A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

My grandad is cooler than your grandad

Ok, he’s not my grandad — this is tattoo icon and author Herbert Hoffmann (the amazing and highly recommended “Bilderbuchmenschen“, also available in English from Last Gasp as “Living Picture Books”), photographed by AEEC in Bibione, Italy. A couple more pictures are after the break.

See more in BME/Culture/People (Culture)

Comments

99 responses to “My grandad is cooler than your grandad”

  1. Marisa_DiMattia Avatar

    I adore him! His book is my absolute fave. A must have.
    [I even bought another copy after i gave you mine!]

  2. zion Avatar

    thats what i wana look like when im his age

  3. zion Avatar

    thats what i wana look like when im his age

  4. zion Avatar

    thats what i wana look like when im his age

  5. chinaman9 Avatar
    chinaman9

    First picture kicks ass! Old man with two cute girls and a table full of drinks… I hope that’s me in about 50 years!

  6. chinaman9 Avatar
    chinaman9

    First picture kicks ass! Old man with two cute girls and a table full of drinks… I hope that’s me in about 50 years!

  7. chinaman9 Avatar
    chinaman9

    First picture kicks ass! Old man with two cute girls and a table full of drinks… I hope that’s me in about 50 years!

  8. Ralex Avatar
    Ralex

    I had the honor to met the man a couple times on Conventions in Holland.
    i was telling stories to me and a couple friends (who where also working on the convention), and when he finished his story ther where well over 50 people all listening openmouthed to him.

    it was incredeble

  9. Ralex Avatar
    Ralex

    I had the honor to met the man a couple times on Conventions in Holland.
    i was telling stories to me and a couple friends (who where also working on the convention), and when he finished his story ther where well over 50 people all listening openmouthed to him.

    it was incredeble

  10. Ralex Avatar
    Ralex

    I had the honor to met the man a couple times on Conventions in Holland.
    i was telling stories to me and a couple friends (who where also working on the convention), and when he finished his story ther where well over 50 people all listening openmouthed to him.

    it was incredeble

  11. Lk Avatar
    Lk

    ok, you won

  12. Lk Avatar
    Lk

    ok, you won

  13. Lk Avatar
    Lk

    ok, you won

  14. Oliveira Avatar

    This is what I want to look like when I grow up 🙂

  15. Oliveira Avatar

    This is what I want to look like when I grow up 🙂

  16. Oliveira Avatar

    This is what I want to look like when I grow up 🙂

  17. Ellie Avatar

    Love this.
    It’s a nice kick in the face for everyone that tries to say you’ll regret what you did when you’re old.

    Hah. Win.

  18. Ellie Avatar

    Love this.
    It’s a nice kick in the face for everyone that tries to say you’ll regret what you did when you’re old.

    Hah. Win.

  19. Ellie Avatar

    Love this.
    It’s a nice kick in the face for everyone that tries to say you’ll regret what you did when you’re old.

    Hah. Win.

  20. Shannon Avatar

    cuntcumber – What’s your point? That he was German and of age during the war? Plenty of US tattoo icons (Stalking Cat being an obvious example) were drafted and served in Vietnam. Big deal. Doesn’t mean they’re fascists personally.

    It’s a completely irrelevant strawman.

  21. Shannon Avatar

    cuntcumber – What’s your point? That he was German and of age during the war? Plenty of US tattoo icons (Stalking Cat being an obvious example) were drafted and served in Vietnam. Big deal. Doesn’t mean they’re fascists personally.

    It’s a completely irrelevant strawman.

  22. Shannon Avatar

    cuntcumber – What’s your point? That he was German and of age during the war? Plenty of US tattoo icons (Stalking Cat being an obvious example) were drafted and served in Vietnam. Big deal. Doesn’t mean they’re fascists personally.

    It’s a completely irrelevant strawman.

  23. rdza_spi Avatar
    rdza_spi

    I love the 3rd pic 🙂 He’s just so happy that Im just smiling when looking at the pic.

    The 1st is nice as well, party animal, ey? 😉

  24. rdza_spi Avatar
    rdza_spi

    I love the 3rd pic 🙂 He’s just so happy that Im just smiling when looking at the pic.

    The 1st is nice as well, party animal, ey? 😉

  25. rdza_spi Avatar
    rdza_spi

    I love the 3rd pic 🙂 He’s just so happy that Im just smiling when looking at the pic.

    The 1st is nice as well, party animal, ey? 😉

  26. cirrin Avatar
    cirrin

    I love cool old people. And that last picture is priceless. I love the expression on his face.

  27. cirrin Avatar
    cirrin

    I love cool old people. And that last picture is priceless. I love the expression on his face.

  28. cirrin Avatar
    cirrin

    I love cool old people. And that last picture is priceless. I love the expression on his face.

  29. pending Avatar
    pending

    that last photo is just gorgeous. what an awesome portrait.

  30. pending Avatar
    pending

    that last photo is just gorgeous. what an awesome portrait.

  31. pending Avatar
    pending

    that last photo is just gorgeous. what an awesome portrait.

  32. Viking In LaFleche Avatar

    I can only hope that when I’m that age I will be considered cool in the same way. On a different note, too many young men were forced to join the army in Germany during the “Big One”. They didn’t follow the philosophy of the few leaders. We all know the history. Too bad we don’t hear the stories of those forced into service.

  33. Viking In LaFleche Avatar

    I can only hope that when I’m that age I will be considered cool in the same way. On a different note, too many young men were forced to join the army in Germany during the “Big One”. They didn’t follow the philosophy of the few leaders. We all know the history. Too bad we don’t hear the stories of those forced into service.

  34. Viking In LaFleche Avatar

    I can only hope that when I’m that age I will be considered cool in the same way. On a different note, too many young men were forced to join the army in Germany during the “Big One”. They didn’t follow the philosophy of the few leaders. We all know the history. Too bad we don’t hear the stories of those forced into service.

  35. nope Avatar
    nope

    good lord, kids. read cuntcumber’s questions. i do believe it clearly and simply asks if anyone knew why he was there. it does not say he was or is fascist, a nazi, racist, or anything. it simply asks if anyone knows WHY. maybe we should all take a close reading class and stop assuming people are implying things, especially when they may not be! also, anyone’s opinions or funfacts about nazis are a bit irrelevant unless you can actually answer the question being asked.

  36. nope Avatar
    nope

    good lord, kids. read cuntcumber’s questions. i do believe it clearly and simply asks if anyone knew why he was there. it does not say he was or is fascist, a nazi, racist, or anything. it simply asks if anyone knows WHY. maybe we should all take a close reading class and stop assuming people are implying things, especially when they may not be! also, anyone’s opinions or funfacts about nazis are a bit irrelevant unless you can actually answer the question being asked.

  37. nope Avatar
    nope

    good lord, kids. read cuntcumber’s questions. i do believe it clearly and simply asks if anyone knew why he was there. it does not say he was or is fascist, a nazi, racist, or anything. it simply asks if anyone knows WHY. maybe we should all take a close reading class and stop assuming people are implying things, especially when they may not be! also, anyone’s opinions or funfacts about nazis are a bit irrelevant unless you can actually answer the question being asked.

  38. Jer Bear Avatar
    Jer Bear

    I want to marry the girl on the left, based solely on her eyes.

  39. Jer Bear Avatar
    Jer Bear

    I want to marry the girl on the left, based solely on her eyes.

  40. Jer Bear Avatar
    Jer Bear

    I want to marry the girl on the left, based solely on her eyes.

  41. coffiend Avatar

    what a jolly looking man. i only hope i smile as bright when im older.

  42. coffiend Avatar

    what a jolly looking man. i only hope i smile as bright when im older.

  43. coffiend Avatar

    what a jolly looking man. i only hope i smile as bright when im older.

  44. iam:der_narr Avatar
    iam:der_narr

    maybe he was in a russian camp BECAUSE he was german, in the army, and male, at the time germany was finally defeated?

    my grandfather was serving in africa and went to a US pow camp afterwards… then he was reshipped to england…

  45. iam:der_narr Avatar
    iam:der_narr

    maybe he was in a russian camp BECAUSE he was german, in the army, and male, at the time germany was finally defeated?

    my grandfather was serving in africa and went to a US pow camp afterwards… then he was reshipped to england…

  46. iam:der_narr Avatar
    iam:der_narr

    maybe he was in a russian camp BECAUSE he was german, in the army, and male, at the time germany was finally defeated?

    my grandfather was serving in africa and went to a US pow camp afterwards… then he was reshipped to england…

  47. Heretic Avatar

    I want him as a grandfather, he looks cool as hell!

  48. Heretic Avatar

    I want him as a grandfather, he looks cool as hell!

  49. Heretic Avatar

    I want him as a grandfather, he looks cool as hell!

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