When your kink community begins to grow
The following is a personal essay Pablo Greene, the author of the superhero-fetish series of novels How to Kill a Superhero.
I wanted to take a moment today to talk about being grateful. I am always grateful that I get a chance to write my novels, and I am grateful that they are published and successful. The book series only kicked off one year ago, but it's already expanding into its own universe. But being grateful for that success is not enough.
I have to also be grateful for what is happening around and beyond the novels, and in the kink, rubber, bondage and leather communities, and the ways in which they are welcoming this new layer of kink. Superhero fetish is emerging, and though it may not be as widely known as leather, rubber or shibari, it's there, and people of all genders are finding it. I am grateful for this. And how can I be so sure it's emerging? Well, I am finding clues, here and there. And the clues cannot be ignored. They're real.
Superhero fetish folks are finding each other
It's not my imagination. Every day I see new Tumblr accounts, Recon profiles and even Twitter accounts like that of Superheroes de Sampa (a Brazilian superhero fetish group) that confirm that many people share an erotic love for superheroes -- and villains. There's also people like Tank Teachworth (@puptank on Twitter), who is part of the leather and the superhero fetish community. This is amazing to see. We are starting to really build community around the hashtag #superherofetish. If you want to find each other, use it, and see the magic unfold.
I also get many personal emails and social media messages asking me: Where do I find more superhero events? Do you know other guys into this stuff? Questions like this tell me people have a need to form community around the old cape and tights.
It's really happening, you guys. I feel glad that there's a rising contingent of us superheroes and villains at events. Speaking of -- who's up for planning some superhero events at cons like IML and MAL? I am reaching out to organizers now, and if you're one of them, and reading this, I would love to hear from you. Send me an email.
Superhero fetish authors are rising
Just this month, I made an amazing discovery. I found another new voice in superhero fetish fiction in the Amazon Store. Todd Fleming showed up in my recommended list (thanks to Amazon's thorough yet creepy suggestions). Looks like he's written a couple of books of his own superhero mythology. You can find his two books, The Defeat of Paragon Lad, and Fall of the Hammer Book 1 in the Kindle Store. I just downloaded them myself, and I am really looking forward to checking them out this week. Once I finish, I'll post a quick write-up to let you know how the books turned out. And a little disclaimer here: I don't write book reviews on this site. I'll mostly talk about what the book did for me on a kink and fetish level.
As you can see, superhero fetish authors are rising, and it's great to see more entries into the genre. And I have a feeling there are more authors coming. Let's make this happen! The more erotic superhero stories, the better.
Kink Communities Grow and Evolve
I am so proud to say that one of my favorite kinks, superhero fetish, is finding a home in people's hearts, in BDSM communities, in the leather world, and in people's bedrooms. It's not always easy. Some people find the fetish goofy, and maybe a bit ridiculous. But when leather and rubber rose as communities, I bet you that those who shared their love of leather and rubber met with similar reactions.
We press on, and we keep our bonds as community tight.
That is the reason I kicked off NYC Superheroes, and it's why my book series is built around community. You like wearing tight lycra and making out? You're one of my people. You love bondage in a peril scenario from the pages of a comic book? You're in. You love the power exchange of hero and villain? You're one of us.
I think 2015 looks really bright. Book 3 in the series will be coming out, and I will also be releasing a new digital spin-off novel. What's more, I will be attending many community and literary events, and in the process, I'll be finding you, superhero fetishists, and shaking your hand.
By the way, if you're interested in writing your own essay for this section of our site, send us an email at editor@beastwitihinbooks.com and put "Blog" in the subject line. We are wide open and want multiple viewpoints. In the next months we'll also be posting some basic guides on bondage, safety, costuming for superhero roleplay, and more.
Keep your uniforms tight, stay close, and see you in the future.
It Pleases the Gods: the Rise of Rubber Fetish
The following is a re-post from our good friend Rubber Rants. Though this article is not specifically about superhero fetish, it sheds some light on how the fetish world evolves over time, and how new communities find their place in the pantheon of kink. We consider rubber part of superhero fetish, so we think you'll enjoy this essay.
For more posts and Tumblr images, please visit Rubber Rants (NSFW).
It Pleases the Gods: the Rise of Rubber Fetish
Rubber Rants
Standing on the top of the Mayan temple—surrounded by hundreds of miles of jungle filled with the wails of howler monkeys—I stand and listen in awe as my guide describes how, a thousand years ago, naked teenage boys were tightly wrapped in rubber straps, laid on the stone alter in front of me, and tortured for hours “to please the gods.”
A reporter covering a story in Central America, I’m lucky enough to have a notepad to cover my awkward boner. I hate myself for thinking that those are my kind of gods.
Rubber comes from the sap of trees native to the Americas. By the time Columbus “discovered” it, groups like the Mayans had been using it for thousands of years. But, it didn’t take long for the Europeans to put it to use in everything from wine flasks, to shoes, to raincoats.
From the very beginning, rubber’s biggest bonus has been its versatility. Its ability to play to man’s imagination. But, aside from pleasing some gods, its use in fetish was relatively limited until WWII caused an explosion in its use as gear. The war and post war demand for the material also promoted new synthetic forms of rubber that could hold up to more wear and tear.
As the as the post-WWII leather clubs grew, so did rubber fetish. But price was a problem. Back then, rubber fetish was mostly just based on what you could get your hands on…items that just happened to be made out of rubber but had another purpose: a fireman’s coat, fishing waders, medical gear, diving gear, or the bicep-length gloves designed to go up an animal’s ass.
Pieces that were specifically molded or tailored for fetish were rare, expensive, and flimsy. So, it’s no wonder that the first dedicated rubber clubs were formed by relatively rich kinksters, like the 25 or so members of the New-York-based “Five Senses” (started in 1964 and quickly renamed “The V Senses”)—so called because the members were obsessed with the feeling, look, sound, smell, and taste of rubber.
Author Pablo Greene may not be in rubber, but the hot rogues flanking him sure are
Today, things are very different. Rubber is the fastest growing market segment for traditional fetish suppliers like Mister S. It seems like a new rubber fetish supplier pops up every week. Because it’s become a fashion staple (thanks to entertainers like Katy Perry and Rihanna), mass production of new, durable forms of rubber is making supply streams (in a variety of types and colors) cheaper and more available.
And, the “new guard” of kinksters is eating it up—because it fits the new guard mentality beautifully. As opposed to the seriousness of the old guard leather rules, rubber is impossible to take seriously. It covers you and yet reveals every curve of your body. It conveys cold when you’re cold. Heat when you’re hot. And, you’re going to sweat your balls off either way. You can piss on it, wrestle in the goop of your choice, or buy it molded in unlimited shapes ranging from puppy hoods to Reagan masks (if that’s what does it for your particular BDSM scene).
And my personal favorite: the stretchy, elastic constriction that makes it the perfect bondage material.
That definitely pleases the gods…
For more info on the history of rubber kink, pick up Tim Brough’s book: “Skin Tight”.
NYC Superheroes at GGNY Halloween Party
It was a blast! Thanks again to GGNY for hosting such a fun event. If you attended and you would like us to add your photo to this gallery, email us at editor@beastwithinbooks.com
NYC Superheroes has a new web site
If you would like to check out NYC Superheroes (a social club for those into superhero fetish), we have a shiny new web site. It contains a link to our Facebook page, as well as our mailing list (so that you can have a discreet way to receive updates).
NYC Superheroes Community
I get a ton of questions from my readers about superhero fetish:
"Where do I find parties for superhero fetish?"
"What bars have events featuring spandex, lycra, sports gear and superhero fetish?"
"If I'm visiting NYC, how can I find other people who want to gear up and socialize (or play?)"
Starting today, we'll post regular updates to keep you up to date on how to find events related to superhero fetish in New York. Eventually, we will be expanding to other places, so if you have a tip, send us an email at beastwithin0808 at gmail dot com (use subject "NYC Superheroes Group" .
For September and October we have A LOT happening:
- An excursion to the official New York Comic Con Villains! party at the McKittrick hotel from 3-5 pm. Our superhero fetish group (join us on Facebook) will be heading out for drinks after the event, too.
- NY Comic-Con October 9-12 at Javits Center.
- Author Pablo Greene will be making an official appearance at NYCC, and our Superhero-Fetish group will meet up on October 10 at 3 pm (location TBD) to visit the expo floor, take photos, and meet 'n greet.
- Official outings during NY Comic Con. Several amazing groups like Gay Geeks of New York and Geeks Out will be hosting badass parties, and our superhero-fetish group will attend.
- Events throughout October, including two superhero-themed events as we head into Halloween. More details to come.
There are three ways you can stay in the loop for all the NYC Superheroes group
- Join our NYC Superheroes FB page for updates
- Follow NYC Superheroes on Twitter
- Join our How to Kill a Superhero mailing list below for updates delivered to your inbox