Created by writer/artist Sterling Clark in November 1987, Omar Lennyx made his debut in a one-shot comic book titled The Files of Omar Lennyx: Blood Seekers.The comic was followed up by two novels: Macabre Manifesto: The Journals of Omar Lennyx and its sequel, Macabre Memoirs: The Adventures of Omar Lennyx. The latter book includes a bonus feature: The Omar Lennyx Scrapbook–A glimpse into the creative process with never-before published art and early Lennyx character interpretations compiled by the author.

“Clark blends the creepy stuff with sly bits of humor, adding yet another level with the action sequences-all of this while never losing sight of horror’s ability to present monsters as metaphors,” wrote Mark Dawidziak, author of Night Stalking: A 20th Anniversary Kolchak Companion.

The heroic adventurer known as The Renegade came to life in the winter of 1987. Writer/artist Sterling Clark was stationed in Japan during his five year stint in the United States Air Force. The Renegade was Sterling’s homage to the superheroes he loved as a youngster growing up. The Renegade’s first adventure came in the form of a full-color, 24-page “homemade” comic book that Sterling never published – and vows will never be published. However, the exciting new character caught the attention of graphic artist Randy Tweedy, who designed The renegade’s logo. Tweedy connected Sterling to independent publishers Fred and Kathé Todd. The Todd’s company, Rip Off Press, had made a name for itself with its line of adults-only fare. However, the couple envisioned Sterling’s comic book creation as a way to broaden Rip Off’s market. In the fall of 1990, the first issue of The Renegade was released in the form of a 32-page, black and white comic book.

The costumed crime fighter known as The Renegade is in reality Kurt Villareal, a 20-something, Hispanic man who makes his living as a comic book artist. His superhuman strength and agility were the result of an experimental compound mixed up by his uncle, a pharmaceutical chemist, in a risky attempt to save the young man’s life after a car accident. The gamble paid off. Not only did Villareal survive the crash, he know possessed extraordinary strength, speed, dexterity and healing abilities. Villareal decided to use his new abilities to fight crime in his hometown of Chaos, New York by donning the mantle of the crimson-garbed Renegade.

The Renegade‘s supporting cast includes his girl friend, Sally Rodriquez; his boss, Al Brenton; his friend, Butch Parks; and Detective Humphires - all character based loosely on a number of people creator Sterling Clark knew and/or admired.

While sluggish sales eventually led to the cancellation of The Renegade’s run with Rip Off Press, the interesting characters, imaginative storytelling and exciting artwork led to new opportunities for creator Sterling. The Renegade would go on to be featured in Raw Media Magazine (Rebel Studios), Big Bang Comics, Magnecom Comics, Blackmore Comics, Fifth Panel Comics and Vibes Magazine. Sterling’s work also caught the attention of comic legend Todd McFarlane, who hired Clark to draw a pin-up of McFarlane’s wildly-popular Spawn (see the poster in our online gallery). The full-page, full color, featured in Spawn #24, was Sterling’s first published collaboration with talented inker Jeff Austin, who would work with Clark on The Renegade and other projects for more than a dozen years.

In 2006, Sterling’s own publishing company,Studio S Productions, published The Renegade! 1987-2007: A 20th Anniversary/Retrospective. The book includes The Renegade‘s early adventures along with rare strips, several previously unpublished stories and artwork, unused covers and more. Click here to read the entire Renegade adventure “Blood Seekers 2″ featuring a guest appearance by paranormal detective Omar Lennyx.

And 2010 promises to be a big year for The Renegade, as Studio S Productions is currently in-production on a new, 48-page comic book featuring the talents of comic book legends Joe Sinnott, Sal Buscema, Joe Rubenstein, Ron Frenz, Tim Stiles and Terry Huddleston. The book, which will also feature Studio S characters Omar Lennyx and Ntombinde: The Girl Who Loves Danger, is scheduled for release in late fall.

Based on a Congolese legend, Ntombinde‘s first comic book incarnation debuted in February 2006 in the award-winning Tales From The Motherland.

The one-shot tale of Ntombinde focused on the brave female warrior’s effort to find a suitable mate – an effort that would bring her face-to-face with a number of physical challenges and battles. The story of Ntombinde along with other stories inspired by African mythology garnered first place honors as the Top Independent Comic of 2006 at the Los Angeles-based D.I.Y. Association of Artists, Writers and Musicians competition.

In 2009, Ntombinde: The Girl Who Loves Danger returned as a weekly newspaper strip. The action-packed adventure strip debuted in a popular national test market, Fort Wayne, Ind., in INK, a community newspaper. Distinctive from the original Tales From The Motherland story, the weekly strip tells the story of Ntombinde, a village girl whose father, a brave and mighty warrior named Boake, trained her in the art of combat. Boake died in combat against a rival tribe, leaving Ntombinde and her mother Abiba, without a mate or father. Ntombinde became restless and rebellious and would not allow any male suitor in the village to interest her. She soon left the village to embark on her own journeys, which take her all over a continent filled with talking animals, underwater creatures, and mythological monsters that she must battle! Click here to read her origin.

With imaginative stories and exciting art by creator Sterling Clark and vivid coloring – initially by Chris Martin and later colored by Terry Huddleston, Ntombinde became immediately popular with readers of all ages across all demographic groups. In the summer of 2009, the African/African-American Historical Society & Museum honored Sterling Clark with a special award calling Ntombinde “one of the most powerful African women ever depicted in American comics.” The strip’s popularity also prompted a reissue of Tales From The Motherland. The new, extended addition included bonus art and stories.

2010 promises to be another big year for The Girl Who Love Danger. Comic book legends Joe Sinnott and Sal Buscema are contributing their talents to Ntombinde’s upcoming adventures. The strip is now being marketed to newspapers across the country and an all-new graphic novel is currently in production.