A-Z of Fetish Artists - Tagame (Part 1)

 Tagame is a modern giant of the fetish genre, he is both provocative and prolific. For the art reviewer, the amount of material is massive, his comic book stories are often huge works running into hundreds of pages with perhaps 6 illustrations per page. I cannot hope to do justice to it all, just give a flavour of that which I admire about him.

The Viking and The Ogre (from Oeyama-Kitan)

Anyone wishing to get to know Tagame's work faces a few obstacles. His stories are written in Japanese and typically contain page after page of scene-setting dialogue which is baffling for the average Westerner. English (and other) translations do exist (see above) but they are often awkward, peppered with strange transatlantic and colloquial expressions and generally lacking the style and subtlety to bring out the true flavours of the original Japanese text. The randomly selected example above illustrates the gulf in language. (Remember to read the pictures from right to left on each line). This Tagame is unexpectedly romantic, but the image shows his graphic skills nicely, there's an intriguing touch of Yaoi style about it too. 

His First Body Harness (from Pride Vol 1)

The sheer scale of his works coupled with the language issues often leads to dismemberment of the stories and circulation of 'best bits' (bleeding chunks, as they say in the classical music field) without any context. Despite these issues, it's worth seeking complete translations out as this allows some context to be applied to the more spectacular images and can reveal otherwise 'hidden' gems in the scene setting, like this episode from 'Pride', where a student discovers that the tight, rope, body harness, (which he has been told to wear under his clothing by his mentor as an initiation test), is not mere decoration, it subsequently hampers everything he does during the day - threatening to expose his secret to his friends. Sadly it seems that the sound-effects defy translation – a bit of creaking rope perhaps? I admire the skilfully drawn faces in these frames.

Cover from Jujitsu Kyoshi

Many of Tagame's principal characters are beguilingly western in appearance, often with chunky builds and prominent black eyebrows and moustache's, they almost look like the stereotypical Latin American macho male. However there is no mistaking the Japanese settings and clothing and his work is full of Japanese cultural references, such as the loin cloth (fundoshi) in the picture above, much of whose cultural (and erotic) significance is probably lost on Westerners. Many of Tagame's coloured 'stand alone' images like this actually belong with specific stories and depict the characters or incidents in a more polished form than is possible within the comic book style.

Exposed Captive from Jujitsu Kyoshi

This splendid picture of a captive tethered outside in freezing weather as a punishment echoes similar images by Okawa (here). Tagame styles his image in the same traditional Japanese fashion. Notice the delicate snow detail on the top of the stake and his hair. The fast flowing, freezing river has already soaked the victim's loincloth and is gradually washing it away - and his modesty with it. It's a subtly-drawn embellishment which gives extra erotic punch. 

 I presume this imagery has it's roots in Japanese lore or literature and I have an idea that this is a punishment normally reserved for servants. However, I lack the knowledge to fully understand the allusion. The picture comes from the volume, 'Jujitsu Kyoshi', a story of an martial arts instructor who offends against family morality and is punished. This scene does not appear in the story itself, but it could do and works as an embellishment for the reader to fantasise about. 

Scene from Kodama (Cabin in the Woods)

The final obstacle to mention, well it's more of an irritation really, is the Japanese censorship code which obscures sexual detail to a greater or lesser extent. I've tried to avoid including them in this article as far as possible. The example above (bottom right frame) at least gives the reader the option of providing his own! Sometimes a speech bubble blocks the offending area completely. As you would expect the artists are skilled at circumventing the restrictions and if you look top right, you will see a very explicit image indeed which has got through in disguised form.

Kodama (which this page comes from) features a gangster on the run. After an initial confrontation, his life is saved by the owner of the Cabin who then offers him a refuge – of sorts! This raunchy scene from the story is actually preceded by a toe-curling humiliation and in the next article I will look at Tagame's challenging content in more detail.

Part 2 continues here

For previous articles in this 'mitchmen' series click on the A-Z label below

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Tank

I'm exaggerating in labelling 'Tank' as a fetish artist but I thought this image complemented nicely the Cowboy picture from Timarcus in the last post plus I also usually like to start each new letter with a 'bonbon' and he certainly meets this criterion.

Tank - Bareback

The situation depicted here is not devoid of S&M overtones - the anxious, rueful expression of the rider, the more determined, knowing look of his companion and the braided cord slung over the shoulder which looks suspiciously like a lariat. There are parallels with the domination theme of the Timarcus picture. However, in this case the story is artfully developed by including a symbol of raw strength and power, the horse (male of course) and the leather accoutrements used to control it. The drawing style is voluptuous and glamorous in a masculine way, it's not a million miles away from  'hyper-realism' of Tom of Finland (who is also included in this group of artists) but it's rather more accomplished in technique. 

 Tom of Finland - Outlaw Roped

 Compare this picture by Tom, which also expresses a power relationship using similar compositional devices. Tom's sherrif's face is equally well depicted and both artists have used the contours of the jeans to insert a more explicit erotic element (as it were). Naturally Tom's is improbably bigger! Interestingly, you can see if you study Tank's picture, that the composition has been 'assembled' from three separate images, another technique shared with Tom.

  

Tank - Barn

 This is a rather unsubtle sequel and not a very good copy but I include it to draw more parallels with Tom of Finland's work. The lounging open-legged position was a favourite pose for him and the covert, guilty, sideways look of the second cowboy passing-by could have been plucked right out of early Tom. I hasten to add that I'm not seeking to characterise Tank as a Tom of Finland copyist, more of a heir and a kindred spirit. Actually it's the confident assertion of gay-ness, which is embodied in both Tank's pictures - especially the second one - that reflects the true essence of Tom's best work and that is far more significant than mere technical similarities.
I think Tom would be proud of this legacy.

 

 Tank - Cowboy

For the avoidance of doubt, Tom never produced a work as thrilling and vital as this, I'm not sure any European artist ever would, for this is the Spirit of America, excitement, achievement and freedom all packaged up in a stunningly beautiful image.

There's a decent selection of  Tank's work at Daddy's here Tank Collection
For other articles in this series click on the A-Z label below.
For other cowboy images click on the cowboy label

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Letter 'T'

The Letter 'T' in my survey of fetish artists presents us with two long lasting giants of the genre - Tom of Finland of course, plus Tagame. Then there is Teddy, a shooting star who flared briefly and then disappeared. The truly British character of Tam's work has special appeal to me and introduces a fetish that I don't think I have covered before - punching and fighting. 

The 'others' category includes the notable veteran artist, Titus.

For starters I offer an image exploring the idea of masculine power associated with cowboys.

Tim Marcus - Cowboys

This casually-drawn ink and water-colour drawing image is a very nice, mildly erotic image at first sight. But it's a curious mixture of overt and hidden eroticism, blending the allowable and the taboo in a way that probably dates it fairly precisely for anyone who has a detailed grasp of social mores in the second half of the 20th century. The combination of rear-view nudity with partial, non-classical clothing was an early breakthrough in erotic art, allowing significant sexual flavouring to be added to conventional 'greek statue' nudity. It's amusing that our heterosexual law-makers considered backsides less indecent than cocks at this point, but the lowered jeans shown here would be recognised as much more suggestive than a totally trouserless man. The glimpse of scrotum (a la Luger) takes us into the late 60's at least. The distinctive border suggests to me the magazines of the 70's and 80's.

However, it's the fetish elements of this picture that are most fascinating. The dangling belt and bare bottom unmistakeably signals an intention to spank. That was OK back then. Spanking was a normal part of growing up and it's application to grown men was considered to be no more than a peccadillo, just not to be spoken of. 

Contrast this with the bondage element of the picture. It's not explicitly shown at all, but we all associate cowboys with ropes and lassos, and for those who recognise it, the arms-behind-back pose of the right hand cowboy and the bindings round the post on the opposite side of the picture tell all. 

In fact these two innocuous posts tell a very explicit story indeed if you take the trouble to read the code. Their upright rigidity and close proximity speaks for itself. These cowboys are very excited! One post is bound with rope and the other not. That's easy, but did you notice that the bound one is significantly longer - and that the other cowboy is 'leaning' on it? We now know who is going to do what to whom. I confess I'm not sure of the full significance of the dangerous-looking projecting thorn but it's gonna hurt! (Perhaps it already has done and spanking is the result)

Finally consider the odd little cactus plant, which at the base bears a striking resemblance to a scrotum, an impression enhanced by the absence of spikes. A susceptible viewer might also perceive a curving penis disappearing beneath two other plums, note how the delineating thick shadow creates a sense of perspective. The plant itself is strategically positioned directly between the cowboy's legs - manipulation of 3-dimensional distance is a valuable disguising technique in these illicit images and it creates the visual equivalent of a double-entendre, suggesting both the simple joke of sitting on a cactus and something rather more naughty!

Brokeback Mountain was never like this (unfortunately!)

As hidden eroticism goes this is something of a tour-de-force (click on the label below for other examples). I have another image by this artist but it's just an adaptation of one of Lederman's famous 'cowboy in jockstrap images' (another dating clue). That's all I know about him, but he deserves to be rescued from obscurity by this image.

(Information from readers welcome as always).

For other articles in this series click on the A-Z label below.

Another Day at the Office - Mizuki Gai

Mizuki Gai - from Honeypot Anthology

A marvellous image of a casual encounter in the men's toilets. 

The handsome, muscular and neatly-attired office worker

 is forcefully examined by a much rougher specimen. 

A clenched fist and stony expression show his anxiety - or reluctance - or both.  

Meanwhile both men are seemingly being drenched by a burst pipe or...?

It's more realistic than much Yaoi-style work. The close-up framing adds drama to the image and I love the faces and dishevelled shirt detail.

Big, black and bursting out

 I've been perusing some good old fashioned muscle hunk pictures this week and this series starring Tim Liggens is one of my all time favourites

Well-fitting jeans always look sexy on a man but the earthy colour and coarse texture of Tim's pair here seems to boost those pheromones even more.

From behind the low-rise cut is plain to see, the centre seam is well tucked in, Tim couldn't possibly have squeezed any more of his bottom inside this garment. His buttocks peep above the waistband like melons in a sling.

In case you are in doubt, Tim proves these jeans do actually fit him when the waist is buttoned up. Judging by the turned down section someone could probably even get a finger or two in there.
If they wanted to that is.....

Just going out for the groceries. 

If you saw this on the street you'd surely have to follow for a block or two.

A fantasy....... Tim goes shopping

"Hmmm, glad I decided to put on a top, it's gone a bit misty all of a sudden."

(Me too!).

"When you can see the tops of the mountains,
they say it means visibility is going to improve."

(Fingers crossed chaps!)

"Hey! That looks like the sun coming out right now."
(boi-ing!)

"Darn, I shouldn't have flexed my legs,
that fly button's popped out again!"

(speaking to himself)
 "Sometimes, Tim boy you forget how big you are. (sigh).
"Mmmm, I love my left arm."

 "Oh Hi!
I didn't see you standing there!"

"Who you callin' Prime Beef, man?
Whaddya mean by that?"

"So you're a photographer, eh? That's cool.
Just happens I do some modelling myself,
d'ya like my abs?
....eh?, no, my abs, spelt with a 'b' "

"Muscle Bottoms dot com?
That sounds weird man!
I wouldn't pose for anything that was.......
well you know.....

Wait a minute! How much did you say you paid?"
.

"Follow me, this way".

Apologies to Tim and Muscle Gallery for liberties taken!

See more at Muscle Gallery and here

for more mitchmen stories click on the label below 

Men sharing clothes 18 - Supermarket Shirts

Regular readers will know that 'mitchmen' has a strange fascination with models who have to share the same clothes (knowingly or not), but this example has me stumped. 

 

Two stills from Big Daddy.com featuring one Izzy James and his mega dick. They also show two different guys and one shirt - of a decidedly non-erotic nature.

There's not much erotic milage in this particular act of sharing
(maybe underarm stuff? No, that idea stinks)

This is the sort of shirt you'd get from a cheapo supermarket, 

or which your mother might get for you, 

or which your uncle might buy hoping to look yoof-ful and trendy again.

So why would it feature in a porn shoot? 

Or, rather, two porn shoots!

 Izzy's videos usually feature naive men tricked into sampling his goods, well rather more than sampling actually. I suppose this shirt might suggest a certain innocent geekiness.
.

 

Both guys put their best foot forward (and up in the air) and despite their apparent lack of experience and a degree of anxiety and squealing, prove to be equal to the task of accomodating Izzy's organ, notably Ty Tucker below (click to enlage).
.

It just goes to prove that you can't judge a book by it's cover.
Or that in porn, you can't judge a man by his shirt.

For other articles about men sharing clothes click on the 'sharing' label below

Tagame's Wedge

 I came across this example of 'riding the wedge' while researching an article on Tagame for my forthcoming A-Z series on the letter 'T'. It's a typically imaginative not to say baroque rendering by the master.
The use of a wobbly, spring support to destabilise the apparatus is highly original. I can remember an innocent playground ride from childhood constructed in similar fashion but the object then was to stay on despite the wobbling (a mild version of modern 'bucking bull' machines). 

The sadistic operatives on hand to shake things up will also stir playground memories for some. They seem to be trying to foil an attempt by the prisoner to lift himself clear of the apex by bracing his heels on the slope.

The detail is rather too explicit and gruesome for my taste, I'm glad it's not in colour.
Don't try this at home!

Visit Tagame's site for more

For other posts on this subject click on the 'Wedge' label below.

Blues, Boots and Thighs - part 2

As a reader pointed out, I didn't include Cambridge, the Light Blues in my previous post on the boat race and I am happy to rectify that with the picture below, which may also help to explain the omission.

Normally light blue is very flattering to the male figure, especially below the waist.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who perks up when West Ham, Burnley or Aston Villa appear on ' Match of the Day'! However light blue Wellington Boots definitely do not cut the mustard for me.

2010 Cambridge win

This is the sexiest Cambridge 'boots' picture I could find, but while their rowing legs are the equal of their rivals, the colour scheme is nowhere near as good at showing them off - and they don't even feature any light blue below the waist.

The Weigh-In 2011

I am happy to concede the superiority of the Light Blue's outfits when other clothing is discarded. The lighter top and clever side darts here are very flattering to this chap's heavier build. This odd ceremony is not a slave auction (imagine!), but the weighing of each crewman alongside his opposite number in the other boat. The weight of the crew is one of those much discussed factors for betting men (yawn). Us fetishists can simply enjoy the gladiatorial pairing off of the crews - and their discomfort at being put on display in revealing outfits so that invidious comparisons can be made.

Those rowers waiting their turn to be processed in this horny circus are obliged to sit like schoolboys in front of a roomful of unsavoury, overweight, middle-aged hacks. They can shield their assets from unwanted scrutiny by tabloid reporters, but only until they take their place on the podium when physiques and vital statistics will be closely scrutinised and evaluated by all and sundry.

Preparation for the race involves lots of practice in the cold, early mornings of Spring, and Cambridge here sport some sexy leggings. Given the temperature it's probably just as well we can't see more of their fronts. The brave man at the far end deserves some attention - for chapped legs.

During the race we can enjoy the sight of eight hunky men showing off their shoulders and being shouted at by the weedy cox (or even a woman, eek!) It's enough to reduce a real man man to tears.

Even the losers get consolation afterwards in the ritual of dunking the cox, who loves it of course, manhandled by an eight man crew, mmm!

 It's not much fun losing, but there's something very satisfying about
a big man who's been put in his place.

Blues, Boots and Thighs

The University Boat Race last week produced it's usual cavalcade of hunky athletes.

The rower's were a feast for the eyes, never mind the race!

After winning the race, Oxford slip into their warm tops and wellies and the result is an unexpectedly sexy showcase for the boys' muscular legs.

 Behold the face of evil. We all knew one of these.

All part of the fun lads eh! Not humiliating at all!

Yeah, well, if you say so.

A glimpse of leotard proves more sexy than any stocking.

 The race produced some touching scenes of manly hugging 

(no frontal touching allowed of course)

Friends reunited, it brings back memories of the war years!

 Even the technical staff wear sexy kit (right, centre) 

Previous years were just as exciting. This is 2010.

Leotard or leggings, it's so hard to choose!

Also 2010, queuing for a hand shake, or something.

2011 was a very special vintage year for hunky thighs.

 2013. You can almost taste the rower's excitement.

2013 again. Everyone wants to hold it (!)

More Boat Race Rowing Ritual in my next post.

Bound and Gagged Magazine - 6

When I started out compiling this little tribute to the lasting contribution of Bound and Gagged Magazine to fetish imagery, even I didn't expect to find quite so many classic shoots. Enthusiasts should have spotted many they know and if you didn't know about it I hope you have visited Bob Wingate's blog to sample the pictures, stories and reminiscences posted there. The first image is taken from a recent posting there.

Carlos Morales - Chairtied
 .

Carlos featured in some striking sets for B&G, his smoothly muscled body responding beautifully to the squeeze of the rope. This 'boy next door' scenario with his jeans and T-shirt pulled aside just enough to expose areas of interest is a classic example of the feel that B&G had for conjuring up everyday fantasies but not over-cooking them.

.

Ripnstrip - Soldier chairtied
.

This image featuring a model named Ripnstrip(!) is a similar pose, in fact that looks like the same chair, but what a difference the military clothes make. The blindfold and ripped shirt convey an entirely different motivation for his captivity, brutal interrogation rather than yearning molestation. For some reason I find his shiny belt buckle mesmerising!

.

Trevor Young - naked, bound and gagged
 .

If I often harp on about the value of clothing in erotic imagery, I wouldn't deny the appeal of the helpless nude. The barely-visible bondage here is the most elementary form, hands tied behind back and ankles together. That simplicity focusses our full attention on the Trevor's helpless, naked body. We can't see any intimate areas either but his chunky, flexed legs are sexy enough to more than compensate for that. The chunky, purpose-designed gag makes a stark contrast to his bare flesh, like a stamp of authority. 

This is purposeful bondage and the victim knows it.

.

Jamie Lawless hogtied in a jockstrap
.

I have featured Jamie before but this image is so sexy I had to include it. Hogtied models are so often shown lying on their stomach, which shows helplessness vividly (and sometimes plumped-up buns too), but this way round the hogtie becomes a servant of lust, inviting and exciting.
 .

Bound to a ladder
 .

I suppose I could have included this in my last post on 'furniture'. Ladders crop up quite often in B&G's output, I suppose it's the fantasy of the workman who comes to your house, but for me it's the model's bewildered expression that makes the image memorable. Worried he might well be, totally naked and perched on an improvised pedestal to which he is secured by only by his feet and which you will observe is not securely locked and potentially unstable. I haven't identified the model yet.

.

Drew Andrews, Peter Wilder and Rusty Scott struggling to escape hogties
.

This final image is perhaps not well known, it's taken from a genuine scene in a club where three models were tied up by three different tops to see who could get free first. It looks like only one is really trying here but he has made this into a superb image. Multiple (buddy) bondage is always exciting, but the contrast to his passive companions is quite suggestive, could the wedding ring have anything to do with it?  I've seen a lot of videos of men struggling with their bonds some energetically, some half-heartedly, but this still photo really captures the eroticism of that situation.
 .

There are many more B&G images I would have liked to include in this series but I had to draw a line somewhere! I hope I have given some insight into the wealth of material that came from 'Bound and Gagged' and highlighted it's unique qualities.
You will find much more at Bob Wingate's blog.

Recently Bob has been looking into bringing back the concept as a website, but it doesn't look as though it's going to happen. Meanwhile he is selling off back issues and bondage gear from the magazine's heyday at cut prices. Whatever the future holds for 'Bound and Gagged' I think it's highly likely that these marvellous images will be around for a long time to come, a lasting legacy and a tribute to their quality and inventiveness. We owe our thanks to all those who were behind it.

Read this series from the beginning 

See also 'Sailor Beware'

G

M

T

Detect languageAfrikaansAlbanianArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianCatalanCebuanoChichewaChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CroatianCzechDanishDutchEnglishEsperantoEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHausaHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKoreanLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSerbianSesothoSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSpanishSundaneseSwahiliSwedishTajikTamilTeluguThaiTurkishUkrainianUrduUzbekVietnameseWelshYiddishYorubaZulu

AfrikaansAlbanianArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianCatalanCebuanoChichewaChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CroatianCzechDanishDutchEnglishEsperantoEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHausaHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKoreanLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSerbianSesothoSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSpanishSundaneseSwahiliSwedishTajikTamilTeluguThaiTurkishUkrainianUrduUzbekVietnameseWelshYiddishYorubaZulu

Text-to-speech function is limited to 100 characters

Options : History : Help : FeedbackClose