Super entrepreneur

Comic book artist Alonzo Washington uses all his powers to serve as a positive role model for African-American children

Omega Man is a superhero intended to inspire African-American children

In this story: Agent for change Truth, justice, and marriage Outwitting critics RELATED STORIES, SITES

From Rhonda Shaffler
CNNfn Correspondent

KANSAS CITY (CNN) -- Alonzo Washington has loved comic books since he was a little kid. But, as an African-American growing up in inner-city Kansas City, he didn't see himself in many of the superheroes. The black characters, he recalls, were usually ex-cons, criminals or athletes, or -- if they were superheroes in their own right -- they did whatever the white characters wanted them to do.

So Washington decided to take matters into his own hands. He created and drew his own characters and superheroes, made up stories, and built action figures. Encouraged and inspired by his mother, he incorporated the lessons and values she taught him into his comic book creations.

Today, he uses his comic books to teach others, particularly African-American children. His heroes Omega Man, Mighty Ace, Original Woman and Dark Wolf -- muscular crusaders for good -- battle drugs, guns and gangs in vanquishing evil in the world. And they do it through the power of their intelligence, not with violence.

"I feel that you see so many negative images of African-Americans," Washington says. "We have to take it upon ourselves to do something to change that."

For Washington, the turning point came when he was 18. While watching the news one evening, he saw gang members being interviewed.

"I said, 'Wow! This is the worst among us being interviewed for national television,' " he recalls.

Washington was determined to change that image. He founded the Black National Congress, a group of young black males who performed positive acts in the community such as painting over gang graffiti and talking to schoolchildren. Knowing the power of positive press, Washington made sure to let the media know what the group was up to.

"It kind of became a personal mission to even out that media coverage," he says. "I became an activist. I learned how to talk to media, I learned how to access media, and that helped me with my business."

Alonzo Washington started creating comic books to show positive African-American role models

That business was, and remains, his comic book publishing company, Omega 7. With his wife, Dana, he's created a mini-empire surrounding Omega Man and Mighty Ace, including action figures and trading cards.

Dana Washington plays a key role at Omega 7. Besides being co-founder and business partner, she serves as her husband's editor, publicist, business manager, cheerleader and muse. She's the inspiration for Original Woman, one of Omega Man's female colleagues.

"I come from a long line (of strong black women) and have been involved with strong black women, so I have to (make) Original Woman a strong character. She could never be the back half of Omega Man," Alonzo Washington says with a laugh. "It just couldn't happen."

Dana Washington fits the bill: In addition to balancing marriage and business, she helps raise the couple's six kids. The group often accompanies their father to schools and publicity events.

"Sometimes I think I am a superwoman, juggling the family, the business and having a married life with my partner," she says.

"Making a marriage work and having that many kids is a real adventure," Alonzo Washington adds. "It's more challenging than saving the world, I think."

But it all plays a role in his plan. "I want them (schoolchildren) to see that you can have a good family. You can have morals. You can have a wife. And you can still be a cool person."

Omega Man and his creator have met with their share of controversy. "People criticize me a lot," says Washington. "They say, 'Why do you deal with guns, gang violence, racism in your comic books?' Well, kids nowadays have to deal with that."

But Omega Man's popularity has outwitted the critics. Besides all the current spinoff paraphernalia, Washington has plans to add public service announcements featuring an animated Omega Man, and he hopes his characters eventually appear in a movie.

"I want Omega Man to be the equivalent of any Caucasian superhero, like a Superman, Batman, a noble righteous character," says Washington. "That's what we're trying to do with Omega Man -- give you a symbol that is African-American but is 100 percent positive."

Gang members, drug dealers and evildoers, take note. Omega Man always triumphs in the end.

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Artist threw away convention to become comic book writer
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OMEGA 7 Inc.

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