The mysterious Prowler, An engineering genius whose designs empower his night dark battle suit. The Puma, a man gifted with the mystic and genetic birthright of his people. The Black Cat, A former cat burglar turned super heroine. Her claws can rake through flesh as easily as a cars fender. Black Crowe, American Indian Mystic whose powers guide the team. The Hornet, a superhuman powerhouse whose aerial speed and acrobatics are backed up by a super powered strength of arm. The Thunderer, formally a Thor replacement , Red Norvell seeks to make his own name in the world of super-heroes. Together they are a different type of hero. They are un-trusted by the man on the street, even though they are his first line of defense against the evils that hide in every alley. They are …..

Renegades # 1

By Ralph L. Angelo Jr.

Splash Page: A young woman runs through the back alleys of inner New York city, fear is written all over her face, as she splashes through puddles in the driving rain.

Woman: "Help me, somebody help me, PLEASE!"

Page 2: A shadow falls over her, bat like in nature. Then a voice as if from the grave speaks

Voice: "No one can help you now meat. You destiny is as sustenance, and nothing more!"

The girl cowers in a corner as the bat like thing suddenly lands in front of her, its form changing shape to that of a pasty faced man. His black slicked down hair and long mustache appear as if from a time of easily a hundred years ago, because in truth, they are. He is a creature of the night. A Vampire! And tonight he will feast!

Woman: "Please! Don't hurt me, Please. I-I don't want to die."

He grabs her roughly by the face.

Vamp: "You have no choice in the matter meat. You are nothing to me but a meal. As the cow is to you, so are you to me."

Suddenly behind the pair a voice rings out

Voice: " Looks to me fangs, like you should consider becomin' a vegetarian then."

Page 3

The Vampire whirls, and suddenly sees the source of the voice, the Enigmatic Prowler!

Prowler: "Leave her alone fangs, you ain't feedin' on her tonight."

Vamp: "Idiot. It can be either her, or yourself!"

He throws himself through the air at the Prowler, his great cloak billowing behind him. In a heartbeat he's atop the Prowler forcing him backwards, but the Prowler is not without his own resources! He twists sideways, using his opponent's momentum against him; he tosses the Vampire over his shoulder and into a brick wall, where the creature instantly rebounds and attacks again.

Vamp: "Grraaarr!"

Prowler: "Not much on talking are you sewer breath?"

The Vampire leaps again, but this time The Prowler slashes out at it. His omnium steel claws rake it's face in a smooth slash that tears its flesh and sends it reeling.

Page 4

Vamp: "Arrggh! Never before in my two centuries old life have I been harmed like this! Never! Your death will be slow."

Prowler: "Big words tough guy. Lets see you back it up."

Vamp: "Gladly."

The creature stands as Prowler attacks, but the Vampire turns to mist, as the Prowler falls through its body.

Prowler: "Whoa!"

Vamp: "Ha! Now your blood will flow!"

The creature re-forms, its teeth at Prowlers neck, ready to tear into it and release his lifesblood. Suddenly, a powerful voice booms from behind the creature, stunning them both.

Voice: "Get offa him!"

Page 5

Powerful hands grab the Vampire from behind and hurl him into the brick wall a second time

Thoom!

Vamp:"Wha? Who are you meat. What business is this of yours? "

Before the astonished eyes of the Prowler a big man walks out of the Shadows, fists clenched his red hair and beard framing an angry face.

Red: "Oh this is my business all right demon. I've fought your kind before. Get outta here before I tear you into pieces. "

Vamp: "Bah, you caught be by surprise, nothing more."

As the creature speaks it shifts into its bat-like transitional form and attacks one more.

Prowler: "Okay freak face, I had enough a you."

Page 6

Prowler fires several darts from his wrist gauntlet, that embed themselves deep within the things chest.

Vamp: "ARRRRR!"

Prowler: "I forget to tell you that I always use a decent amount of silver in those things? Just in case I meet one a you guys, I gotta be prepared."

The big Red haired man thunders up to the writhing Vampire and smashes him with a powerful right cross that smashes the creature through the corner of a building and out the other side.

Ba-KOOM!

The Vampire tries to drag itself upright, all its bravado now gone, as the two heroes pursue it out of the alley, into the street.

Vamp: "Bah, you fools merely delay the inevitable. I will feed this night. There are many exposed neck in this city of idiots. "

The thing begins to shift into mist when the red haired man suddenly throws his arms forward, releasing massive lightning bolts from his fingertips that burn the creature, dispersing its essence. Then bringing his arms back and wide the man slams his hands together, creating a massive shockwave, that blows the mist form to the four corners of the sky, completely dispersing the evil things remains!

Page 6

Prowler: "Whoa! Who are you dude? Thor?"

Red:" Nope, maybe once. But you can call me the Thunderer."

The Thunderer then stomps his right foot to the ground hard, and he becomes a bolt of lightning, arcing away into the night.

Prowler: "Nice exit. Time I got out of here too. After all, I have a job interview tomorrow."

The Prowler shake his head and climbs the buildings side, using his powerful claws. Once there he swings into the night on his retractable gauntlet cable, his cape billowing behind him in the night.

The next day finds Hobie Brown, boy inventor at the offices of Fireheart industries Trenton, New Jersey facility.

Hobie: (Man, this guy Fireheart has me waitin' a long time. If he likes my designs, then fine, hire me. If not let me go look elsewhere. )

Then, the office door opens and a pretty blonde with a welcoming smile exits.

Page 7

Blonde: "Mr. Fireheart will see you now Mr Brown."

Hobie: "Thank you."

She ushers him into Thomas Firehearts inner sanctum. There the multi Millionaire sits at his desk, looking at Hobies designs, his fingers steepled in thought.

Fireheart: "Sit Mr Brown, please. I find your work…. fascinating to say the least. Why have you never worked for any major corporations before?"

Hobie: "To be honest Mr Fireheart, I've always been into creating in my basement. Sorta like the mad scientist type. But it's a tough way to earn a buck, and my wife, Mindy, wants things. Better things then I can afford my way. So I figure I need a regular gig. Something that'll bring in a good substantial, steady paycheck."

Fireheart looks up from his desk.

Fireheart: "I see Mr Brown. Well I like what I see here. Does this figure interest you?"

He slides a piece of paper over to Hobies side of the desk, seeing it Hobies eyes go wide.

Page 8

Hobie: "Uh yeah, it, uh definitely does."

Fireheart: "Good. Can you start tomorrow?'

Hobie: "Uh yeah, I don't see why not. "

Fireheart stands, extending his hand.

Fireheart: "Fine then Mr Brown. I will expect to see you at 8AM sharp. Thank you."

The two men shake hands and Brown exits, leaving an intrigued Thomas Fireheart pouring over Browns technical design sheets, when suddenly a puff of smoke fills the office, and the sound of tribal drums fills the air. Firehearts eyes swing up, as a figure coalesces in the room.

Fireheart: "What is it Black Crowe? Why are you bothering me now?"

Page 9

Black Crowe: "The man who left you, he is one of the chosen Thomas Fireheart. His heart is as one with ours."

Fireheart: "Look, I already told you, I'm done with the Super-Hero thing. I can provide for my people better this way. With my company earning large profits. My people are better off then they ever were before."

Crowe: "This has nothing to do with your people Thomas. This has to do with ALL the peoples. There are many things that the common man cannot contend with. Things that go bump in the night. Be they common thugs, or superpowered villains. Or dark creatures of netherworldly origin. These things need to be defended against."

Fireheart looks up angrily.

Fireheart: "That has nothing to do with me! It's not my responsibility!"

Crowe: "It is always the responsibility of those with greater power to take care of those who are weaker. It has been that way since times inception. Thus will it be until the great sundial stops its movements."

Page 10

Fireheart: "Leave now Crowe. Before you end up seeing my more…..Savage self."

Crowe: "Your threats mean little to one such as I, Thomas Fireheart. Whether you wish to be involved in the coming battles or not. This does not matter. You WILL find yourself drawn into them. You will be a part of this."

Black Crowe begins to change shape, as Thomas Fireheart growls like a large cat from behind his desk. His fingernails begin to bite into the fine mahogany of the desk surface as Black Crowe becomes his namesake, and flies out a closed window, seemingly phasing through it. Then he is gone, winging his way through the great city. Arcing downward, the large black Crow disappears in the multitude of canyons in Manhattan. None can know his thoughts, for one such as he, they are unknowable. In the course of his flight, Black Crowe passes a penthouse apartment. Inside the young woman known as Felicia Hardy sits at her dressing table, brushing her silver hair.

Hardy: (It's been a while since I've been out as the Black Cat. Life's been quiet that way, which is good. . I shouldn't complain really. But sometimes things get so……boring really. I wish things had worked out between Flash* and I. I have to say, he's the only man I cared about, besides Peter Parker that is, who made me feel…comfortable. Ah well no use crying over a spilt saucer or two.)

*Flash Thompson, Felicia Hardy's ex boyfriend after Peter Parker

Page 11

She dons her Black cat outfit, lithely slipping into her boots and one-piece body suit, then she leaps out her window. Her stabilized "Bad Luck" powers subconsciously making sure no one is watching as she swings away into the early evening sky. The Black Cat covers the city, sometimes leaping from rooftop to rooftop, sometimes swinging. Always in deep thought.

B Cat: ( I just can't get this feeling out of my head that something big is happening, and soon. It's like an itch I just can't scratch. . I wish I would run into Spidey. At least hanging with him would be some fun. We could swing around, and it'd be like old times again. )

The Black Cat continues to make her way through the darkening sky. Soon she hears screams from a side street. With a leap, she dives into the darkened side street. Snapping her Cats line out at the last instant to catch her fall, and turn it into a powerful kick into the back of young thug. The brute careens through the alley, to smack head first into a wall. The other three toughs spin and face her, as young woman tries to pull her torn and tattered clothes back onto herself. She's in tears.

B Cat: "I don't like what I see here at all. I think you dirt bags picked the wrong night to be pulling this."

Page 12

Punk 1: "Yeah Witch? You think so, but I think we're gonna have some fun wit' you now."

He pulls a knife from his belt. Spinning it in the air menacingly. The Black Cat merely smiles, in a very dangerous way. Then she pops her claws, which grow to their full length in an eyeblink.

B Cat: "That's not a knife, THESE are knives!"

Faster then the eye can follow she slashes at the thug, raking him across the face with one claw, while slashing his hand, causing him to drop the knife with the other.

Punk 1: "Uggghh!"

Two other punks leap to attack Felicia, she throws a rear thrust kick to the second punks' crotch area, he drops to the ground, his eyes crossed, as he hits the ground face first. The third punk leaps at her from the side. The Cat drops down below his attack, then shoving up with her left shoulder, she tosses him over head.

B Cat: "Okay, that leaves only one left. Ready to party with a wild girl hon?"

Page 13

She turns to the shaking thug, his hand hold a knife to the frightened girls throat as Felicia approaches seductively, like a cat. Her every move rippling supple muscles, as she purposely breathes in heavily, causing her breasts to rise and fall magnificently.

B Cat: "C'mon honey. Leave the warms ups alone and play with the main event. "

Thug 4 : "You nuts witch. I'm a gonna cut you big time!"

He leaps at her, slashing the air. But the Black Cat is not there! In an effortless summersault, she spins over his head, landing behind him. Then she taps him on the shoulder.

B Cat: "Over here hon."

The punk spins, fear written all over his face, as the Black Cat delivers a crushing left handed cross, that sends the last punk into never-never land.

Page 14

The Cat walks over to the young girl and tries to help her up. The girl shakes violently, frightened.

Girl: "S-stay away you freak! You mutie freak!"

Clinging to her torn and tattered clothes, the girl flees the alley, as Felicia Hardy merely shakes her head. Walking to a pay phone outside the alley, she makes a 911 call while securing the punks with a length of her cats' cable. Then she's gone into the night, swinging past a certain non-descript brownstone, where a basement light speaks of a man burning the mid-night oil.

Hobie Brown is nervous, and understandably so. He hasn't gone to work for someone else for years.

Hobie: (Gotta do some more work on these designs. These may be the last things I ever create that are not owned by Fireheart industries. Naah, not really. I know I'll always tinker about here.)

Then, a beautiful woman enters the room from above, descending the staircase.

Mindy: "Hobie, you ever going to come out of there tonight?'

Hobie: "Yeah hon. I'll be up in a few. I'm just putting the final touches on a couple of ideas before I close up for the night."

Page 15:

Mindy: "Okay Hobie. I'll be up here watching "Charmed". Let me know if you want to watch it with me."

Hobie nods without looking up, as Mindy shakes her head and retires to the living room, popcorn bag in hand. Twenty minutes later, she hears the opening of the basement doors, and the whirring of the special lift Hobie built to the roof. She knows what that means. And she's not happy.

Mindy: " That sonuva….."

She shuts the TV and walks into the basement door. Once down below she goes to a closed closet. One that Hobie doesn't even go to. She opens the door and a glint of light off of something metallic can be seen inside.

Mindy: "I guess it's time my hubby gets stung."

Page 16

The Prowler criss-crosses the city, trying to find something, anything to occupy his attention.

Prowler: (Man, I hate this. I got butterflies in my stomach over a freakin' job! What's wrong with me? I ain't Tony Stark, but I'm no fool either. I can definitely hold my own with my knowledge and aptitude for engineering. I got nothing to worry about at all.)

As if on cue, suddenly The Prowler looks up, as a flaming ball of light seems to be streaking toward him. Swinging hard on his cable line, Prowler dives out of the way, as a searing hot Meteor smashes into the ground where he was standing mere moments ago.

Ba-KAOW !

Prowler: "Holy Mother of God! Wh-what was that??"

Finding his way back to the pit in the street, Prowler sees something emerge from the flaming, billowing hole in 5^th avenue . A large figure stands upright and slowly scans the area around it.

Page 17

The creature continues to stare around, its metallic hide glistening in the moonlight.

Creature: "Utdytfdhgyfuyfgvtfuyvljfijhioh."

The Prowler swings down before the thing, hands held out in a peaceful gesture.

Prowler: "Hold it there big guy. I hope you come in peace, cause this is definitely the wrong burg to hit with an attitude."

Like lightning the behemoth reaches out and grabs the Prowler by the face

Prowler : "HEY! Unngh"

Just as suddenly it drops him , and speaks once more.

Creature: " I have arrived at the optimum destination. I am here to prepare your world for the coming. You are to be tested. If deemed worthy, your species will survive. If not….."

Page 18

The Prowler stands again, a combination of anger and fear mix in his voice.

Prowler: "Listen Gigantor, I don't know what your deal is, or how you did that language thing with my head, but this ain't cool. I think you should pack it up and get outta town. You ain't exactly making yourself welcome around here with your attitude so far."

The creature reaches for the Prowler once more, who leaps backwards and away from its grip.

Prowler: "Uh ,uh big guy. Once you get away with that, no way twice."

Creature: "I am called neither "Gigantor" nor "Big Guy". You may refer to me as the Judgement unit number 376."

Prowler: "Well I don't care what you call yourself. I got a long day ahead of me, so why don't you get on your way, before I call the Avengers to whup your butt."

Page 19

The creature raises its left arm and fires a concussive blast that The Prowler leaps to avoid, only to be thrown onto his back from the force of the blow.

Prowler: " Ooof! That hurt. Okay tin face, you wanna play…."

Voice: "Yeah well he ain't gonna be playin' alone"

Prowler twists to his side and stares as blasts of lightning stab at the mecahzoid, knocking it to the ground

SHA-ZZRRACK!

Prowler: "Huh? YOU!"

Standing before the Prowler is the man known as The Thunderer. His hands glow with electrical energy, as he stands between the Prowler and the Judgement unit.

Thunderer: "This is getting to be a habit ya know."

Prowler: "Not a pleasant one for me, I assure you."

Page 20

A voice from above startles them both, as the Judge merely twists its massive head quizzically.

Voice: "You boys need a hand here? You wouldn't want to keep a lady out of the fun now, would you?"

Prowler: "The Black Cat? What are you doin' here lady? Get outta here, contact the Avengers. We're gonna need all the firepower we can get."

Then a buzzing sound is heard coming from the east, that grows louder almost all at once

Thunderer: "What the hell is goin' on here?"

Suddenly a flying woman is seen in an armored suit , her jet pack blazing as she slams into the giant mechazoid with a powerful punch, that barely rocks the creature.

BOOM!

Woman: "Hi boys, glad you didn't start without me. By the way , you can call me the Hornet."

Page 21

Judge: "You have all been judged, and found wanting. Your attacks barely fazed this unit. Punishment must be metered out."

Prowler: "What the hell? I KNOW that suit, that's…."

Judge: " Commencing sentence."

Across the river in Trenton , NJ, Thomas Fireheart sits at his desk . Rubbing tired eyes he suddenly sees a reflection in his window, of a great explosion. His head snaps up as the glow of a raging fire fills his window from across the river. Then, there is a puff of smoke behind him. He does not even look this time.

Fireheart: "What is it Black Crowe? What are you here to tell me? That I must go there and defend the weak? The answer is no. I have left that life behind. Permanently."

Black Crowe smiles

Black Crowe: "Ah Thomas, you delude yourself. You have no say in the ways of fate. You destiny was chosen for you from the moment you were conceived. You may delay the inevitable, but you cannot deny it. Embrace your fate Thomas Fireheart, do not seek to disown it."

Fireheart turns angrily , to speak, but Crowe raises his hands, and in a puff of smoke, both disappear . To reappear an instant later amid chaos!

Fireheart: "What the…."

The Judgement unit has The Thunderer by the throat, as the woman known as the Hornet haphazardly sprays the creature with explosive shells from her gauntlets. Nearby the Prowler is trying to drag himself to a standing position, as the Black Cat leans against a building gripping her bloodied arm .

Judge: "Sentence to be carried out immediately. Sentence is as follows: Exterminate, Exterminate, Exterminate…….."

Next : Battleground: New York!

I hope you like this first issue of Renegades I tried to set up what the book would look like here in the future. Basically, this team is neither to big, nor to small to take on the tough big time menaces, as well as the street level type. And even into the macabre as well. Send me mail gang. Let me know what you all thought. This book could be very special in the future. Let me know what you liked about the first issue, as well as disliked. Take care,

Ralph