Idris Elba Is First Male To Cover Maxim Solo

For the first time in the history of Maxim U.S., a male has appeared solo on its cover. Idris Elba is the first man to be featured on the cover of the magazine, for its September issue. The men’s magazine is generally known to feature scantily clad women on its cover.

However, the 42-year-old actor graced the cover of Maxim’s September issue, which hit newsstands Wednesday, due to his multi-talented persona. “We’ve never in U.S. Maxim history had a man on the cover solo. This is the very first time, and there was no one else in the world more badass than Idris,” said Maxim's new editor-in-chief, Kate Lanphear.

Lanphear’s decision was guided by the fact that Elba was the perfect embodiment of the new "Maxim man," People reported. She added that he was multi-dimensional, complex, sophisticated, but all the same down to earth. The editor-in-chief was herself puzzled when she was with Elba on set, and kept wondering “is there anything this guy can’t do?”

He is not only an award-winning actor, but also a DJ, owns a clothing line, and, a father to two beautiful children. Elba broke the British land speed record, "which has not been touched since like 1928, and he is also a living, breathing superhero," Lanphear said. In May, the "Wire" star drove a Bentley Continental GT Speed at 180.361 mph across Pendine Sands in Wales, breaking the 88-year-old record set by Sir Malcolm Campbell in the legendary Blue Bird.

In Maxim, the actor is sporting a Calvin Klein collection overcoat from the label’s fall 2015 collection. The brand took to Twitter and shared the details. “Wild at heart. Actor + DJ @idriselba covers the Sept issue of @MaximMag in F15 Calvin Klein Collection,” Calvin Klein captioned the picture of the cover with the hashtag "Maxim Man."

Elba smolders in a heavy black and grey animal-print jacket, which matches his trademark salt and pepper beard. The jacket is from the collection’s Look 16. Under the headline “Man Up,” the cover story describes its star as an “actor, musician, race car driver and all-around badass.” In Maxim’s 20-years history, this is the first time that a guy has appeared solo on its cover. Men have appeared on flip covers and have also starred alongside women previously.