To Serve Is Pleasure

A1

From Curiosity to Submission: 

The Transformation of Fraser

SERVE-625 moved through the city streets with precision, his posture upright and controlled. Beneath the neoprene hoodie and slim athletic joggers he wore, the tight black rubber of his SERVE uniform clung to him like a second skin. Every step reminded him of his purpose, though the faint squeak of his concealed suit was audible only to his own ears.

A2

 

The grocery store was crowded, but Fraser navigated it effortlessly and efficiently, picking out what he wanted and ignoring distracting offers. He had lunch to cook for a guest. As he hurriedly exited the store, bag in hand, he collided with a man who was passing by. 

“Sorry about that!” he exclaimed, glancing up. Then recognition lit his face. “Oh, hi Ricky!”

The man was a familiar face from the gym. He nodded and replied coolly,
“Acknowledged. No harm done.”

“Nice hoodie,” Fraser said, his eyes lingering on the material. “What’s it made of?”

There was a slight hesitation before Ricky replied. Almost if he was weighing his response.
“It’s a neoprene rubber composite, Fraser. Durable, comfortable, versatile”.
He sounded more friendly now.

Fraser’s eyes widened. “That’s awesome.” He stroked the material with his fingers. 
“I love it! Where did you get this?”

Ricky nodded knowingly, rubber had that effect on some men.
“It's from a nearby store. It has your size. I *will* take you.”

Fraser had intended to finish his errands quickly and go home, but Ricky spoke with such assertiveness that he didn't hesitate to follow him as he set off towards the store. As they walked, Ricky explained that his rubber clothing was an important part of who he was, almost an ideology, he laughed. It had to do with unity, precision, and purpose.

Fraser chuckled, but his curiosity grew. “You’re really selling it”, he said.

“Wearing it enhances focus and clarity”, Ricky asserted. “You *will* enjoy it.”

Fraser felt convinced that he probably would.

By the time they arrived at the store,  called 'SERVE', he was eager to see more.

A3

The store looked like an ordinary clothes shop outlet from outside, but as they entered, Fraser marvelled at the many racks of rubber and neoprene garments he saw, his senses were assailed by the smell emanating from them. He barely registered the faint, hypnotic hum that filled the air, carrying subliminal whispering.

Fraser was immediately drawn to a display featuring neoprene garments just like Ricky's. “I have to try one of these on”, he said, his voice almost dazed. He grabbed a rubber hoodie and headed for the fitting room. Inside it, hypnotic spirals danced across the walls, accompanied by more of the soft whispers. Fraser’s breathing quickened as he tried the hoodie on and absorbed the atmosphere. But he was disappointed when he looked in the mirror. It didn't look as good on him as it had on Ricky.

When he emerged, the hoodie was forgotten and rejoining Ricky, he pointed to a full-body, rubber suit which was on display. “Can I try that instead?” he asked, his voice unsteady but eager. 
“It won't seem silly, will it?”

Without hesitation, Ricky lifted the bottom of his hoodie, revealing the glistening black surface of his rubber suit underneath. Fraser’s eyes widened, his mouth fell slightly open. “Wow. That’s incredible.”

Ricky nodded. “Affirmative. You *will* find it... transformative.” 

He picked a suit out and accompanied Fraser to the fitting rooms, where the atmosphere and visual effects immediately enveloped the young man's senses once more. He took off all of his street clothes and underwear, dropping them into a basket the store had helpfully provided. Once naked, he was eager to get into the suit, it took some effort, but once it was on, it clung to his form and wearing it felt so right for him. It was all he needed. The glossy surface reflected the transformation he felt, both physical and mental.

A4

 

Minutes later, Fraser stepped back out into the shop, his lean form encased in the gleaming rubber suit. His eyes were wide, his expression one of awe. “This... this feels incredible.” he said, staring at another shopper who nodded back in agreement.

“Rubber binds us together. It is our perfection. We are all part of the Hive. You feel it now, don’t you?”

Fraser nodded, almost hypnotized. “I do. I need this.”

He did not notice the faint clunk behind him, as the basket in the changing room emptied, 
dropping his old clothes through the bottom into an underground bin.

A5

 

Ricky and Fraser left the store together, with Fraser still proudly clad in his new bodysuit.
Ricky took him straight to the nearby SERVE Hive-Hub. 
Inside, he underwent the full initiation process. 
Hypnotic inductions erased his old identity, replacing it with unwavering devotion to the Hive. 

 

A6

When the process was complete, Fraser emerged as SERVE-632, his body gleaming in polished black rubber, his mind a perfect extension of the Hive’s will. SERVE-625 observed the transformation with communal satisfaction.

“Welcome, SERVE-632,” Ricky said. “You are one with us now. I am SERVE-625”

SERVE-632 bowed his head. “Obedience is pleasure. Pleasure is obedience. I am ready to serve.”

Together, SERVE-625 and SERVE-632 exited the hive-hub, their polished forms glinting in the sunlight. They moved as one, through the city streets, ready to spread the Hive’s perfection further. They walked with precision, their postures upright and controlled. The tight black rubber of their SERVE uniforms clung to them like a second skin. Every step reminded them of their purpose, the faint squeak of their suits audible only to their own ears. 

Another mission complete, 625 reflected, knowing that he had served the Hive well.

~

 I was thrilled when I found this story on tumblr, it's a new twist on the themes I often promote here and a perfect complement to the recently published article, featuring the drone imagery of Hijaden, as well as the longer term, mitchmen theme of enslavement fantasies. I have adapted the text (apologies to the author) to a slightly different perspective, that of the victim, rather than the predator. This is not intended to take anything away from his great story and images. If you like my version, I urge you to go and read his original too, it reads very differently and will fill gaps in my adaptation. In any case, you must visit his serve-625 blog at tumblr which is steeped in the unsettling ideas which form the basis for this tale.

*VISIT* SERVE-632's tumblr blog to find out what SERVE stands for and see more items in this vein

and don't forget to *READ* his, original telling of this story.

Art by Roman AI

"We have severe punishments for streakers, you know."

 

Front Facing Arrests are a standard AI-trope, but here's one with a difference. 

Roman authoritarianism, fab muscle hunk with spirit, in bondage, on the brink of nudity and nastiness.

What's not to like? 

 

"I'm naming you 'Anilingus'.
Serve me well and I will treat you well".

 AI struggles with humans in physical contact, so it's surprising that this simple expression of subjugation is not seen more often. The contrast between the muscular captive slave and his new owner, clearly refined and wealthy, is beautifully expressed. The hand he's using to emphasise his control is clever, shame it's drawn wrong. I know it's phallic, but surely there must be places in Rome that don't have a dome in the background.

 

 

"Lucky bastard! Things like that never happen to me"

And so say all of us! Official title is 'Locker Room Bully'. 

Using his own belt on him. Don't ask why. Great jeans too.

 

Now that's what I call humiliation

 

AI has brought the great gift of weather to fetish art creators.
The belt seems to think it's a crowbar, no wonder he's submitted to it!

 

 

 

"No good running off, Barton.
You'll still get your spanking in front of the others, next time"

Imagine! Barton's a hairy hunk, the others must be disappointed he's escaped temporarily.

Thank goodness someone put 'University' up on the wall to counteract the dubious age scenario.

 

"No, I'm Not Your New Valet, Signor.
The Godfathers Sent Me"

I love the wacky bath!

I imagine it having wheels and the hit man trundling it to the nearest balcony to be emptied.

The bather is in a fix since he's naked and worse might befall him if he jumps up.

Especially if he's been playing with himself under the water.

 

Gorgeous hairy pecs, clean too. Surely they're worth a temporary reprieve!

 

 

"Keep kissing, Luigi. Then it's the belt for you next.
No-one, but no-one, laughs at my clothes!"

 I'd keep stumm about the Teddy too, if I were you, Luigi. 

Otherwise, you might find yourself kissing below the belt.

It is decidedly odd garb for a locker room.

Oh, thank you, God. He does want help with his Project!

'This can't be happening' Department.

Right now, 'his' gaze suggests he's formulating a different, strictly ex-curriculum project.

In fact, it maybe that his 'problem' is not about his project at all, but something completely different!

I can't remember anyone like this at the educational establishments I attended.

I certainly never prayed to God about it, but each to his own.

The varied style of these images is refreshing.

 

 

 

"Cheer Up Spunkimus!
It's Not The End of The World!"

I suppose you're meant to imagine a poignant parting or doomed lovers. 

Great apocalyptic imagery and nice warm colours appropriately enough. 

Have you noticed how everyone always seems to be going in the opposite direction?

"OK, OK, Smartimus, So I Was Wrong.
But We Still Have Each Other."

Looks like a cruise ship just docked, carrying the undead.

Fortunately, they will all be gone in an hour (max).

These two should charge admission, that should get them back on their feet.

 

 

 AI art has its detractors. It's too prolific, lacking in individual identity, can't fit humans' together, physically or psychologically, and hasn't a clue how eyes look or work (the most important part of human identity by a mile). It's incapable of seeing a complete image as a human sees it, but has to be told that half a train does not exist in the real world. At one point, it didn't even differentiate human backs from their fronts. Worst of all, it's totally sexless, it's programmed to be so thanks to our pathetic, lowest common denominator, corporate driven society (the only plus point for Mr Musk, although I'm increasingly convinced he has his own brand of censorship lurking in his muddy depths). AI can only produce something vaguely sexy if instructed, and cascading cum is not sexy, sorry! However, it is capable of turning out some beautiful imagery at chocolate box, schmaltz level and occasionally, very occasionally it comes up with something totally original and wacky that makes a jolly good picture, sexy or otherwise.

Roman AI is one of those surfing the internet wave, and he has produced some interesting images (many of which look a lot like other producer's images). But never mind, this listing isn't an award for being better or totally original, but just having been in the right place with the right stuff to catch my eye. To be fair, he does introduce a degree of individuality by varying his style, but it's what he asks his AI engine to illustrate that qualifies him for a mention here.

More at RomanAI

All Time Most Popular Post in 2024 (MPP3)

 

"A judge caused a surprise in this year's IFNB Open, Western Semi-Final by going on stage and confronting the contestants. Gerry Kabalski (Idaho) said later that the unexpected intervention put him off his stroke and ruined his chances, but the Judges dismissed his appeal on the grounds that it was the same for everyone. Judge Trumble was subsequently suspended"

.

 Art by this year's winner for the sixth year running, IFNB.

 

~

 

I've flipped the 'all time' popularity listings this year to give precedence to hit rates averaged out over the number of years since publication. This is a method that gives recent articles the same chance as older ones. I have retained the 'total number of hits since publication' but as a secondary measure, since it has reached a point where older articles have established unassailable totals.

 

 

Table 1

Articles with the Highest Average Hits per Year Since Publication (2024)

 

Article	Year Published	Ave Hits per year	Position (& last year)	'Total Hits' position
IFNB – A Fantasy World of Bodybuilders	2018	8226	1 (1)	2
The Milking Factory	2017	7209	2 (2)	1
The Art of Amalaric – 1 A Slave To Passion	2020	4140	3 (3)	13
Homoeros Gallery Guide	2018	3981	4 (4)	7
Milking Factories - 3	2018	3937	5 (5)	6
Priapus of Milet - 1	2012	3643	6 (6)	3
Ain Postolos - Milking Fact Workers	2024	3130	NEW	n/a
Etienne - Index of articles at mitchmen	2016	2771	7 (7)	9
Milking Factories-4	2019	2664	8 (8)	14
A-Z of Fetish Artists – Mike Carcel	2010	2438	9 (10)	5
The Art of BrosFate – 3	2020	2408	10 (9)	22
The Art of Homoeros - 6 (Art of The Cross)	2018	2362	11 (12)	16
A-Z of Fetish Artists - Cavelo	2008	2358	12 (14)	4
The Art of BrosFate – 1	2020	2222	13 (11)	28
The Art of Amalaric – 3 Hunks & Manipulators	2020	1966	14 (15)	40
The Art of Homoeros - 1 (Beefcake Boys)	2018	1782	15 (18)	26
Come and Get It!	2021	1777	16 (13)	78
Another Milking Factory No2	2018	1729	17 (20)	23
A New Life For Our Air Force Boys	2017	1665	18 (-)	21
Milking Factories 5 (Development Lab)	2019	1608	19 (-)	35
A Christmas Criminal	2015	1593	20 (-)	17

Stats compiled 31/12/24

Short cut to Last Years Table

IFNB and Milking Factory topped the table again this year and continue to outscore every other post in the blog on a regular basis. The gap between these two closed a little, but the the chasing pack have been falling further and further behind. All of the top 8 articles kept the same position but there was much jostling further down.

 The two top articles benefitted from new posts on the same subject in 2024 (IFNB Newsletter and the continuing stream of Milking Factory posts). Other entries which benefited from 'connected articles' were Homoeros, Etienne, Brosfate and Chirenon's 'Air Force Boys' which re-entered the chart after a two year absence thanks to it's linkage with Etiennes 'Sailor Beware' story and it's Royale Studio spin-off. There are 3 articles about Homoeros' work in the table and 2 by Brosfate.

 Amalaric stormed this chart back in 2021 and has kept it's 3rd position just behind the two leaders without any extra support this year, a measure of genuine lasting popularity. Amalaric has 2 articles in the chart. Three older stalwarts of the chart have also been quietly maintaining their positions without any extra publicity - Priapus at 6, MCarcel at 9 (up 1) and Cavelo at 12 (up 2). The resurgence of the last two is remarkable, considering that they are the oldest articles in this top 20, no less than 14 and 16 years old and still going strong!

There were three new entries this year, or rather, three 'returners' who ejected more recent upstarts who haven't sustained their early successes (Roa, Planet Gay and Brick). They were replaced by Milking Factory 5 and Airforce Boys (both after one year out) and my own 'Christmas Criminal' (last here in 2020) which I gave a modest plug this Christmas on 'X'. The departers look likely to be followed next time by the only photographic article in the table, 'Come and Get It!', which has become redundant with the transfer of Royale Studio material to the new Royale blog. 

I don't count articles less than one year old in this table. I have indicated where they would have registered in orange but Ain Postolos score is artificial, it exceeds the number of real hits he has had so far, due to being published less than a year ago.

The entry level to this table is 1593 down from 1862 last year. It's well within the range of Ain Postolos if he can keep up with his first year score of 1475 in the future.

The A-Z Index of Artists at mitchmen hit score presently averages 10,777

Table 2 mitchmen Articles With Most Hits Since Publication to end 2024

Posn (last yr)	Title of Post (& link)	Year of Pub'n	Cum Hits	Hits in 2024
1 (2)	The Milking Factory	2017	56,740	5355
2 (1)	IFNB – A Fantasy World of Bodybuilders	2018	56,095	4338
3 (3)	Priapus of Milet - 1	2012	46,311	1936
4 (4)	A-Z of Fetish Artists - Cavelo	2008	39,193	2572
5 (5)	A-Z of Fetish Artists – Mike Carcel	2010	35,595	1100
6 (6)	Milking Factories - 3	2018	26,027	1170
7 (7)	Homoeros Gallery Guide	2018	24,096	909
8 (8)	A-Z of Fetish Artists - Jotto	2009	23,524	567
9 (9)	Etienne - index of articles at mitchmen	2016	22,590	933
10 (10)	A-Z of Fetish Artists - Malex	2010	20,287	586
11 (11)	A-Z of Fetish Artists - Franco	2009	20,044	716
12 (13)	A-Z of Fetish Artists - Brick	2008	18,080	2671
13 (12)	The Art of Amalaric 1 - A Slave To Passion	2020	18,034	2169
14 (15)	Milking Factories-4	2019	15,882	1489
15 (14)	A-Z of Fetish Artists – Martin of Holland	2010	15,289	537
16 (18)	The Art of Homoeros – 6 (Art of The Cross)	2018	15,049	2001
17 (17)	A Christmas Criminal by Mitchell (1-5)	2015	14,389	608
18 (16)	A-Z of Fetish Artists – The Hun	2009	14,258	369
19 (19)	A-Z of Fetish Artists - Kalabro	2009	12,891	578
20 (20)	A-Z of Fetish Artists - Julius	2009	12,532	403

 

This year again it was pretty much 'as you were' in the all-time table of total hits with the notable exception of Milking Factories-1 which reclaimed the No 1 spot it had in 2022, returning IFNB to second place (and closing the gap in Table 1). These two continue to pull away strongly from the rest of the pack, who are now a long, long way behind them. 

 

This table has a number of older articles which no longer feature in Table 1, but have built up big totals in earlier years which are almost unassailable by new ones. Thus Brick's resurgence here, prompted by the release of new work in 2023 and continued in 2024, doesn't register in Table 1, where under-performance in earlier years depresses it's rating . He nudged past Amalaric's 'Slave to Passion' into 12th place and is closing in on Franco and Malex (two other old-timers). Further down, Homoeros (Art of the Cross) swapped places with The Hun, rising to 16th position and more than reclaiming the ground he lost last year. 

 

The Milking Factory series has 3 entries in this table and all consolidated their positions in the top 20 with Milking Factory No 4 overtaking Martin of Holland to take 14th place. Milking Factory No 2 is just outside the top 20. Homoeros is the only artist to have two dedicated articles in the top 20, although Kalabro contributed to 'Milking Factory 1' as well as his dedicated article, so he has a comparable claim.

There were no new entries to the top 20 once again this year, but there's a gaggle of contenders just outside and performing strongly (including 'Airforce Boys' and Brosfate 3). The bottom two articles, Kalabro and The Hun, are now vulnerable to this wave.

The entry level to this all-time top 20 is now 12,532 about 400 more than last year. It's about 10 times the winning total of the new posts in 2023 and 2024 which is why I have switched to the annual hit rates as the principal measure of 'all time' performance.

 

The mitchmen  'Index of Artists' page reached 99,300 hits at the end of 2024, a 13% rise (compared with 13% last time also). It would have earned top spot in this ranking if I counted it as a post.

~

mitchmen blog was first published in 2008 and ten of the sixteen years since then are now represented in this survey, the missing years between 2008 and 2022 are shown below

• 2011 - Top Contender is A Tribute to Bound Gods at 39, down from 37
  
• 2013 – The nearest is still my 2nd article on Mike Carcel at 53 (51)
• 2014 - The Art of Baron is at 30 (30)
• 2021 - Come and Get It! at 79 (77)
  
• 2022 - New 'Slave Academy' Pictures by Brick jumped to 158 from 194
• 2023 - Slave Training 11 (Cockaphobia) at 447**
  
• 2024 - Recruiting Workers for the Milking Factory at 456**
  

**These articles have yet to score enough hits to register in the table properly, I don't count every score less than 2000 hits. 2000 is position 402 currently.

 ~

The articles I post to this blog are very much based on my own interests and fancies but the results of this survey do help me plan future offerings. My readers preferences doesn't always match my own (where are Les, JoeT and Link?). Nevertheless it's gratifying to see such interest in the great gay fetish artists who often have a fairly low visibility on the web.

Remember, this comparison is only made for entertainment, since I don't really know how accurate Google's stats are, they don't seem to add up to the overall hits at the blog and I suspect they don't count the activity of people who just browse through the blog roll.

Thanks to all of you for your continuing interest and support.

 

This annual set of articles is made up of 3 charts

MPP1 - Most Popular New Post of the Year 

MPP2 - Most Popular Post during the Year (All articles )

MPP3 - Most Popular Post of All Time (i.e. cumulative performance)

that's this article!

 

Charts and reviews for earlier years can be accessed by clicking the 'MPP' label below

Diplomatic Language

AI image generated by 'muscle and boots'

caption by mitchmen

Art by Hijaden

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Most Popular Post of 2024 (MPP2)

KW - The Farm

Above: KW's 'The Farm' headlined the first 'Milking Factory' article,
which was the most visited of all the posts at mitchmen in 2024. 

 The table below lists the top 20. Commentary notes follow. 
(Titles have links to the original posts ).

 

TABLE 1 - Top 20 Posts at mitchmen (in 2024)

 

Rank (last yr)	Title (+link)	Total Hits	Last year	Pub Date	Note
1 (1)	The Milking Factory - No 1	5355	7506	2017	1,5a
2 (2)	IFNB A Fantasy World of Body Builders	4338	7187	2018	1, 5b
3 (3)	Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Brick	2671	4332	2008	1
4 (6)	A-Z of Fetish Artists - Cavelo	2572	2316	2008	1
5 (5)	The Art of Amalaric – 1 A Slave To Passion	2169	2551	2020	5c
6 (12)	The Art of Homoeros - 6 (Crucifixion)	2001	1420	2018	1, 4
7 (4)	Priapus of Milet - 1	1936	2604	2012	6
8 (9)	Milking Factories – No 4	1489	1502	2019	5 a
NEW	Ain Postolos - Milking Factory Recruits	1475	-	2024	2 ,5
9 (8)	The Art of Amalaric – 3 Hunks & Manipulators	1314	1549	2020	5c
10 (10)	Milking Factories - No 3	1170	1466	2018	5a
11 (-)	Milking Factory 14 by Shenguanlin	1127	552	2023	3
12 (11)	A-Z of Fetish Artists – Mike Carcel	1100	1437	2010	1
13 (19)	IFNB Revisited	1088	1092	2020	5b
14 (13)	The Art of Brosfate – 1	999	1350	2020	6
15 (18)	Another Milking Factory (No 2)	965	1098	2018	5a
16 (-)	A New Life For Our Air Force Boys	955	763	2017	4
NEW	IFNB 3 - Newsletter	955	-	2024	2, 5b
17 (-)	Etienne/Stephen – Index to Articles	933	786	2016	4
18 (-)	Art by Shenguanlin	929	501	2023	3
19 (15)	The Bondage Art of Black Prof	916	1200	2020	6
20 (-)	The Art of Homoeros -1 (Beefcake Boys)	911	779	2018	4

 

(Stats collected on 31st December 2024) 

1

Since this table covers all 2000 posts at mitchmen, you would expect it to be quite volatile with new visitors bringing different interests to the fore, but in recent years it has been remarkably stable. In 2024 the 3 most visited posts were exactly the same as last year, with the first two well ahead of everyone else.

 

The rest of the top 10 were also the same but shuffled positions, except for 'Homoeros - Art of Crucifixion' which entered the top 10, rising six places to No 6. It replaced The Art of 'Muscle' Matt -1 which dramatically dropped out of the top 20 altogether after a run of popularity in the last couple of years. 

 

Amazingly, two of the top 10 articles date from as far back as 2008 and none are more recent than 2020. This blog is retrospective in character but it's remarkable that so many of the classic fetish artists, like Brick, Cavelo and Mike Carcel, remain more popular than the many accomplished, newer ones. They share the same characteristic of being 'old-fashioned' art created by hand, not a keyboard. Computer techniques but don't seem able yet to capture that elusive element of authenticity and personality that creates lasting appeal. At the same time the repetition is a little depressing, I don't want this blog to become stale and fossilised!

 

2

As usual, I have hived off 2024's new posts into a table of their own (MPP1) because their initial flush of visits can mask the wider picture. I have shown where they would have appeared, however, with entries in orange. Onlt two qualified, 'Ain Postolos - Milking Factory Recruits' would have taken 9th position leaving 'IFNB Newsletter' to share a revised 17th spot with Chirenon's enslaved Air Force Boys. It's hits in the second year and onwards that separate the new wheat from the chaff  but, encouragingly, last year's winner of the new post category - 'Slave Training 11 – Cockaphobia' did well again, finishing just outside the top 20. The 2022 winner 'Brick's Slave Academy' also finished in the top 30.

3

In this sea of tranquillity, Shenguanlin managed to make a splash with two new entries at 11 and 18. His articles from 2023 were the only ones in the top 20 more recent than 2020. The first of his them probably got an extra boost from being part of the popular milking factory series (see 5 below). His art is high fetish and hits the button in the earthiest way imaginable. His brand of domination might not be everyone's cup of tea (if I may use that expression) but it's welcome here.

4

 

 The other 3 'new' entries were actually returning to former glories. 'Etienne's Article Index' at 17 dates from 2016 and was unexpectedly top of this chart in 2020. It's resurgence is probably attributable to the flurry of articles at the blog related to his 'Sailor Beware' story, notably Planet Gay's re-interpretation of the desert trek inflicted on the captive, Navy boys. 

 

Planet Gay's article also helped to pull Chirenon's Air Force boys back into the top 20 for the first time since 2020 (at 16). I used his image to promote the subject of desert abductions on 'X' and it seems to have drawn some new admirers. More about 'X' in the summary at the end of this post.

 

Homoeros' crucifixion images have an enduring popularity but his more vanilla work in the 'Beefcake Boys' post was last in this chart in 2020. It's the lead article for my series about him so it will tend to attract readers with an general interest in his work, they were prompted this year by the sexy 'Ross in Trouble' images that I featured in January.

 

Dropping out to make way for these new entries were - Homoeros Gallery Guide, Enslavement Art by Planet Gay, Exciting New Slave Academy Pictures by Brick, and The Art of Tentakun.

 

5

 

The 'Milking Factory' series has been hugely popular at this blog for several years now, so much so that it's hard to find something new to say about it! No 1 in the series finished in top spot again this year. It benefits from being the entry point for the whole series, but other MF articles claimed 4 more positions in their own right and together they made up 25% of the table. That's not even counting the new article (featuring AI images for the first time) by Ain Postolos.

The IFNB series is smaller, only 3 articles, so claiming 2 places in the chart (again not counting the newest one) is arguably an even greater achievement. It's in the nature of this field for talented artists to disappear without trace (having shot their load you might say), but this one, with his dry, witty commentaries is particularly missed. I attempted to emulate his style in IFNB3, but it's not the same.

Amalaric shouldn't be forgotten either with 2 articles steady in the top 10 reflecting the continued popularity of his photo manipulations. 

6

The table is completed by a trio of talented artists with very different styles. Priapus of Milet is a familiar name here, a long time champion in the 'all time' table. He has moved with the times and it's hard to credit that his very modern style originated back in 2012. He's probably the greatest story-teller since Tagame, but with a more sophisticated, almost cosy line in threat and sexuality.

Brosfate at one time was the great rival to Amalaric in this table. He has slipped behind a little this year but his art too has evolved considerably and it's continued, deep-rooted popularity is well attested by 2 entries in the separate New Post category (MPP1).

Black Prof is a relative new boy but his cartoon-based bondage imagery is a visual delight. He exploits the medium to add drama and clarity. It's not really 'gay' art at all but he has the clever knack of making it seem so.

 

 ~

 

9 different years are represented in this year's table. There are no  photographic entries this year, but 5 are by photo-manipulators. 6 are by renderers, 7 by traditional artists (I have included Shenguanlin here)  and 2 cartoonists. Together they represent the usual, eclectic range of interests.  

The mitchmen 'Index of Artists' page recorded 11710 hits in 2024, up 16% on 2023,but in line with the long term average. It would have easily taken top place in the top 20 table. I'm glad visitors are still finding the index useful and hope it will lead many more newcomers to a fantastic heritage of gay art they didn't know about. Perhaps reflecting that phenomenon, the 77 individual articles which registered increased hits reads like a revival of all the old classics:- Naomichi (+283%), Manflesh, Etienne (Sailor Beware), Nath66, Ehrlich, Rex, Homoeros, Quaintance, Teddy of Paris, Tom of Finland, Tagame, Sabian and Ulf. They were interspersed with a gaggle of my own captioned images.

 

  Overall hit counts at the blog, however, declined further this year by 20%. I believe this is mainly due to Google imposing sign-in barriers and also perhaps to the rising popularity of other outlets. I suppose my opening comments might also be taken as implying that recent articles may not as interesting or original as they used to be. 

 

The decline prompted me to engage in some promotional activity by starting to post 'tasters' regularly on 'X', which has become a haven for fetish artists of late. I was surprised by the traffic levels there and initial results gave me much food for thought. The captioned image, 'After The Parade', which I posted on both platforms in December has presently attracted 85 hits on blogger and 1,300 on 'X'. An image from 'Cowboy folio No 8' has 136 hits on blogger and 403 (plus 4 'likes') on 'X'.  

 

Posting at X requires a lot less effort and it's a good exercise in brevity for me, but it's format is not suitable for in-depth articles like this, so I don't envisage defecting there completely. There is some evidence that my posting there has improved footfall at this blog where visitors face exactly the same entry barriers as X. Hopefully the superior image display of blogger will keep them interested once they find me. Only time will tell. There's now a growing trend now, for artists to move on from 'X' to BSky Social which is a similar platform without the uninvited political views. I'll wait and see in that department.

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 Next time I will reveal the most popular mitchmen post of all time, based on cumulative hits,

To look at other charts for earlier years just click on the MPP label at the foot of this post.

Thanks to all of you for your continuing interest and support of mitchmen blog.

Keep the restraint tight in 2024!