Snakes & Chains - 1

Frank Fazetta - Snake Attack

 I have long admired this image by Frank Fazetta depicting a fantasy hero being attacked by a giant snake. The glimpse of warrior's torso caught between the snake's crushing coils is quite stunning - and unusually homoerotic for a genre that is usually relentlessly 'proper' and heterosexual in style (although Frazetta's heroes do often sport skimpy, bulging loincloths).

This picture is technically imperfect in places but there's a great sense of strength pitted against strength and of desperate struggle. The human body seems to merge with that of the reptile in places which adds an intriguing extra dimension to the heroes' identity. The shallow water in which the combatants are fighting seems to represent a sort of symbolic 'no-man's land' between their 'home' territories.

Dave Stewart - Snake Grip

This detail from a comic cover is a more modern take on the same theme by Dave Stewart. This is a tentacled creature rather than a snake, but the device of suggesting overwhelming power with a thick body is equally compelling. Again there is a sense of vital struggle with the warrior (Conan?) desperately chopping at his attacker.

The highly detailed muscularity of the warrior's torso makes him less sensual than Frazetta's, but the point of attack is even more erotic in it's way, focused on the warrior's very manhood instead of his upper body. The glimpse of loincloth actually draws attention to this and there's a sense of him being slowly devoured despite being free to wield his sword. The severed tentacle is a classic Freudian symbol of emasculation, illustrating perhaps that the heroes chopping puts himself at risk too! A white substance oozing from it seems to have attached itself to the swordsman's torso, no comment!

Devil Snake

In this marvellous magazine cover from the 50's, the snake is subtly transformed from assassin to abductor. The bulky, multiple coils seem to signify inescapable bondage rather than fatal squeeze, although this poor victim is still intended to end up as dinner ultimately. Unlike the warriors, he seems exhausted by the struggle. The role of resistance is transferred to his companion, who energetically fulfils it. Notice how the vigour of his paddle sweep seems to be reflected in the line of the victim's body and outstretched arm. A second snake lurks nearby, but sadly we can only speculate what it might want to do with the man in a Tee shirt.

 The loop of snake around the victim's neck is a particularly effective 'threat' device. It can be read as a noose or a collar, which in hindsight seems an unfortunate adjunct to the undercurrent of racial stereotyping in this image which probably passed unnoticed at the time. Common sense tells you that if this were to be a real event, it would probably be the local man who do the rescuing and he might even be clothed! (In making this statement, I am of course assuming that this setting is in the tropics, not the Home Counties).

With their half naked bodies and torn clothing, these butch magazine covers are naturally, but not necessarily intentionally, homoerotic. There's an interesting juxtaposition of crotch and knee in the middle of the canoe but I hesitate to imply that it was intended to be suggestive!

Laocoön and His Sons

Laocoön is the classic snake attack image of course and I have referenced it here before in relation to the adaptation by Priapus, which sensibly focuses on the non-controversial central figure. Legends attribute snakes with surprising and varied powers to destroy humans and this is one of the most astonishing. They also manifest this destiny in other stories - in Genesis and the story of Cleopatra, for example.

Felix Falkon - Laoccon

Laocoön is not without awkward carnal elements but this irreverent re-imagining of by Falkon attribute such motives to the predatory snakes more directly. Falkon often flirted with disturbing life and death subjects with an almost childlike innocence and naivety.

Asphalt Jungle - Adam Carville Adventures (detail)

This is another Laocoön-like study but the snakes here are smaller and depicted more as a distraction and nuisance than a genuine threat. The man's pose is relaxed, static and passive, at the opposite end of the scale from Fazetta's image. This is a detail of a larger picture and I've included it mainly for the fascinating clothing detail, which could be made highly erotic with a more energetic treatment. The big boots, white, torn vest and soldierly belts and buckles all have the power to thrill when set against muscular flesh. Most of all the sexy shorts which have somehow been opened by the snakes here, primarily it seems to obtain a purchase for a strike further up. Of course a bulkier snake would have to forgo the pleasure of cock entwinement altogether.

Jotto - Jungle Boy and Tne Snake Gods

Jotto elevates his snake to god-like status, enjoying the luxury of his followers providing him with a steady supply of humans to consume. The Jungle Boy is securely bound and unable to defend himself, while the ball and chain attached to his nether regions prevents flight. He stands his ground as the snake snuggles up close, it's flickering tongue appearing to be quite amorous, but the evil eyes and sharp fangs suggest different intentions.

Jotto captures the snake's strength and menace nicely, with a clever hint of erotic contact between the legs. Jungle boy's rigid stance seems to suggest he's been taken by surprise or else the snake has mesmerised him (another sneaky characteristic often attributed to these maligned creatures).

Kalabro - Cody and the Serpent

I prefer Kalbro's take on this scene. It's essentially the same scenario, but Cody here strives manfully against his restraints as the snake wraps menacingly around his throat, seeming to gloat as it does so. You get a better sense here that the captive might have tried hard to escape this fate by pulling against his chain and ball(s). This snake seems to be the embodiment of evil, but, nevertheless the artist suggests with it's poised head the slight possibility that it's intentions may be carnal rather than murderous. Kalabro's stylised rendering of Cody's well muscled, shaved body is unexpectedly erotic.

Kalabro and Jotto often work together and that collaboration is obvious in these two pictures,
Kalabro usually provides the figures and Jotto the colour and background. 

Patrick Fillion - Camili Cat and the Snake

 Another sacrificial image. This is a variant of a rather better picture, also by Fillion, called 'fairy boy' (yes fairy!) which I included in my earlier A-Z article on him. His snake is rather dragon-like and, like Falkon and Jotto, he attributes human characteristics of malevolence and lust to it. The sense of it having great physical power is undiminished but it appears to be eyeing up Camili's stressed underwear rather than contemplating a sensual, fatal embrace.

Heerdink - Laocoon

Heerdink's 'Laocoon' seems to focus firmly on the snake's strength and sensuality.

The captive seems to resist rather than struggle, it's hard to say whether it's in fear or ecstasy.

The dream-like, 'floating' pose is improbable, but skillfully accentuates all of these elements. 

This inward looking flavour is accomplished by simply not showing the snake's head,

which means that there's no suggestion of it's motivation or intent, it just is.

You also get the sense that this scene is not a myth or legend but real, here and now.

The human's nudity (and implied vulnerability) seems more striking, more significant

than in the other pieces we have seen, lending the image a subtle eroticism.  

(Heerdink keeps within decent bounds by avoiding any funny business between the legs).  

Player - Serpent

Finally, two images from the hugely talented Steven Player, who tackles the issue of snake sensuality from the other end, as it were. This man is the most attractive portrayal we have seen in this group of pictures. His night visitor seems to be completely benign, there's no crushing or squeezing, just the loosest of entwinements and a probing tail. This invasion is perhaps the least credible, snakely capability covered in this article, but the recipient clearly isn't complaining so why should I? The title here is mine, I'm guessing Player has the seductive serpent in mind here rather than the aggressive snake.

Player - Snake

 This chunky chap is a typical Player, 'skinhead' tough-guy. It's fitting then to pitch him against a snake of daunting bodily proportions. It's already got a grip on his torso and one leg, but you feel that he's tough enough for this challenge, indeed he seems more puzzled than threatened by it.


Perhaps he's seen the message on the snake's body and is figuring out how to deal with it. He will have noticed that the snake's tail is already making inroads into him, but how does one reciprocate? The answer that appears to be staring him in the face would challenge the hardest of 'skins'.


The snake's anatomy is a puzzle in itself - a big, muscular body, topped off by a tiny head.
Is it's tail actually entering the skin's backside or is the phallic presence coming out of it?
Some might say that's a wry comment on masculinity itself. 
In this picture Player illustrates the inherent contradiction of the snake in erotic imagery.
It's a phallic symbol with great powers of seduction, domination and sensuality
but in the final analysis it's incapable of performing as a phallus.
.

If you like mild, snake fantasies, there's an intriguing new picture story 

by Priapus of Milet at Telemachus entitled 'Band of Brothers'

Mitchell's Fetish Art for October - The Swimming Team

The National Swimming Team were delighted with the skimpy trunks in team colours, which they were given to wear at the World Championships. At a boozy send-off celebration they all decided to wear them on the plane travelling out, to demonstrate their pride in the team.

The Championships were being held that year in a country not renowned for it's liberal attitudes and sense of humour. When the border guards spotted them queueing at immigration, wearing nothing but swimming trunks (that covered very little), the whole team was immediately detained.


Their wrists were tied together and they were locked up together for several hours in a small, hot, and very smelly cell. It was clear something needed to be done to placate the guards. It was the Team Captain saved the day by volunteering to take one for the team in the end. This sufficed to ease his passage but the rest of the team had to watch uncomfortably as he negotiated the Officer in charge. They were all wondering, if they had to make a similar sacrifice, how on earth would they obtain replacement trunks in time to take part in the Championships?

~

This picture was previously published as part of my 'Inspired by Tom' series and a censored fragment was also published here in the mitchmen blog in the article Swimmers in Mitchell's pictures
I have now upgraded that entry to the full image.

for other pictures by Mitchell, click on the 'mitchpix' label below 

and visit the Galley Hub page

mitchmen's war No15 - The Batman No 3 - The Aussie Driver

1. AUSSIE GUNNERS

 This picture of a an Australian gunnery team in action presses an number of buttons for me.

The bare torsos of course, but also the shorts and the chunky legs in rugby-style socks.

The abundance of muscles, hairy chests and even nipples is quite unusual for this genre.

I have added colour to these images to bring out those attractive features 

(and edited out some gratuitous racism from the text).

The blond character in the foreground is a male stereotype of a by-gone age, 

but the two characters behind him seem more contemporary, they are nicely drawn
 with some sexy body grooves dissappearing into their shorts.

I'd say this artist likes men.

(On a historical note, some Brits might be surprised to learn that
the Aussies also suffered aerial attacks on their home soil during WWII)

2.

 The shorts shown in this image are closer to the regulation length and a lot less interesting!

In the story 'Davis' is a Brit who has been assigned to this Australian outfit, thus setting the scene for a classic 'outsider' story. This gains extra spice from the fierce rivalry between Brits and Aussies, which has been nourished by over 100 years of encounters in sports where both lay claim to being 'Top Dog'.

As I write this England and Australia have just shared the spoils in 'The Ashes' cricket series
and are about to contest the Rugby World Cup. 

3.

 The attackers do return and take the Aussie defenders by surprise.

Davis (in the trench) sees a driver caught out in the open.

These two frames have a clever yin-yang interlock at a number of levels. Visually it portrays the looping swoop of the attacking aircraft very well. A modern artist would probably blend the frames together more but this old school method is equally effective. The right hand frame is also a little gem in the way it catches the menace of the attacker and the vulnerability of the fleeing driver. We can see he has been hit in the back, adding a twist of pathos.

The inclusion of Davis in the foreground shows him as a brave man but rather foolhardy in these circumstances. He rises with arms spread for balance but it creates something of a 'rescuing angel' effect. There's a hint of homo-eroticism in the way these two are shown running towards each other, almost like lovers who are being re-united.

4.

 This touchy-feely image does not entirely dispell that impression!
Continuity nerds will find fertile ground for comment in this group of images. 

5.

Here Davis seems to be nestling next to the soldier protectively, 

and his chin appears to be resting on the Aussie's hairy chest
Are his eyes closed or is he peeking?
We can only imagine where his right hand is!

Note an actual nipple and a rivulet of sweat breaking the modesty rules,
an unmistakeably homoerotic image. 

6.

The drawing technique falters in this image and I have slightly altered the soldier's face to make it look better, Davis touches the soldier's head, but he's surprisingly tender. His face is a model of concern for the serviceman, but his eye-line sees to be directed at those generous pecs (properly minus nipples this time).

The bottom half of the soldiers body is constrained by the 'portrait' oriented frame here but the artist has shoe-horned in a sexy upraised left thigh on the far side - and very short shorts.
In the lower foreground that's not his right thigh you can see, but his raised right knee.
It's obscuring the crotch area (and maybe that's just as well).

7.

In the story, Davis is hurt by the Aussie's reminder that he is still an outsider

and the rejection of his genuine concern for the injured man.

Nevertheless, he chucks the man affectionately under the chin like an unrequited lover.  

From the expression on his face, the fallen soldier doesn't seem to mind.

Unfortunately the stretcher bearers interrupt them at this little intimate moment. 

The artist supplies another nice rendering of the Aussie's physique 

with ample muscular definition but a slender build. 

Nice shorts too, with just the tiniest hint of a bulge!

8.

The CO admonishes Davis for his foolhardy behaviour and life/war goes on.

~

As is my wont, I imagined a different outcome to this scene

in which the swirling homoerotic undercurrents gain a fuller expression.

In my version images 1-5 tell the same story with the same suspected gay twist.

There's a new picture 6 (below)

It's love/lust at first sight for the two men 

(and no, for you sceptics, the Aussie isn't concussed!

- but his wounds have miraculously healed.)

Davis is glad that zips haven't been invented yet.

7. New Version

As you might expect, the Aussie is taken by surprise by the offer.

Why would this Officer want him as a servant?

Australian blokes don't do service, especially for Poms.

But on the other hand, he is attracted to the man,

and it might turn out to be a cushy billet, 

safer than driving mobile targets for enemy aircraft anyway!

8. New Version (click to read the smaller, trouser text)

Davis' casual, hands in pocket pose takes on an explicit meaning
You'll gather the Aussie driver said 'yes', well 'maybe' at least.
We wish him a speedy recovery!

These images are taken from War Picture Library No 1696 'The Darkest Hour'
(I also used this cover image in a previous post No 7 Flashing The Flesh)

 I can't say if this is the same artist, but you can see a similar appreciation of men.

As this cover image suggests, Davis ends up in the jungle later on
 and there's more bare flesh action when he comes to the rescue of another man
who is captured and being tortured by the enemy.
(bit of a pattern here!)

Go to No16 War Comics post
For other 'War Comic' inspired posts click on the label below
Other 'batman' posts No 1, No 2

Chet Chastain - A Villain of the Ring - 5

There's a saying that when the going gets tough........
Chet's certainly finding it tough against Mark Muscles here
who lifts him like a rag doll in a nasty throttle hold.

I've included a number of shots from this contest in this series, if you enjoy seeing a seasoned villain getting a lesson, I recommend a visit to wrestler4hire.com to view more of this video 

He's getting another clobbering here from Jesse Vane on the Pro circuit.
Chet gives us a nice shocked expression (coupled with remarkably revealing trunks!)
At this point as they say "....... the tough get going".
Photo credit Brian Photo

That saying certainly applies to Ring Villains, and Chet is undoubtedly tough,

but tradition has it that the 'getting going' for baddies usually involves turning tail.
But then, who would not quail when confronted in a cage by Danny Demented?

Unfortuately, being dragged back in by the hair is equally traditional.
Chet doesn't have a lot of hair to grab, so it probably hurts more.
He wears this latest humiliation as well as ever, it has to be said.

Chet's trim frame is key to his visual appeal but it makes him vulnerable to lifts as we have already seen. Being cast as the proverbial sack of potatoes is not supposed to be part of a bad boy image, especially when it comes with a painful, back-breaker twist and the knowledge that a bruising drop to the mat is just round the corner.
Chet's trunks reveal no signs of distress as yet though.

This pained expression suggests that the battering is starting to tell
Chet suffers more hair-pulling and back pressure from Flash LaCash,
who squats on Chet's bottom to obtain additional leverage.
His manic grin speaks for itself. It ain't over yet, Chet! Don't cry!

Chet goes into squeal mode as Tristan Baldwin starts to establish his ascendancy.
This single-sided restraint hold has limited scope for delivering pain
so Chet's reaction seems a trifle OTT, however,
his torso is wide open to Tristan's clenched fist, if he doesn't get going soon!

Too late! This crab hold is about to get fierce judging by Tristan's face
Which seems to suggest a sensual anticipation of leisurely revenge.
It's not all in his mind either, viz: the well- filled orange trunks.
Chet's face is a study in resigned dread.

It must be galling to be flung around by men who don't look agile or fit!
Off-balance and pinned in the corner by a choke hold that could finish him,
Chet seems desperate here, sensing control slipping away to The Mountain,
 but he still finds time for a sexy pose for his fans.

In the hands of such a huge man, the simple, double arm twist is lethal,
and difficult to escape from. Chet's got something to howl about now and duly obliges.
Mountain's happy grin suggests a wish fulfilled, a bad boy helpless & humbled.

Who's the tough guy now?

Guido Genatto looks suitably dignified and dominant as Chet grovels.

In bad boy encounters this can often be a dangerous moment, 

an opportunity for a sneaky trick, a suckers punch.

But against Guido? Rather you try it than me, Chet!

Even when he's on the back foot, Chet still looks sexy

He wears a look of shock and indignation here,

 as Biff Farrell, who looked like a cute novice in part 3, 

shows his strength and hoists him.

Biff's punishment list for Chet includes this devilish, sexy back-breaker

Which has extreme potential if his legs push upwards.

It softens Chet up (well his back anyway) in preparation for the next hold.

Which is the good old Boston Crab,
Biff's chunky thighs and buttocks speak of great power potential here.
He's hardly begun to apply it yet and already Chet is wailing.
He'll be regretting his earlier, sneaky trick now!

If you don't like it, you can always end it Chet!

But Mark Muscles seems to be bulging with effort to keep his mouth closed

The ref seems to be prepared for a long wait too.

The opportunity for Chet to submit passes 

and, willingly or not, he soldiers on against hopeless odds.

Lifted aloft again and paraded in a most ignominious way.

Referee Brendan Cage undresses, he must have seen something he likes!
These boys just can't get enough of Chet!
Who can blame them?

~

My apologies to these sexy boys if I have misrepresented them in any way.
I probably don't need to explain that I have arranged these images to suit my own interests and narrative. The action sequence and outcomes of individial bouts featuring Chet may be quite different to my description here.

Read this series from Part 1

If you have enjoyed this series of articles see more pix of Chet at
Photos by Wrestler4Hire, bgeast and Brian photos
Or search on-line.

Chet Chastain - A Villain of the Ring - 4

When a bad boy goes too far, it's soon pay-back time......in like manner.

Tristan Baldwin gives Chet a painful taste of his own trickery
just when he thinks he's got the match in the bag.

Against Danny Demented's  bulk Chet's always been on the back foot
and now discovers he's not the only man to use dubious tactics when he's in the driving seat, getting a face claw that produces a fine torso shot for on-lookers.

Flash LaCash manages to turn a mouth-invading claw into something even more humiliating as Chet sprawls helplessly between his legs.

A fierce- looking Dolph Danner demonstrates that the ropes can be a fickle friend,
trapping Chet in a creative tangle that leaves him down on his knees
 and hopelessly exposed to back leverage.

Guido Genatto also uses the ropes against him, choking off resistance.
It's outside the rules and the ring but Chet can hardly grumble
about getting a dose of his own medicine.

Hoisted by his own petard, Chet is forced to crawl in shame

Part of a string of humiliations dished out for him by this opponent.

Chet's muscular torso is impressive but unresisting
as Guido mashes his superiority into his face.
Chet's bulging trunks here might be giving Guido other ideas........

He traps Chet in the corner and reverses into him, battering his manhood.
I'm not sure if Chet's expression reflects physical pain
or revulsion at the implications of intimacy.
(I love the cut of his trunks here).

The ultimate humiliation for a bad boy?
Chet is put face-down on the mat and mockingly humped by Guido Gennatto
Whose own trunks are unexpectedly revealing here.

In some ways it's even worse when two less awesome opponents gang up to make him look inept.
Alex Oliver teams up with Austin Cooper to gain some revenge for his own suffering at Chet's hands,
Putting Chet into a spinning 'Rack' which creates interesting shadowing in Chet's trunks.
I'm beginning to think he likes it!

Alex may not be the most skilled of wrestlers or the most evil,
But he doesn't let his image stand in the way of adding extra pressure
 to Austin Cooper's over-the-back examination of Chet's pain threshold.

We saw Damien Rush hoisting Chet like a sack of potatoes in a previous post

Now he's rubbing his nose in the ring dirt with a casual authority that is scary.

Suddenly Chet's cute little ass seems symbolic of a humiliation worse than defeat.

Mark Muscles seems keen to make the same point with this bearhug lift
Seemingly splaying Chet's legs apart with his arm pressure
Even Chet's trunks betray him and collaborate in mocking his helplessness
by making an opening lips pattern either side of the centre seam
Brendan Cage laughs at him from the sidelines.

Even the photographer has deserted poor Chet, capturing his cheeky bottom in a provocative but less than flattering pose, as Danny Demented makes him grovel and crawl on the way to a defeat that was inevitable from the moment he  stepped in the ring.

Is this sexy underwear pose the end of Chet's come-uppance?
Nope, there's more to come next time

photo credits: Wrestler 4 Hire (aka Cameron Wrestler) ,  BGEast

Read this series from Part 1



for other Wrestling posts, click on the 'wrestlers' label below.