raider
in canada:
portrait of sean martin
a documentary by Randy A. Riddle
Chute
Dogging:
Wrestlin' Around
Chute Dogging: A Fun Bit of Wrestling
Chute
Dogging, also known as "Steer Wrestling", is a common rodeo event where
the contestants, both men and women, must wrestle a 600 to 800 pound steer
to the ground in the least time possible. The animal's nose must cross
a line ten feet from the chute before the contestant can "dog" the steer
to protect the animal and the contestant. The steer is wrestled to the
ground by turning its head back towards its shoulder; when the steer is
lying on its side with all four feet pointing in the same direction, the
judge drips a flag to stop the timers.
Taking a look at
a number of Doc and Raider cartoons, one notices that the guys are very
physical with each other -- Sean doesn't just show them in quiet moments,
one character with his hand on the shoulder of the other, he also explores
more overt displays of physicality. Doc and Raider are seen roughhousing
in the hay in an old barn, working out at the gym; they wrestle and even
box.
  |
| Sean Martin,
slugger extrodinaire, in 3D, and his roughhousing creations having
a roll in the hay (in 2D) (c) 1995, Randy A. Riddle and (c) Sean Martin |
This trait of the
characters reflects something of Sean's own interests -- he himself is
turned on by fighting. But Sean is quick to point out that this type of
scene isn't for everyone, requiring two partners who implicitly trust
each other. It can often take the form of the same type of roughhousing
that we do as kids or even something as serious as a friendly boxing match.
|
| (c) copyright Sean Martin |
Doc and Raider may arm-wrestle to see who cleans out the litter box and it's that sense of humor that marks Sean's own approach to fighting and wrestling. He sees it as something fun and mutual between two guys -- certainly the antithesis of domestic violence that is brought on by unfocused rage and anger, something that is wild, uncontrolled, and meant to do real damage.
I asked Sean about
his decision to write his unusual fetish into Doc and Raider. "I thought
if I was going to put myself on the line," he said, referring to some
of the other very personal issues dealt with in the cartoon, "I might
was well put everything out there." Sean's exploration of the scene in
the cartoon has created its share of controversy with some readers failing
to see it as something other than domestic violence.
 |
| unpublished
cartoon, circa 1995 (c) Sean Martin |
Even many people
in the Leather/SM subculture shy away from acknowledging fighting or brawling
as one of the many fetishes that individuals explore -- it doesn't fit
into the typical exclusively "Top/bottom" roles seen in SM, but requires
the same type of safety precautions, mutual trust, and dedication seen
in SM. Sean entered a Mr. Drummer contest in Toronto and surprised everyone
with his staged fantasy of a good-natured fight.
 |
| Sean displays
his favorite t-shirt, produced from a scan of a book cover from
his favorite Western novels
that inspired the names for Doc and Raider (c) Randy A. Riddle |
However, individuals
who have a fetish for roughhousing, wrestling, martial arts, or boxing
form a remarkably large, devoted group all over the world that operate
under the radar screen of mainstream Gay culture. Several contact lists,
personal services, and even businesses that offer video or printed erotica
exist that cater to these devotees -- GWA
is probably the oldest and most well-known. Sean's first published
cartoons, in fact, were for one such publication. Bat' Lin' Brothers
was, in some respects, a "trial run" of characters that would eventually
become Doc and Raider.
View "The Bat'Lin' Brothers: Fists N' Philosophy"
circa 1982 or '83
part one
part two
part three
I asked Sean during the interview what the
"turn-on" is about erotic fighting or roughhousing. He tried his best
to explain it, but could only laugh and say, "It just is" just as a loud
clap of thunder broke the silence of the living room where we were conducting
the interview. We both laughed -- that moment seemed to sum it up best.
rand@coolcatdaddy.com,
3.15.99