Kinky and Queer? Discord's Providing More Soul than Gay Dating Apps
By Blog Contributor Johnny Gayzmonic
It ain’t easy being kinky. It’s fun, but it ain’t easy. Being kinky isn’t just having a fetish or occasionally “spicing things up in the bedroom.” For me and many others, kink is a philosophy, not an activity. It’s a state of being and a state of mind, a part of sexual identity as much as something like being gay or bisexual is. It’s an indelible and irrevocable part of the core of who we are. It’s very nature insists that it goes beyond the bedroom.
If you’re kinky, it can be difficult for people to find connections. It can be hard to find that rapport that comes from a very specific set of shared interests. This is especially difficult if your kinks are intersectional, like mine are. It’s one thing to be into muscles or spandex or superheroes, but combine all three with a touch of BDSM and a presentation that’s unabashedly queer, and it becomes much more difficult to find like-minded invididuals.
While social media can be great for discovering likeminded folks, too often it can devolve into a kind of virtual circle jerk. That can be as literal or metaphorical as you like. If kink is who you are and not what you do, you need more than just whack-off material in your community. You need to be able to identify and sympathize with other kinky people. Likewise, dating apps like Scruff and Grindr tend to have a very narrow definition of what kink is, and it’s treated more like a hobby or occasional indulgence. Even apps specifically catered to the kink community like Recon focus much more on hook-ups and indulging the kinks than living and breathing it.
For me, things came together through Discord, specifically the Discord server of one Pablo Greene. I knew Pablo through his altar ego Cesar Torres: author of queer superhero fiction and creator of LED Queens, the company behind the workout tights that are essential workout gear for me. I was intrigued by Pablo’s cosplay photos, where he presented himself not only as heroes from Cesar Torres’ works but as heroic characters I knew and loved like Spider-Man, Shazam, and Jean Grey.
To help support Pablo, I donated to his Patreon, which netted me an invite to his Discord server. And what an invite that was. I was not sure what to fully expect, having had limited experience with Discord, but what I found was a forum and community of people who had interests in sync with my own. Queer superhero fans, cosplayers, fitness geeks, and spandex enthusiasts as far as the eye could see.
But it was the daily goings-on at Discord that truly made me feel at home. It wasn’t just trading hot pics -- although there is some of that going on -- but a full discussion on what these kinks mean to us and how we experience them in daily life. There’s discussion on how to source cosplay materials. There’s talk about what we think about superheroes in film and television and comic books. There’s posting of motivational fitness and cosplay pictures, which often lead to surprisingly constructive and supportive comments.
Best of all, the server isn’t primarily designed to hook up users like a dating app. First and foremost, it’s a place of discussion, support, and collaboration for those of us who in some cases might not have any other outlets for expressing our love of these topics or talking about the kinks that make us who we are. That being said, Pablo has provided one NSFW channel to allow people to indulge the more sexual side of these kinks. Because in the end, it’s impossible to remove that part of the equation.
Best of all, it’s a place where those of us who love the intersection of superheroes, fitness, cosplay, and kink can thrive and be honest with who we are and what we want. To quote fellow Discord user Peakeatchu (IG/Twitter: peakeatchu): “It’s where I can feel most myself. I came out in my mid twenties and being from a small town, was very shy and insecure about myself. Six years ago I started cosplaying and found friends with the same interest, and didn’t feel judged by them. I started gaining confidence in myself, and expanded my collection of costumes. Then one day, I say one of Pablo Greene’s posts about superheroes. We started talking and over the last few years become friends. With the advent of his Patreon page, I feel that I’ve had a great opportunity to learn more about the superhero kink and now with Discord, there is a larger group that I’m part of where I get to share my opinions and thoughts about our common shared interests.
I have a theory. I’m a fan of the Mad Max franchise, and if you’ve seen any of those films, you’ll notice how most of the people dress in some kind of fetish wear. Think of how the gang in The Road Warrior is decked out in harnesses, athletic pads, and leather. You can see similar concepts in the countless post-apocalyptic Mad Max knock-offs from the 80s, as well as in films like The Warriors. My theory is that in these kinds of future worlds, the reason the gangs dress like this is because they were all kinksters before the apocalypse, and they were either a tight-knit community already or quickly came together afterward. Either way, they found strength and purpose through their shared kink identity, and that’s why allowed them to survive.
So it’s time to start connecting with your fellow kinksters and to reclaim your own bit of personal power. Find your strength, find your voice, and find your community. The kink in me recognizes and respects the kink in you. And it’s beautiful.
About the Author
Johnny Gayzmonic is a writer, musician, film critic, and self-professed spandex enthusiast who lives, works, and lifts weights in Minneapolis, MN. Find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @johnnygayzmonic.
Want to join Pablo’s Discord Sever?
The White Trees Comic Isn’t Just Queer as Hell, It’s Superb Fantasy
Image: Kris Anka, Image Comics
Publisher: Image Comics
Format: 2-issue series
Where to get it: In print, you can get Issue 1 in print here, Issue 2 in print here.
In digital You can read digitially on Kindle and Comixology. Issue 1 is here and issue 2 here. However, I recommend that you buy it instead from your local comic book shop, whenever possible.
By Pablo Greene
There’s great strength in brevity. When a story is told in a very short format, the writer has no other choice but to get to the point. And if it’s executed well, it will illicit emotion from a reader and leave them changed. That kind of brevity seems to be scarce in this decade, as TV shows drag on for multiple seasons, movie universes like Marvel stretch on for decades past our lifetime, and even the continuity of Marvel and DC comics seems to just never stop.
The White Trees, written by veteran writer Chip Sdarsky, drawn by Kris Anka and colored by Marr Wilson, knocked me off my fucking feet. And it did it in just two issues. I haven’t had such a visceral experience with a short comic series like this in years. What’s more, The White Trees raises the stakes for what a great fantasy universe can look like, and without advertising itself as such, it’s a much-needed contribution to the ideas about gender of this current decade.
This is a book that will please many LGBTQ folks, but if you visit the marketing pages for the comic, those aspects of the story are almost non-existent. They are free to market the book as they wish, but they are missing out on a huge chunk of LGBTQ readers who are absolutely starved for more stories like this. Yes, there are wonderful queer comics out there already like The Young Protectors, The Pride and Wuvable Oaf, but The White Trees dares to carve out a space for itself as a high fantasy with a distinct voice.
Yes, the comic is this good. And more of us passionate readers should be talking about it.
What’s The White Trees About?
The story structure of The White Trees isn’t new. In fact, it will feel very familiar, if you have consumed books and movies like Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, Taken starring Liam Neeson, and even Finding Nemo. A group of people must come together to find their kidnapped loves ones: in this story, it’s the children of three illustrious warriors who have been taken. And we follow those three warriors: Sir Krylos (a human), Sir Windlo (a gigantic were-lion that will send bara fans doing backflips), and Scotiar, an elf-like humanoid whose gender is as fluid as ocean water. These three beings know each other well, and as they set out into the kingdom to find their kidnapped children, they unlock a series of family secrets, political backstabbings, and hidden desires that are not just intriguing, but are steamier than a romance novel. The action is spread out over two issues, and the pacing and structure of this book just gallops along. Just when you have a moment to take in a quiet moment, our heroes are plunging forward into battle scenes and set pieces.
The artwork by Kris Anka has a solidity that is not easily found in many comics. The characters, settings, and even magical creatures, look as hard as real muscle, bone, wood, and stone. The color of this comic is also exceptional. The warm and rich hues of the world of Blacksand literally jump off the page, even when there are moments of emotional anguish. The artwork of this comic is worth visting and re-visiting in multiple readings.
Sir Krylos Is Unforgettable
What really matters in this comic is the story arc of our main hero, Sir Krylos. He is a character who has aged, but not terribly well (despite his good looks). When the comic begins, he is gardening and farming, roles that have given him new meaning after all the death and violence he has given out over the years. Krylos’ story is one that is soaked in personal pain. And in his minimalist dialogue, his small gestures, and his facial expressions, we see how difficult it can be for him to just exist. He is no nihilist and he is not suicidal, but from the very first panels, we know that Krylos is a man that lives so deep in human misery, that it’s possible that the only other company he can tolerate is that of his own. And although this archetype of the aging hero is quite common in books and film, Zdarsky imbues Krylos with a new take on what it means to have been a sucessful warrior who cannot erase his past.
Why This Comic Matters for Queer People
This comic approaches queerness and gender fluidity on all levels, and bakes it right into its fictional universe. This review is spoiler free, but believe me when I say that there is a touch of a fantasy utopia in this series when it comes to gender and sexuality. Not only are we treated to hot scenes of romance and sex between these queer characters, but we are not hammered over our heads with words describing their identities. In fact, none of the characters describe their sexual and romantic lives in the ways in which we do now, in the twenty first century. In the world of Blacksand, there’s same-sex sex, opposite-sex sex, interspecies sex, and even magical sex. And no one has to fucking explain it or use a label. Instead, Zdarsjy and Anka fulfill on the principle of show, don’t tell. And that makes this comic way better than many queer comics out there today. Of course, it has the luxury of being set in a fantasy world, where a utopia can happen, but that would belittle the great writing and visual storytelling that was done to accomplish this. The sex scenes are very hot, and also filled with wonderful colors that we don’t always get in sex scenes in comics and cinema. It’s hot, queeroes!
Is There Superhero Fetish In this Comic?
Image: Kris Anka, Image Comics
Yes, plenty. Let’s be clear: this is not a superhero comic. But the characters, especially our three main heroes, are drawn like superheroes. And their uniforms and clothing are just as sexy as Superman’s leotard or Catwoman’s stretchy black bodysuit. What’s more, the body types shown in this short series also have a nice range, from lean and supple, to wiry and athletic, to thick and muscularly stout. There’s also a very hot bondage scene that I will not spoil, but which will also appeal to readers who love the genre of superhero fetish. Beyond costuming and bondage there’s an incredible array of images and scenes that will stimulate fans of homoerotic art, bara, queer and non-binary sex. Are the creators of this comic queer? It doesn’t matter to me. They created a queer world that I could believe in, and that’s what matters when it comes to creating a work of fiction.
My Recommendation
You should pick up the two issues of The White Trees if you can find them in print as soon as possible. This comic is that good. The story of Krylos is going to keep you turning pages, and I warn you, you will fall in love with his muscle daddy looks and his tragic story. But what you’re not prepared for is the rest of the book, which is a visual delight, filled with way more hot sex than I ever expected (I actually didn’t expect any), and a cohesive fantasy universe that I would like to see again. But if the team makes more Blacksand stories, please keep them short and sweet like you did on The White Trees. This is an instance where less is more, and it’s what really made me fall in love with daddy Krylos and the world of Blacksand.
Movie Review: Todd Phillips’ Joker Is A Welcome Horror
Warner Brothers
By Pablo Greene
It’s always unfortunate when a movie carries too much buzz and speculation before its world wide premiere. Press, whether good or bad, can cause a whole rift among people who may have “heard” a movie will shock or perhaps even disappoint viewers. Remember The Last Temptation of Christ? Yep. Been there. And yet, I believe film is worth seeing, even when it’s got a bit of a stink around its opening. Todd Phillips, the director of The Hangover, has skillfully delivered a film that sets a new precedent for our era of superhero-obsessed cinema. His Joker, as portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, manages to take us to new, terrifying depths of the famous comic-book supervillain, while at the same time providing a commentary on capitalism that refuses to stay quiet. And there’s also something that this movie does, that almost no other recent superhero film has managed to do.
Joker functions as a horror film. A sublime, and powerful horror film. And that’s one of the reasons it’s worth seeing.
I sat in the theater watching this morose tale of isolation, violence, disappointment and rage, and just ten minutes into the film, I realized that Todd Phillips was going to take us to the darkest places of the Joker as a character. If you are not familiar with films like Scorsese’s Taxi Driver or John McNaughton’s 1990 film Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, I would suggest streaming them as soon as you can. I also think you should watch season 1 of Mindhunter, and in particular, pay attention to how carefully the evil of real-life serial killer Ed Kemper is told in the Netflix series. It can provide a powerful base of material in which you can appreciate a movie like Joker on its terms as a horror thriller.
The film has an incredible look, thanks to cinematographer Lawrence Sher. The audio editing delivers chills and also emotional anguish. Every time we hear Arthur’s awkward laugh, we are teetering on the edge of absolute awkwardness, and something else: the agony of being human.
Throughout Joker, Phillips pays homage more than once to Brian DePalma, who also earned his share of controversies throughout his career for creating films that disturbed and left viewers feeling bruised (or offended) after viewing. One of the most notable of these films is Carrie, and it’s no surprise to see references in this film to the very same state of isolation and pathos that is shared by both Carrie White and Arthur Fleck.
Let me also clear something up. Despite what you may have read in other reviews or on social media, this film is not Scorsese light. Although it does have a few nods to Scorsese’s The King of Comedy and Taxi Driver, Joker is unmistakably post-modern, and a film of the 21st century. It’s also a narrative that functions on its own. This is a movie that’s highly self aware about superhero and comic tropes, and it’s no imitation of former films. I love Scorsese’s movies, and he’s a master of his craft. But Joker has to be watched on its own terms.
Spoilers Ahead
Phillips’ version of the Joker presents us with Arthur Fleck, a comedian suffering from mental illness (which he is aware of), who is struggling to make ends meet while taking care of his mother and putting on his comedy act in a a Gotham that has oppressed the middle and lower classes and become a type of living nightmare. Arthur’s luck goes from bad to worse, as he’s fired from jobs for inappropriate and violent behavior. He dreams simply of being seen, which is heartbreaking to watch. From the very early scenes in the movie we see this line in his diary, and throughout the movie, he is ignored, belittled, and yes, made invisible by co-workers, teens in the street, his boss, and even his own mother. Arthur also learns that he may be the son of Thomas Wayne, millionaire and father to future rubber fetishist Bruce Wayne. Thomas Wayne is portrayed as a Trump figure in this film, promising salvation, but in the end being only interested in his own personal gain.
The violence in this movie builds, and when it arrives, it’s brutal, and set off in a chain reaction. Much criticism has arisen from this loner sensibility as the movie has released. Many critics and social media accounts have suggested that this film only encourages angry loner types to commit angry acts of gun violence, like the ones we see every week in the United States. But I never got this impression from the film. The film is describing a state of mind, not advocating for the behaviors that result from it. Trust me, there’s far more violent TV shows and movies available on Netflix and cinema today that glorify violence by making it cartoony and fun. And yes, one of the franchises that is most guilty of this is the MCU. Once the Avengers films began to release, I was shocked at how easily they brushed off the consequences of killing thousands of people and not addressing the real consequences of those crimes.
In Joker, I felt like every death in the film left me with an emotional impact, and that’s one of its strengths. As Arthur Fleck becomes more unhinged, I was reminded of Michael Rooker’s performance in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. That movie was brutal, unpleasant, and also very, very watchable. I felt like in that film, I was watching a man go deeper into becoming a monster. And I feel the same way about Joker. This is a Joker that is not meant to be some type of anti-hero that we root for. Instead, he is embodied psychosis, and guess what? That pretty much encapsulates what makes the character so sinister and great in the source material of comic books. The psychotic and cruel Joker of Alan Moore’s Killing Joke is here in a new form, played with a very strange vulnerability, and Joaquin Phoenix has managed to bring something fresh to the role while also staying true to the roots of the comics.
Joker is a really important film for this particular decade we are living in, because it’s trying to point out two very important ideas. One is that the capitalist system is literally eating our planet, and our society alive. In the film we see many citizens reading a newspaper headline that says suggests “Kill the Rich” is a whole new movement. This points out the struggles we are living through. Here in the United States, there is a squeeze of the middle class that has been happening for decades. But more than half of the planet lives in dire poverty, exploited by the upper echelons of society, which includes those of us in the middle class. As an allegory, Joker works in delivering this idea. Secondly, this film takes a stab at deconstructing superheroes, and suggests to us that our obsession with celebrity and the archetype of superheroes may possibly be our own demise. There isn’t a single instance of Batman in this movie, other than Bruce Wayne when he’s a boy. And I was glad to see that. This Joker felt tangible, real, and less of a purple-suited icon that can be slapped on a McDonald’s happy meal. This makes me hopeful for the future. You know that I love my traditional superhero stories, too. There’s nothing wrong with them. But we have a glut of those stories. It’s sometimes just overload. Todd Phillips took some new chances with Joker, and it pays off. He’s carving out a new type of superhero story in a way that is similar to the comic book (and Amazon series) The Boys. All I hope is that producer never, ever make a sequel to this film. It’s fine as a standalone, and I don’t need to see Batman intervene in the future. Enough has been said through Joaquin Phoenix’s performance.
A Touch of Queerness
This film is definitely not what I would call a queer film, and yet, the scenes where Arthur Fleck discovers his true inner self while wearing the clown makeup are sublime. When Arthur is in his Joker drag, his body language changes, he veers into a very femme type of performance, elegant as the neck of a swan, and absolutely steeped in his own bliss. Many drag queens have spoken and written in the past about their experiences in drag, and how their drag persona helps them reveal a person they feel really exists inside them. For full disclosure, I also performed in drag about 15 years ago for the Neo Futurists in Chicago, and I can attest that my persona and body language changed when I had the clothes and the makeup on. I felt this dynamic watching Joaquin Phoenix’s body literally transform when he was finally accessing his very dangerous inner self as the Joker.
Superhero Fetish Elements?
Unfortunately, I can’t say that this film has any superhero fetish elements that I can speak to. Because Todd Phillips thankfully stayed away from tights and capes in his version of Gotham, we are left with a costume design aesthetic that more closely resembles early 1980’s New York. Denim and polyester suits rule, and wool suits create a worn-out, almost dusty look to the costuming. Because the film is also a horror film, there’s not much emphasis on sexuality, other than Arthur Fleck’s fantasies of romancing his neighbor. Surely, this Joker has a very dangerous and unexplored sexuality, but I didn’t feel that this was a focus for coded arousal of the audience. If you want a sexier joker, I suggest you check out Heath Ledger’s scene in The Dark Knight where he’s in drag as a nurse. That to me was way more fetish-oriented, and in comparison, actually kind of playful and fun.
My Recommendation
This film is perfect for film lovers. You should expect shock, awe, and perhaps even a sense of metaphorical nausea when watching this film. If you are averse to violence, gore and psychological discomfort, sit this one out. It’s definitely worth seeing it on the big screen for its great cinematography and sound editing. This ain’t no Infinity War. And thankfully so.
I’m Hiring A Photo Assistant, and I Need A Freakin’ Hero
Solar Six, the production company that makes my cosplay photos, YouTube episodes and short films, is hiring.
Solar Six has made images of my cosplays like this one:
And this one:
And they have created videos like this one:
ARE YOU THE PHOTO HERO I AM LOOKING FOR?
This part-time position is perfect for a photographer, photo editor or retoucher who’s looking for a new challenge that is definitely different than typical commercial or product photography. You don’t have to have a multimedia degree, but it helps.
You should be someone who moves comfortably inside Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and maybe even Davinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere. You don’t need to be a fancy DSLR shooter. Working with your smartphone is fine. On this job you will learn more advanced elements of photography, but you should come in with a solid skill set before you apply.
My brand of storytelling is a hard remix of superheroes, queerness and very dark sci-fi. If you are not excited about all three of these areas, you should not apply.
You will be working directly with me, Pablo Greene, on photo shoots that require production and art design, lighting, styling and camera work. Here’s what it’s like:
When you work with me, you will get the pleasure of working on projects that happen on time, get paid out on time, and which are made by an artist who is gay, queer, and a person of color. But I am not always easy. My working style is very precise, requires a lot of interaction with me, and may sometimes feel like it’s so detail oriented that you just want to take an Advil. I will also ask you to read through written materials when we do planning on shoots or I create specs for the art direction. If you’re not a fan of reading, this is not your place. When you work with me, you will not be getting emails from me in the middle of the night, but when the work is happening, I will push you to your limits to get the best work from you. It’s a hands-on way to learn how to work like a pro. At the same time, I treat all my employees with respect. I welcome employees of any gender expression, sexuality, and of all backgrounds, religious affiliations. I strongly discourage bigots, homophobes and prudes from applying. In other words, if you are close minded and hateful, step. My photo shoots are rated PG-13, and they don’t feature any frontal nudity, and they occasionally feature fetish ideas and imagery.
LOCATION
Shoots will happen in my Chicago photo studio or on location around Chicago, weather permitting. For location shoots, you are expected to have your own means of transportation to get there. No worries, they are all reachable via CTA. If you’re not based in Chicago but you are good at photo editing and retouching, I may also still be interested. If that’s you, please submit your application following the instructions below.
WORKING STYLE
Studio and location shoots will be very detail oriented. Most shoots take about 2 hours, and are scheduled throughout the week. For any work that’s done remotely, I work exclusively using Slack. I don’t use email or text for projects. Slack allows you and I to have a nice separation of work and personal life. I use Slack only during general business hours, unless we are doing a night or weekend shoot.
PAY
This is a freelance/contract gig, and I pay a flat fee or hourly rate, depending on your level experience. If you’re new to freelancing, please keep in mind that you will have to set aside money and pay your own taxes. Some of the more complex shoots will have a flat fee instead of an hourly rate, which we can negotiate based on experience.
HOW TO APPLY
Send an email to this email address, and please include the following:
🔎 A link to your Instagram or photo portfolio site. Only show me your best work
🔎 Tell me your dream. Is it to be the best photographer in the world? To make YouTube videos? To be a drag stylist? Tell me.
🔎 Tell me who is your favorite visual storyteller, and why
🔎 Include links/samples of videos you have made for social/YouTube
🔎 A short description of your working style when it comes to editing a photo in LIghtroom or Photoshop
🔎 Take a look at my YouTube channel and Instagram and tell me two things you would suggest to improve their visual storytelling
NEXT STEPS
If we at Solar Six like what you bring to the table, we’ll reach out to you. We do a sample photo edit test to see what you can come up with. For this test, I’ll send you a RAW photo, and you will be asked to edit it according to the specs we send you, but it will also give you a chance to show us your creativity. No stress, just super fun work in Lightroom and Photoshop. If the applicant passes that test, well then we’re good to go, aren’t we?
I Will Not Be Continuing My Superhero Fetish Meetup at IML 2020
Dear Queeroes,
I am writing today to let you know that I will not be producing and hosting my party POW! The Superhero Fetish Meetup at IML 2020, and I want to tell you why I made this decision. IML has been a wonderful space for me as a kinky person, and also as a book author and artist. I first had an author table at IML at the Marriott in 2013 thanks to the wonderful support of the Leather Archives and Museum. Year by year, I came back to IML with new volumes of my series to sell and autograph. In 2014, I kicked off POW! The Superhero Fetish Meetup at IML and MAL as a grassroots event to build community. At the time, I wanted to bring together gay, queer, trans and gender-non-conforming male identified folks to celebrate their passion for remixing classic leather, kink, and superhero fetish. And guess what? The party grew, and grew. As of last year, the party draws about 200 attendees in fantastic kinky cosplays that make it the world’s largest superhero fetish event, by my estimate.
Starting in 2016, The Superhero Fetish Meetup was added to the IML lineup and official schedule, which blew my mind, and also help extend the reach of the event. As you can see by photos on my Instagram, you can see how each year the party grew in attendance and fun.
Fall 2019 has just begun, and I have decided to not continue POW! The Superhero Fetish Meetup. It’s of course not easy to make this decision, but it comes from very positive reasons.
Superhero Fetish Meetup at IML 2020
My brand of kinky and queer superhero books is expanding, and I never expected to have such a popular book series that delights gay and queer men. In fact, I am releasing a fifth How to Kill a Superhero book in 2020. As an author, I am grateful my readers have come this far in the journey.
As my book series has gained more reach around the world, the scope of the community building that’s part of the superhero and spandex fetish community has also inspired me to go into new directions with the events I curate. Nowadays, my book readers and community members include more trans, queer and non-binary folks, women and people of color than ever before, and it’s thanks to their feedback that I am moving into new virtual and physical spaces that celebrate who they are. That means that I will be organizing new events and meetups in the near future that align with the needs of my readers and fans. This includes more international events in Mexico, the UK, the European Union and Asia, as well as an expansion of my online communities, such as the one in my Discord community (which you can join when you subscribe to my free newsletter). It also will include more inclusive and safer spaces that align to the needs of my community.
I want to stress that the IML organizers have always been professional, generous, organized, and great friends. I am in awe of how much they accomplish year by year, and their legacy can never be forgotten. I will always enjoy visiting IML as a spectator and supporter of its efforts in the LGBTQ community and worldwide kink populations. I send out a huge blast of gratitude and joy to them as I move into a new chapter of this story.