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.
