adam West in the Batman TV series or Christopher Reeve in Richard Donner’s film Superman were on-screen in costume, my focus was absolute — I’d watch the hero’s body, comic-made-flesh, as muscles and power radiated under spandex and cape. There was something different about those two that stood out above the rest: they were icons of confidence and power that I worshipped because I felt these were things I lacked in a childhood tainted by alcoholism and abuse. Seeing Batman and Superman come to life meant that they were real in some way, and that their abilities (realistically possible or not) were something I could adopt for myself as a means of escape.

I always wanted to be Spider-Man or Superman for Halloween, and once in a while my parents would indulge me. One day, around the age of eight, my siblings and I joined some other kids at our baby-sitter’s place. One of the other kids had come as Batman, in what I (inaccurately) remember as the most perfect reproduction of Adam West’s costume, and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Of course, when you have Batman in your backyard, you are obligated to play Good Guys Vs. Bad Guys. That day, I let Batman defeat my pathetic bank-robber of a villain. And perhaps, I gave in a little too easily when Batman pinned me to the ground and held me there. At that age it was just fantasy, but I loved it nonetheless.

I maintained a sometimes-secret obsession with Superman and Spider-Man all through my childhood and teen years, complementing old fantasies with new ones about being treated with super soldier serum, finding Green Lantern’s power ring, or being given Shazam’s powers by a benevolent old man. There weren’t many outlets to explore the obsession, but I tried. How many other pre-teen boys snuck out of the house to see Superman IV in theatres just because the bad guy wore gold tights?

In high school, my childhood fantasies transitioned to sexual awakening at the same time as the late-80s fad of spandex in men’s locker rooms and sports fields spread throughout the continent. I had a crush on a boy in my class that was ramped up to epic proportions when he began to wear long spandex shorts in gym class — the plain black kind, with golden yellow panels on the outside of the legs. I secretly obsessed over him when he wore them and would take the locker next to him hoping that our bodies would accidentally touch. I asked my mom if I could have some of the same kind of shorts, but she said they were for girls. I was left wondering how they felt to wear, and my fantasy side wondered if they gave him extra athletic power… not unlike the alien suit worn by Ralph Hinkley on “Greatest American Hero”.

Once I had linked my school crush with spandex and superheroes, my fate was set. It was sealed when I masturbated for the first time around the age of 14. During that first time, I was overcome by the thrill of wearing a pair of cycling shorts I had secretly bought at a local thrift shop and kept hidden from my mom.

When I began to live on my own in university, I was free to explore my fetish at will. In addition to adopting a steady gym habit -- look good in spandex was always my mantra -- I began to collect pieces of lycra-based athletic apparel. I bought shorts, shirts, wrestling singlets, and a dive skin. By this time I had discovered a number of great communities on the Internet — gearfetish.com and spandex-party.com among them — where other men shared pics of themselves in gear, connected about their fetishes and fantasies, and found kinship with people like me, who until then had never imagined anyone else shared my kinks. My fetishes hadn’t been kept secret from my lovers up until that time, but none of them ever really embraced them; they’d allow online connections with other members of the community, but never fully-accepted coming home to someone lounging on the couch in full-body lycra. I remember a day when my ex suddenly stopped as he came down the hallway and spotted me in gear: “that’s going to take some getting used to,” he said. It was only through connecting with other people from Internet sites devoted to my fetishes that I began to assert my hero complex as a healthy and important aspect of my sex life.

As progress from my exercise regimen increased, so did my confidence. I began to use exercise as an excuse to wear spandex in public, taking up running and cycling and almost any other activity that provided an excuse to wear my favorite pieces of clothing. All of these items were cherished, but were never really close to what I really wanted — a Superman costume of my own. Many years later, once I graduated and started working a steady job, my regular habit of trolling eBay for cheap spandex revealed a decent Superman costume that someone was selling. I didn’t hesitate to bid, and I won the item. A few weeks later, I raced home from work and suited up for the first time, shaking with extreme excitement as I literally transformed into the same hero I’d idolized growing up. Looking in the mirror, I felt invincible, confident and irresistibly sexy. Within days I was addicted to the thrill of being Superman, and shared that thrill by adding superhero pics of myself to my online profiles.

People liked my spandex and superhero pics, which made me post more, which attracted more attention and views. In turn, I was encouraged to post more explicit pictures, merging my sexuality with every possible combination of gear that I owned, and occasionally adding props such as heavy chains. All of this activity in the online community led to longstanding friendships and online roleplays, live one-to-one webcam sessions, and more. I was loving it, and I began to make a bucket list of other costumes I wanted: Spider-Man, Shazam, Flash, Green Lantern, Captain Canuck, Cyclops, Wolverine… any hero that dressed in head-to-toe spandex became a hero whose skin I wanted to inhabit. I began to call Halloween my Annual Spandex Festival, and my friends got used to seeing me out in public as Superman, Spider-Man, or Wolverine. During these outings I discovered the pure joy of being a masked crusader in public. Anonymity freed me from feeling judged, and comments from strangers fueled my addiction even more. (“Not many guys could pull off Superman. You totally do.”). These days, comic conventions provide additional opportunities to suit up as a hero for a day, and as excuses to cross additional heroes off my costume list. I do it whenever I can. I most recently donned my really-good Spidey suit to a big comic expo in my hometown and had the time of my life. It justified working on two new Spidey-variant suits to wear to future cons.

One of the advantages of being a gearfetish.com member is the exposure to all kinds of other fetishes and kinks. Throughout my late 20s, my interest in spandex, superheroes, and muscle grew to encompass bondage, dominance, submission, leather, and more. My assertiveness about my own online persona, a growing expansion of leather-only events into “all-fetish” events, as well as my willingness to try new things, eventually connected my alter-ego and online handle Captain Spandex with a leather fetishist and kinkster that I met on recon.com. Our one night stand — involving latex and superhero gear, of course — soon blossomed into something more significant, and almost four years later the two of us are happily married and celebrating everything about each others’ kinks and fetishes.

That brings us to the current day, where Captain Spandex continues to post to Tumblr, connect with other heroes online, and thrives as a husband whose sexual adventures often include spandex, hero gear, dominating (most of the time), or being submissive (occasionally), and bondage. The good Captain’s super-strength is derived from his celebration of muscle, exhibitionism, and brightly-colored spandex in all its forms. My superhero alter-ego and his kinks do not define me, but they are deeply ingrained and kept close to the surface — skin-tight and oh-so-deliciously concealed under a business-like demeanour. My body thrums with the heartbeat of a hero. As far as Captain Spandex is concerned, real heroes still wear tights.

Editor's note: We are proud to introduce Captain Spandex, and active community member and ongoing contributor to How to Kill a Superhero. You can follow Captain Spandex on Tumblr. Want to share your own story of superhero fetish? Please email your entry to au@howtokillasuperhero.net and write "Guest Blogger" in the subject.

Guest User 3/6/15 Guest User 3/6/15

20 Iconic Images of Superhero Fetish

Introduction

Superhero fetish goes way back to the origins of comic books, and these 20 images we curated show just how provocative superhero art and images can be. We took an art history approach to making our brand new gallery. Take a trip with us from the early 20th century through the present, and get ready to sweat under your collar.

George Reeves in The Adventures of Superman (1952-1958)

Possibly the first live-action superhero, Reeves' turn as Superman was one of the first television images of a superhero on screen beginning in 1952. Although the costumes may look to us in 2015 as too basic wool (especially evident in Ben Affleck's turn as Reeves in the film Hollywoodland (2006)), Reeves nevertheless shows that real muscle provides the basis for any hero. In Hollywoodland he also portrays the good-natured Boy Scout from the comics and later with the Christopher Reeve films. He’s a far cry from Zack Snyder’s interpretation. The costume may not be the sexiest, but something had to come first and bring our dreams to life.

Adam West and Burt Ward in Batman (1966-1968) (ABC)

These two played the dynamic duo. In hindsight, and as someone who never saw the series or the film that spun off from it until well into my 20s, I’m 28 now, it is difficult to sexualize the images. That said, the images are quite homoerotic and moreover, the bondage level in this series is quite high. It seems like they get tied up every second episode. The muscles may not have been there (both were quite lean) but the bondage is.

Christopher Reeve in the Superman films (1978-1987) (Warner Brothers)

In 1978 the first Superman film came out; thus the superhero film genre began. I wasn't even born when the first three films came out, so in hindsight the costume feels dated, much like George Reeves’s does. That said, like George, Christopher was all muscle under the suit – no padding – and the costume was spandex, or at least looked it. Here we see the fantasy of the comic book superhero costume really coming to life. The tag line for the film was "Believe a man can fly", but I think for guys with a superhero fetish, it was also "Believe in the fantasy" or "Believe in the dream". Superman was real, in color, and in many ways more palpable than George Reeve. Christopher Reeve was real.

Val Kilmer in Batman Forever (1995) (Warner Brothers)

I feel kinda bad snubbing Michael Keaton from this list after he was snubbed by the Academy, but I just saw Batman Forever and its real main star: Val Kilmer’s lips. My friend told me for years to rewatch it just for the lips. As if Batman’s rubber suit weren’t the perfect combination of sexy and cool, it’s also kinky and cool. Nicole Kidman’s character alludes to this in the line “Someone’s got a fetish.” We’ve got to look at these crazy, kissable and hypnotic lips! How no one figured out Bruce Wayne and Batman were the same person with that face I’ll never know. It’s in his kiss; Robin might be fun in the bedroom, but those lips! Gotta kiss ‘em!

Dean Cain in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997) (ABC)

For most men, Christopher Reeves was their Superman, Dean Cain was mine. And he was perfect. A slightly different image from the one portrayed by the Reeves and in the comics, Cain entered the superhero genre in the 90, post-80’s and post-spandex. Thus the suit he wears is shinny, tight and sexy as hell. Those three factors rank very high for those with a spandex, nylon and superhero fetish. Win. Cain was all man under that suit, and it showed every week. Moreover, the focus the series had on Clark's relationship with Lois humanized Superman giving us a glimpse into both side of the sexy hero.

Chris O'Donnell in Batman & Robin (1997) (Warner Brothers)

I remember first seeing this rubberized suit and thinking about how cool it was. In hindsight I think Chris O'Donnell's body also had an effect on me as he's kinda my type, but the suit does something different from what Batman's suit does. The muscles, the colour and the fact we see more of his head and his hair (I loved his hair, still do) – his youth even – all combine to make a super sexy image. Going back to the previous movie, his entrance in Batman Forever (1995) features a giant bulge, which makes it even more pornographic but also more homoerotic.

Tobey Maguire in the Spider-Man films (2002-2007) (Columbia/Sony)

As a teenager this image hit me in two ways. First off, it was the physical realization of my childhood; Spider-Man, my favourite character had come to life. Secondly, this was an amazing costume. The Andrew Garfield version from the latest two films does not hold a candle to this suit. This original under the Sam Raimi regime is flawless, perfect, seamless. There is little to nothing wrong with it; the suit looks like it stepped out of the comics or the cartoon series I used to watch. It seemed real and was exactly what all the fans wanted. Plus Maguire fills out the suit very well. Likely the most perfect costume in the genre.

Ben Affleck in Daredevil (2003) (20th Century Fox)

Until Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice comes out, this is Ben Affleck’s addition to the cannon. I could have added new images of the Netflix series or Ben as George Reeves but Daredevil, while a flawed film, made an important contribution in superhero fetish: Leather. For better or worse, this is when we saw the advent of leather as the substitute for spandex. Yes, it took spandex out of the mix for heroes and now they wear the implausible leather suit. But for me, seeing Ben (my sister is a Matt Damon girl, I’m a Ben Affleck boy) in head-to-toe leather, was eye-opening to me. And it was really hot. Many fans complained about the look of the suit but to me, it gets my engine running!

Chris Evans in Fantastic Four films (2005-2007) (20th Century Fox)

I could do a whole post here because this is possibly my favorite suit on the list. Maguire's Spidey was perfect, but this, THIS… Chris Evans was probably twenty-three when he made this movie; twenty-four when it came out. He’s aged greatly (if you call thirty four old) but he was just a baby when he did Fantastic Four. Young and fit, Evans was the epitome of the perfect, young male jock. Pour that into a spandex bodysuit and you’ve got the sexiest thing ever. And I can’t get over his hair either. His body, junk and ass are on full display and the movie makes no qualms about hiding it: Evans is on full display and looks amazing in every shot. This isn't the best picture but it is my favourite image from both films; he looks so relaxed and comfortable but also cocky and slutty as the same time. The boots, his legs, the fact his legs are spread... yum!

Alan Ritchson in Smallville (2001-2011) (WB Network)

I’m saying it right off the bat: this is my Aquaman. For me the fact a network television show stuck a man in such bright green tights and made it cool, makes it a giant highlight for me. Ritchson rocked those tights, he wore them when they easily could have worn him. He make spandex cool. In another episode he even wore a wetsuit (another fetish of mine). This is what Aquaman should be. Furthermore, the shoes are sick; I’m looking to get a pair for myself with both cosplay and just general wear. I think those bad boys would look great in the summer. Plus Ritchson is smokin’ hot!

Brandon Routh in Superman Returns (2007) (Warner Brothers)

The costume harkens back to the days of Christopher Reeves; the designers just modernized it. But the image shown here is why it means so much to those with a superhero fetish. Tricked into coming to an island made of krypton, Superman is weakened and unable to fight off Luther or his men. Seeing out hero completely submissive is a huge, HUGE turn on. They drag him through the dirt, beat him in his suit… this is possibly the first time we see the fetish, in its essence, come alive on the big screen in all its savage glory.

Robert Downey Jr. in the IRON MAN films (2008- ) (Paramount/Marvel Films)

The suits are not the reason he’s on the list. It is what is under the suit. And I don’t mean Tony. I mean what Tony puts on before putting on his Iron Man suit. We get brief glimpses in the first film; it caught my interest. It was either spandex or neoprene and both were materials I was familiar with. By the third film he was wearing compression shirts and although we don’t see it I assume compression tights under. Maybe not the hottest on the list, but hot to know that under all that armour, Tony wears spandex.

Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark

I know, I know this is a musical, not a film. Yet the image is burned into my mind. An army of hot, unmasked Spider-Men ready for action. There are many out there, and all of them are hot. Each man looks different beneath the mask and they all look a little different in their respected suit, but as a unified whole, delicious.

Ryan Reynolds in Green Lantern (2011) (Warner Brothers)

Ryan makes it on the list twice from the same film, but for different reasons. People hated Green Lantern, but I actually don’t mind it. For one major reason: Ryan Reynolds seems like an awesome guy. Yes I want to go for beers with him and I know he’d have my back in a fight but he also would be fun to take home to bed. For the first entry we have an image that is pretty much porn, and for me at least, the fantasy I’ve had for as long as I can remember. A guy in his underwear is on a table (in this case he’s floating) waiting to become the hero. The immobilized male is a huge fantasy and here it is on the big screen. We don’t see the immobilized hero enough in cinema, to see this strong, active male so passive, completely unable to move, takes all his power and give it to us, the viewer. But the main reason this image is sexy? Ryan is in his tighty whities!

Ryan Reynolds in Green Lantern (2011) (Warner Brothers)

Okay, okay, the suit isn’t great. The mask is awful. The choice to make a fully digital suit just backfired. It looks fake, does not look as cool as it should, and it’s just plainly tacky. A lot of the fan art was way better. Filming Ryan in a motion capture suit – that works! Therefore, the idea that a man could awake to have a second skin… a sexy one at that, is so hot. That kind of image is like candy to those with a superhero fetish. The scene featured here is also a great one: funny, but also a turn on that he’s transforming in front of his friend (why can’t I have a friend like Hal?) and frankly once he’s in the suit he’s totally showing off his amazing body, putting it all on display, but also the absolut joy he expels after the transformation is intoxicating. Can’t wait till the Green Lantern corp calls me up and give me a suit of my own. The fantasy of having a spandex second skin has always been a dream. To awake in a Green Lantern suit… can’t wait!

Chris Evans in The Avengers (2012) (Marvel Films)

Yeah. I’ve got a crush. Like a big one. It’s a little much but I don’t care. He’s perfect. It is a hard choice to limit myself to one of the three modern Cap suits. The Winter Soldier suit and the new Avengers suit each bring their own to the table. Yet the classic Avengers suit is not only the closest we’ll get to seeing Captain America in spandex, but even though it isn’t it looks perfect! The colour, the boots, the chest, the hood that he so casually takes off, the shirt he wears under the whole thing, the fact that his body is a perfect upside down triangle and each costume shows off his big chest, slim waist and beautiful ass. Many fans have written and spoken about how Coulson was to be our position within the Avengers team, an outsider and a fan. Coulson is such a fanboy to Cap, he totally has a crush on him. Coulson even helped design the suit. Well done agent, well done.

Man of Steel (2013) Behind the Scenes DVD Featurettes (Warner Brothers)

I could post a lot of pics of Henry Cavill as Superman because I honestly prefer his suit over the classic one. I could also post a lot of images of Michael Shannon from Man of Steel, because for a man not known for being a heartthrob, he looks great in this movie. I could also post a lot of images from the movie featuring the two of them because again, going against the norm, I liked the look of the film. Yet you want some real porn? Look up the behind the scenes photos of these two. The fact they are just in bodysuits without capes helps, and the view of Superman’s foot is a turn on for me. Sure this isn’t a screenshot from a superhero porn flick? These two need to get a room.

Michael Fassbender in X-Men: Days of Future Past (20th Century Fox)

The X-Men films have always used leather (instead of the traditional spandex from the original comics), and it worked. Several films into the franchise, we finally saw some spandex in Days of Future Past. And damn, Fassbender’s got some arms. Look at those biceps! The thirst is real, because not only is he a great actor, but he has arms. Arms in spandex.

Grant Gustin in The Flash (2014- ) (The CW)

People really hated on the super suit from TV’s The Flash when it came out. For me it was the leather design. You can’t run in leather. The Flash’s team explained why the suit has that look in the series. The suit grew on me over time, partly because Grant Gustin is so charismatic. Yet it also helps that The Flash seems to get beaten down by the villain of the week every week. The suit may not get destroyed, but he is in peril and looks awesome doing it. And if you’re into superhero fetish, you know that a hero in peril is hot as fuck.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson as in Age of Ultron (2015) (Marvel Films)

I know Age of Ultron isn’t out yet, so I’m just using an photo from the set; Honestly, I hope they do something with the shoes because they are awful in my shoe fetish opinion; I need something slick, something that mixes material, colour and cut in the perfect combination that I get hard the moment I see them. That said, to draw from activewear, sportswear, both areas where there is a large fetish following (myself included) I’m really impressed with the costume designers for Quicksilver's look in AOU. The pants could be tights; really wish they were, but the top is perfection.