This Month In Spandex: July Edition

This is a preview of the new photo set Tonatiuh, God of the Sun, coming later this month to my Patreon. Credit: Cesar Torres, all rights reserved.

The month of July contains many surprises for my amazing readers, fans and Patreon subscribers! This is what you can expect to drop:

Stickers are Shipping

New subscribers who joined my Patreon or upgraded tiers in June will get their exclusive 4”x4” laptop sticker. Stickers begin to ship this week.

New Photo Sets Drop This Month

• For my first photo shoot this month, I am doing a new and intense bondage shoot! But there’s a twist! This time, Patreon subscribers get to choose what superhero or villain gets tied or does the tying. All subscribers will be encouraged to post their suggestions of what the cosplay and bondage shoot should be! And the subscribers in the Mega Photo tier will be the judges of all the suggestions. That photo set will drop July 26 at my Patreon, and it will be available to all the tiers. The Mega Photo tiers and above will get 2-3 bonus shots, as well.

• Check out the brand new teaser I posted above! I will be releasing a new photo set called Tonatiuh, God of the Sun. In this set, I will guide you into my world of Aztec mythology and introduce you to the sun god Tonatiuh as I mash him up with the gay superhero Apollo from DC Comics! This new photo set extends the ideas that I developed in the How to Kill a Superhero books. I think you will love them. This photo set drops July 31 on my Patreon.

My Short Film

I’ll be posting excerpts from the script of the short film I am working on! Look for that to drop on July 12

New YouTube Episodes

This month on my YouTube I’ll be focusing on livestreams. This gives me some space and time to focus on the writing of my film script, but it lets me stay in touch with you and all the queeroes. Here are the times and dates for streams this month:

• July 9 at 5 PM Central. Topic: The DC gay superhero Apollo and the making of the Tonatiuh Photo Set

• July 16, at 5 PM Central: Fan Q&A

• July 23 at 5 pm Central Topic TBD

• July 30 at 5 pm Central Topic TBD

4 Essential Tips To Enjoy IML and Other Sex-positive Events

Photo by Cesar Torres, all rights reserved.

International Mister Leather is an event that has brought together kinky LGBTQ+ people together for more than 40 years. It’s a meeting space that promotes individual expression through the legacy of leather, rubber, and also newer fetish communities, such as pups.  IML is also the current home of POW! The Superhero Fetish meetup, which I host, and which draws hundreds of LGBTQ people who love superhero fetish. It’s one of the largest sex-positive events of its kind, and although it can be a lot of fun, it can also overwhelm you if you’re not careful.

Recently, one of my fans (BrinLondo74 on YouTube) told me that he feels anxious about attending IML for the first time. And he asked me for my advice. I am going to answer Brin’s four questions today so that you can make your own IML experience the most enjoyable, especially if you have never experienced it before.

Please keep in mind that these tips are only informational and are not strict advice. I do have more than 15 years of experience attending events like IML, and you can take these tips and apply them to many other kink or sex-positive events around the world. If you would like to add to this conversation, leave a comment! And if you would like to ask more specific questions, you can ask me on Discord when you join my Patreon community. Patreon subscribers get access to more focused chats when they join.

So, if you have never attended a mega-sized leather or kink event, here are the top 4 tips to make sure you enjoy it in the best way possible.

How should I prepare in advance for my first IML?

The most important way to prep is to get your mindset right. IML draws thousands of people, most of them male-presenting, into a single space, and the sights, smells and sounds are going to make you feel like a kid in a candy shop. Your mindset is number one. Remember that you are on a vacation, and you want to have fun over that weekend. Friendship and social connections are just as important as finding romantic or sex partners, so put yourself in a chill state of mind that’s open to engaging sociallly. Even though everyone looks intimidatingly good in their gear, many people are trying just as hard as you are to make a connection–to find a friend, to buddy up with a sex partner, or even to find a life-long partner. So just relax, get ready to shake hands, and be open to the experience without to many expectations. I spend just as much time as you do with my head buried inside gay apps, but if you can, try to put the smartphone away and strike up conversations in person, whenever possible. And if you love your app, no worries, you can also chat away and arrange to meet in real time. There’s no strict rules on how to do this. Just be aware that people are likelier to flake on an app than when you actually are talking to them in person.

Next, make sure you take care of your health. Be sure you educate yourself on safe sex practices, and if you use medicines like PREP, make sure you don’t forget them, as well as condoms, etc. There’s plenty of free condoms and lube samples on site at IML, but if you have a preferred brand, it’s better to have it with you and avoid issues when you are ready to play with your partner(s). In recent years, IML attendees have begun to challenge gender norms, and I couldn’t be happier about it. You will meet many amazing trans, gender-non-conforming and queer individuals who are there to have as much fun as you are. Be prepared to ask people what their preferred pronouns are, and keep in mind that not everyone at the event will be (nor should be) a carbon copy of what you look like, or what your values are.

Although you will think it’s strange for me to say this because I have so much gear, try not to focus so much on how you look but rather on how you connect with people via eye contact, handshakes and other forms on interpersonal communication.

Upon your arrival in Chicago, make sure you know exactly how to get to your hotel or AirBnb. If you’re staying at the host hotel, get ready to spend some time in line or waiting for elevators, which get quite packed. Give yourself plenty of time to chill in your room once you arrive, and make sure you don’t rush. You have all weekend to enjoy! Taking an extra 30 minutes in your room to relax by taking a second shower, unpacking or even having a light snack with friends is going to ensure you don’t wear yourself out. Once you’re settled in, I recommend walking around the Leather Mart, which is the big expo full of vendors at the host hotel. It’s basically the biggest meeting space, and it gives you a chance to check out who’s there, and to browse many products and basically get your bearings. If you’re looking for places to eat, this handy guide on nearby inexpensive restaurants will help you out. You can find much more upscape spots in the loop and West Loop, but for the sake of keeping it simple, a quick bite is probably what you need in most cases, since you’ll probably be spending a lot of time at the hotel. There’s also a Target nearby at 1 S. State Street.

I'm already in an overstimulated headspace. I'm worried that I may get in over my head, overdo it on the first day. How should I pace myself?

If it makes you feel any better, even veteran attendees at IML often feel like they overdo it throughout the whole weekend. The sensory stimulation is non-stop, and your own emotional and sexual expectations about this type of event are going to super charge your psyche. That can be both good or bad. You will feel euphoric, and maybe a little anxious, too. But instead of cracking your knuckles, make it work to your advantage. The best way to avoid burnout and pace yourself is to do less. What does this mean? Well simply put, don’t be a silly American and overschedule yourself. It’s one of our most vulnerable traits, and we have a lot to learn from visitors who come in from other parts of the world. Aim to basically just do one or two things a day. I mean that. If you aim for one or two, you will have a better time, and it will give you time and space to have adventures in between. For example, on Friday, you could aim to attend the Leather Market to do some shopping around 2 pm (after lunch) and attend the Rubber Cocktail Social by MIR and CRM at 10:30 pm. Does that sound like too little? Not at all. In between that time, you will have lunch, dinner, maybe hit the gym or go for a run in Millennium Park, have drinks or enjoy a play date or two. By focusing on doing less, you’ll actually be doing more. You’ll keep your blood pressure low, and again, allow yourself to focus on meeting quality people, rather than obsess about tasks. Save the tasks for your day job.

How much gear should I bring?

This, my friend is the toughest question of them all! Here’s my advice for two types of travelers: people who travel with just a single carry-on, and people who check luggage. If you are a carry-on traveler, bring only your most essential 2-3 fetish outfits. And bring one outfit of regular civilian clothes. And never forget your swimsuit. That’s it. Leave room in your bag for stuff you will buy at the Leather Market, and as far as toys go, just bring things that travel light. Don’t forget to avoid liquids and other banned objects on flights.

If you are checking luggage, I recommen evenly distributing your fetish gear and your toys across your carry-on and your checked luggage. This way, in the unfrotunate case that your airline loses your luggage, you still have a carry-on with toys and gears to save your kinky ass. As far as toys go, only bring the ones that you know you will truly use. If you have play dates scheduled in advance, this is going to make packing toys way easier. If you are playing it by ear, just bring the stuff you use the most back at home that travels light and well. Keep in mind that more seasoned players bring lots of gear with them in their luggage, so this advice is not for them. Keep things light. You will probably buy new toys and gear at the Leather Market, and you will be glad you made room in your checked bags to accommodate your loot to bring back home.

Most important of all, how do I find you at such a large event?

First and foremost, the easiest way to reach me, Pablo Greene, is to slide into my DMs on Instagram. I use Instagram the most, and I am not a fan of Facebook at all. So if you want to find me, just follow me at @howtokillasuperhero and send a DM. My schedule is quite full, so if I can’t meet up with you, I can at least answer questions and provide you with help. If you see me casually walking around at the event, please say hello. I love meeting readers and fans and taking selfies.

Also, you will find me at POW! On Sunday, May 26.  Be sure to pack your cosplay or superhero gear!

IML is an event that is always growing and evolving. Nowadays, it feels incredibly large, and it shares some similarities with the exciting but overwhelming nature of cons like Comic Con. Don’t be afraid of it. Pace yourself, be prepared to make new friends, and don’t create rigid expectations. Once you do so, you’ll enjoy your time there. Now gear up and get ready!

Real Stories of Superhero Fetish: Captain Europe

Photo by Taco Smith

I am very excited to bring you a special installment of Real Stories of Superhero Fetish. This past February, the first ever superero-fetish cagetogy in the Fetish Europe contest at Antwerp Leather Pride kicked off. Three nominees competed, and Captain Europe, won. I recently had a chance to ask him about the origins of his superhero fetish, and how the superhero fetish community functions in Europe. He lives in Belgium. -Pablo Greene

Q&A: Captain Europe, Mr. Superhero Fetish 2017

Captain Europe, welcome. Tell us a bit about yourself.

My official name is Captain Europe - I came up with the idea, name and suit in 2006. There is now another Captain Europe who does the political/social public appearances - he's inherited my old Twitter handle @captain_europe, whilst I have kept the old account and renamed it @JusticeLeagueEU.

How long have you been part of the leather and fetish communities?

Hard to say. I’ve liked lycra and spandex for as long as I can remember, but in the early days of exploring my sexuality, I was living in a rural area and didn’t have much money, so I wasn’t meaningfully part of a “community”. The few leather bars we have here in Belgium are a bit hardcore – I am not sure whether superheroes are welcome. I’ve been to a few events over in the UK. I ride a motorcycle, but I got into that more out of necessity than a love for leather.

Can you tell us when and how your superhero fetish started?

Like many people in this community, I grew up watching the old 1960s Batman series with all of its homoerotic ambiguity. Then, as a young adult, I got into wrestling; there’s a bit of overlap there with the superhero thing, with the spandex, the fighting, the struggling and so on. I modelled briefly for Eye of the Cyclone in the mid-2000s. Captain Europe was initially an idea for a carnival costume – I wanted to do something original – rather than a fetish thing, but then took on a life of its own – I started being asked to do public appearances at political, social and charity events. The fetish side of things was thus pretty much put on hold, as I am not one for mixing business and pleasure (though I have to say being Captain Europe was great fun). Last year I retired from public appearances; there is now a new, younger Captain Europe who looks after that side of things – I have to say he is doing a very good job so far.

What made you decide to enter the contest for Mr. Superhero Fetish EU?

It came to my attention via social media and I thought, yeah, why not? As one of the few Belgium-based real life superheroes, it would be rude not to.’ Now I am retired from the serious side of it, I can have some fun!

Do you think superhero fetish has the recognition it deserves? Why?

I’m not sure I’d say it ‘deserves' recognition – that sounds a bit entitled. When I introduce people to the idea, they are sometimes puzzled, and then it clicks when I mention the Batman and Robin thing. So I would say that there are probably many hundreds of people out there who are missing out on a lot of fun by not exploring superhero fetish

Tell us about your fetish for superhero gear and costumes.

Spandex (unlike, say, leather) is a very sensual material, and the superhero dynamic feeds the imagination. Taken together, those two things make a winning combination for role play.

Photo by Taco Smith

Are you single? Or do you have a romantic sidekick?

Romantic yes, sidekick no. My husband tolerates the superhero thing rather than approving of it, so the less said about that the better. Someone did ask whether the new Captain Europe was my boyfriend – the answer is no. I am sure he will find someone much better; he’s just a good friend and partner in crimefighting.

Please describe the experience of the weekend of the superhero fetish competition in Antwerp.

It was good fun. The Antwerp Leather Pride organizers, the site staff, the contest organisers, the judges and the other contestants were all fantastic. The contest itself was also an experience: escaping from bondage, being spanked (ouch!) to test our resilience (I passed that test, as the spanker’s hand gave out before I did), and saying a few words about ourselves. It was nice that the judges appreciated the serious side of what I said – championing diversity in all its meanings, and defending truth and justice in a post-truth era. Being a superhero is not just about having muscles and looking pretty – it’s about values, too. The rest of the weekend – I was at the Pride on the Friday and the Sunday, as I had long-standing social and family engagements on the Saturday – was more relaxed. I had the opportunity to meet and talk – in various languages – to some great people.

Now that you won the title, what do you plan to do for the next year?

Just as I thought I was retired from being Captain Europe, here I am thrust into a new public role. I’ll visit as many Pride events around Europe as time and finances permit. As well as being a mascot for superhero fetish, I will continue to champion the values I mentioned above. At a time when reactionary forces are awakening around the world, perhaps our hard-won rights need a superhero to defend them…

Do you wear superhero gear to leather bars? How else do you display your superhero fetish?

I’ve been a couple of times to the Eagle in Manchester, where Captain Europe was surprisingly well received, and to Central Station in London. Last night I was at a Carnival party (the original purpose of the suit) at a gay bar in central Brussels. Other than that, as I say, the fetish aspect has been on hold for a while – I’ll see what next year brings.

Superhero fetish is becoming very popular in America. Do you think the same will happen in the EU? Why or why not?

I really don’t know. Some in France have dismissed superheroes as an American thing, which is not true at all – Japan has Ultraman, France itself has (or had) Superdupont, Mexico has its own superheroes, and there is even a Captain Britain, though he seems to be resting at the moment. There seems to be a small superhero/spandex fetish scene emerging in the UK, and I know of a few people in France and Germany who are into it. Perhaps the title will get the scene some publicity, get us to critical mass and cause the scene to grow. Perhaps it won’t. I’m a superhero, not a fortune teller. That said, any Europeans reading this are welcome to get in touch.

Are you more of a superhero or a villain?

Definitely a superhero, though some Euroskeptics have disagreed quite vociferously.

Who are the superheroes or villains who inspire you most as a person, and why?

Batman. He doesn’t actually have any super powers, so he uses ingenuity rather than brute force to overcome evil. In real life, however, I am more like Peter Parker than Bruce Wayne. Like Peter in Spider-Man 2, I used to deliver pizzas for a living; I have a motorbike (just the one), not a fleet of classic/exotic cars; and I live in a modest (albeit more comfortable than Peter’s) upstairs flat, not a mansion with a well-equipped cellar.

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Real Stories of Superhero Fetish: The Sidekink

My superhero fetish began, like many in our community, from an early love of comic books. I was born in 1986 at the height of the George Perez run at DC and Marvel. As it turned out, my father and uncle were avid collectors of Captain America, The Avengers, Tales of the Teen Titans, and of course the Crisis on Infinite Earths storylines. Even before I learned to read, I devoured the artwork of these comics: the dramatic poses, and the expressive faces of anguish, despair, joy and heroism. These were the comics I would learn to read from and I never went anywhere without a copy from my dad’s collection.

Reading those early comics, I was continuously drawn to the sidekicks: Robin, Superboy, Bucky, Kid Flash and even Wonder Girl. While other boys latched on to the mega-popular heroes like Superman, Batman and Wolverine, I developed an appreciation for the not-so-famous heroes – the ones they never really made action figures or Halloween costumes for. As a scrawny, short, uncoordinated kid, the sidekick role fit me and gave me someone to emulate when my bigger cousins played the big superheroes.

While Batman was lugged down by his utility belt and massive cowl and cape, Robin was flexible, athletic, and somewhat vulnerable in his pixie shorts. Though he was continuously captured, he wasn’t a dream-boy in distress. There was strength in his captivity; even his torture at the hands of villains like Brother Blood and Deathstroke was an act of endurance. He never gave in, and George Perez displayed that and the boy wonder’s physique so well in the comics.

These were the comics I re-read feverishly for backstories and roleplay fantasies as I developed my superhero fetish. Acting out battles and struggles of the hero excited me. As I grew into my sexuality, I sought any type of gear that would recreate the leotards and costumes of my favorite heroes. Joining the high school swim team gave me access to speedos and spandex for the first time. On one particularly bumpy bus ride from a swim meet I felt myself go hard and actually cum while nestled in the tight wet spandex…It was amazing. I also struggled with guilt for my sexuality; despite being liberal Catholics, my family was still prudish, and there was no mention of homosexuality or even masturbation in my house. So I was left to hear about these from others and that instilled in me a lot of doubt and fear for my burgeoning sexual desires. I always punished myself after I mastubated, and when I finally quit the swim team, I threw away my speedos for fear that I would “sin” again. Luckily that period was short-lived; my later years of high school led me to theatre and dance, where gay sex wasn’t just tolerated but actually talked about. That saved me a good deal of hand wringing when I finally came out.

A Fetish Begins

My fetish for superheroes though didn’t start until we finally got internet access in my home at the tender age of 17. Once I had steady access to the computer I was on it like crazy, looking up gay and bi erotica (at the time I identified as bi). I found the staples of gay online porn: twink videos from companies like Sean Cody, hairless, usually white, guys in jeans that get naked two minutes into the scene – and then bone for hours. Oh sure the guys were hot and got me hard, but none of these fully interested me, and eventually I found them quite boring. The clothes went off too soon, and handsome though the guys were, they couldn’t hold my attention.

Then, randomly on a yahoo group devoted to gay superhero fans I found a picture where a young hero was chained up with a look of ecstasy and pain writhing on his face. He wore a yellow suit that highlighted his bulge and the villain wrapped him up in rope.

The watermark on that image led me to the Hard Heroes web site, and I found that even if it was just a teaser image, I was more aroused than I ever was watching hours of gay porn. Over time I found other producers of hero-inspired fetish like Eye of the Cyclone, BGEast and more. Here I was thinking my love for tights and superheroes and bondage was unique, but a whole niche market of gay porn was made for it, so I knew I wasn’t entirely alone. Unlike the other porn I viewed, these seemed to have more story to them; the spandex stayed on longer which was a bonus. There was a power exchange and a storyline, regardless of how cheesy. It wasn’t just about fucking and moaning.

The Sidekink is Born

After I turned 18 I finally began exploring my fetish in person rather than worshipping from afar. I joined fetish websites like GearFetish, Recon and Gearplay, Spandex Party etc. I joined club after club, yahoo group after yahoo group, in an attempt to meet others like me, to even just chat about spandex, superheroes and anything related to it. Sadly every person I met online was always so far away and in big cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago. Those were the places where guys into superheroes lived, those were placed I needed to be but could not get to. I was a sidekick in search of a guiding hero. So for years I settled for chat roleplay and taking pics in my first gear, like speedos and swim jammers.

After a few years online I finally found someone who liked tights and bondage and, most importantly, lived locally. I didn’t have a superhero suit at the time but I did have a good collection of speedos. We met up to talk about playing together and it was just so amazing to finally chat in person with someone who was into it. He showed me his drawings of Spiderman, with him all tied up and gagged, and I remember getting an instant hard on. The scene we played was simple. I would go out and get ice, wearing a speedo under my clothes. I would get back to the room and he’d “jump” me, knock me out and tie me up. It was a rocky start but once he had me stripped to my speedo and bound I was having the time of my life. I wanted to experience it more and more.

Unfortunately the kink scene in my home town was non-existent and so it usually fell to the errant traveler to tie me up. I eventually added more kinks to my profile like wrestling, kidnap roleplay…but superheroes always remained at the back of my mind. I would cyber with folks or chat about fantasies. Sometimes they would share with me pics of their own adventures, each one feeding my desire. I am always indebted to those guys for helping me to figure out my fetish and teaching me from afar.  

My first superhero suit was a gift given to me by a gentleman who was flying through my hometown. We were getting together to wrestle at first but I told him about my superhero fetish and that I always wanted to try it out. When I met him, he surprised me by giving me my first superhero suit. It was a green and yellow leotard from spandexman.com but it was amazing, it was real! It had the bright colors the gloves, the boots. I finally had something that I could pretend to be a hero in. This wasn’t a wrestling outfit or athletic gear, this was an-honest-to-goodness heroic uniform.

That first OC hero was named Diode and I loved that suit so much. I took photos in it detailing the young hero’s fight against intruders and they were among my first photo sets to grace my profiles on gearfetish.

I loved setting up the tripod and digital camera and taking action shots of me as a superhero, attacking, reeling and lying spread eagle on the floor. I have since added more suits to my arsenal and hope to add plenty more. I have also added more experiences to my superhero fetish. To date I have played as Spiderman getting bound, Robin kidnapped, Nightwing interrogated and Superboy wrestled into submission. My biggest achievement came this year in the form of a movie that wedded all my fetishes. In 2015 I was approached by Kevin who ran Bondage Jeopardy,  and we began collaborating on a superhero bondage story for his website. Once we had a script I saved up and flew up to Portland where we spent two whirlwind days filming “Shadowknight”. It was a rush to see myself getting tied up and as a superhero and not be the camera operator as well.

It feels like my superhero fetish took a long time to blossom, and I still feel like a novice despite being active in the community for 12 years since I started really exploring it. I enjoy being the superhero/sidekick who gets kidnapped, tied up, molested and beaten. Examining it as the sex nerd I am, I believe I most enjoy it for the juxtaposition and role reversal. The hero is strong, valiant, virtuous in the mythical comics. In these kinky scenes that dynamic is flipped on its head and he is now vulnerable, worshipped, erotic and a person to be desired.

When I see myself in spandex, tied up and gagged, I imagine taking part in those one-on-one talks with villains, as they try to corrupt, destroy, tease, tantalize and arouse the hero. When I wear those suits I feel more confident in my sexuality and my sexual desirability than I ever do wearing regular clothes. I feel heroic and strong, even when I’m being subdued by nefarious traps and plots. I feel more sexually attractive than I do at clubs and bars or even the gym…They give me a power I don’t normally have in real life. Being touched in those suits feels more electric, more sensuous. My inner negative thoughts – about my body, about if I’m good enough for a man, about my desirability – they melt away.

In a way my superhero fetish ties in to my view that kink is a playful activity. Dressing up as heroes is an element of play that we did as kids, and it’s the same way for kink. Leather and BDSM rules about masters and slaves begin to lose me as they leech into everyday life. It becomes about order and not about fun. While I have and do enjoy bondage and master/sub play as well, I still just see all kink as putting on a costume and playing make-believe with your friends. Superhero fetish to me is about playing with characters, situations and scenes and then, when it’s over putting the suit away and waiting for another adventure to begin. Each play is like a self-contained comic book with a hot steamy ejaculatory ending.

In a way this understanding of my superhero fetish inspired the pun in my blog name…The Sidekink. The sidekick has always drawn me to him and I identified most clearly with them. I have something of a baby face, so people always assume I’m younger than I am so the sidekick role fits, plus I always feel awkward playing the macho hero, especially since I am not very macho. Sidekicks are willing to learn, willing to work together; their egos aren’t as fragile should something go wrong or should they be captured (which they almost always are).

When I was first starting out, Robin and Superboy were my heroes of choice. They were young and fresh, full of pep and even a bit cocky as they went against a villain. Now that I am 30, I tend to associate more with Nightwing, Arsenal and Spiderman. They are heroes who have struck out from under their teacher’s shadow, left childhood behind, but who still acknowledge that they need help. At this point in my kink life I have been around for a while but there is still a lot that I need to experience and learn. Who knows if, as I go into mid-age, whether the older heroes will speak to me but it’s something I’m willing to entertain.

I have also begun blending my superhero fetish (something previously kept hidden and to myself) and a more outward kinky persona. My Tumblr blog has definitely helped with that as I have exposed myself in multiple ways to the wider world. Kink and geekiness have blended on that blog and I have met people who blur that line between fan admiration and kinkster and they to date are very good friends I can’t wait to meet in person. I have also started to bring the costumes out of the closet and into the wider world, as an amateur cosplayer. I look at superhero fetish as the sexy, erotic side of fandom; for those wanting to bring the geek into the sheets as well as into the streets. In that respect, Paul Charles, The Gay Comic Geek and Pablo Greene, author of  How to Kill a Superhero, have been incredible sources of inspiration for me.  

Superhero play brings me back to those old George Pereze drawings of Robin/Nightwing defiantly enduring torture and bondage at the hands of Brother Blood and Deathstroke. A part of me always wondered what would happen if he gave in. What if the reason Deathstroke kept targeting Nightwing was because he desired the young Grayson as an equal to challenge him? What if the reason Kraven hunted Spiderman so much, was because the lithe form in a tight spandex suit aroused in him a lust that he needed to fill? What if heroes embraced the tight spandex and had lingering glances in the locker rooms of the Halls of Justice? I like to play with these ideas and for this reason superheroes will always be that grand fetish I don’t think I will ever give up. I’d like to think that 30, 40 years down the line, I will still nbe that person that puts on his costume and has adventure after adventure, hopefully with some great friends I meet along the way.

Where to Buy a Good and Affordable Superman Suit

I received this message on Whatsapp this week: "Can you recommend anywhere to get an affordable and good Supes suit?”

I get this question at least once or twice a month on my Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram (user howtokillasuperhero) and Snapchat (user killsuperhero). And each time, I like to help out by recommending ways to put together a Superman look. In order to provide help to all cosplayers and kinksters out there, and not just those in my contact list, Here’s some options I put together for all of you. I also have some tips if you have more budget later on this post.

A Solid Superman suit for about $100 US Dollars

For this look, we’re going to put together a solid spandex look for both the classic Superman and the Man of Steel version.

Bodysuit and tights

• Zentai Zentai: You can get a Superman Man of Steel suit for about $65 USD. Not bad. Be sure to provide all your measurements when you order in case any customization needs to happen.

• Ebay: Your best best here is to enter “Superman Zentai” in search. You will get results for what I call the standard Superman zentai option. The quality tends to be decent, and you can consider this an entry level Supes suit. They come with capes and trunks. Heads up, the capes are kind of flimsy, but hey, budget. I am not recommending a particular seller, because they tend to appear and reappear often. There’s a lot crappy designs, but you can find one like the one below that has the right colors and tailoring. Don’t forget that many of these Chinese zentai vendors will customize for as little as $5, so if you want a crotch zipper or custom sizing, go for it. I have never really had a bad experience with these companies other than a couple of purchases that smelled like cigarette smoke. The quality on this suit is good enough for cosplay, fetish events, and it should last at least a couple of years as long as you don’t do stupid things when you wash it.

• Herostime: I have had hit or miss experiences with this site, but in general, they offer a quality product and will also customize. Their selection of Superman suits is great, and I recommend this one: Classic Design Superman Spandex/Lycra Superhero Costume. It looks sick!

Get Better Red Trunks

The trunks that come included in some of the suits above leave a little bit to be desired. In my case, they sit too low on the hips and do not cover my butt they way they do in the comics and movie versions of the costume. I like the Cliff Keen Lycra brief on Amazon. Just remember that it does not have belt loops for the yellow belt. If you are obsessive,  you will want to add in the loops, but it’s probably fine without. I also like the Speedo Men's Powerflex Eco Solid Swimsuit in red. I have worn that brief with my Superman suit before. If you are doing the Man of Steel version, you don’t need a belt.

Boots

I like the Funtasma Men's Hero 100 Engineer Boot. No, it’s not a perfect match, but you want to stay on budget, right? Suck it up and use this boot. It’s good enough.

The Comic-Con Cosplay-Level Option ($500+)

At this level, you’re going to spending lots of  money. Rather than me telling you what your budget cap should be, I will just tell you where to go buy this stuff. Be ready to shell out extra for any customization, too.

Everything but the boots

• Buy your full suit from Snakepit Studios custom cosplay and movie replicas. They have the New 52 Superman costume on their site, but you can ask them for the Christopher Reeve, Superman Returns or Man of Steel version. They will work to give you the best and most accurate look.

• Buy your suit from RPC studio. I also highly recommend this company. You will need to use their custom superhero costume options on their web store.

• You can buy a design from Gunhead design, get the design file printed on a giant sheet of spandex at Fabric on Demand, and hire a seamstress or tailor to sew it for you. This is a cheaper option, but requires more work. I featured this option in my sublimated spandex superhero costume series on YouTube

Boots

You’re not going to like my answer on this one. Just like a good man, boots are HARD TO FIND. It’s really going to depend on how much you want to spend, and which version of Superman you are trying to achieve. For this I suggest really shopping around or contacting other high-level cosplayers. You can start by joining the Cosplay for Sale FB group. You can also try Ebay and Amazon. This pair of Man of Steel boots on Amazon looks decent (since they are aiming for replica-level detail), but take your time shopping for boots. And don’t buy crap just because you’re in a hurry.

Got more questions about where to put together your superhero costumes and other superhero fetish questions? Send us an email at au@howtokillasuperhero.net or join our Facebook page.