​Unleashing the Wolf: The Untold Origin of Lykos Hits Cleveland

As we kick off our first three-day event at the Cleveland Gaming Classic, Lee E. Johnson, Brandon X. Bell, and Lynnesha Hamilton are bringing the action straight to their hometown! To mark the occasion, this September blog dives deep into the high-stakes world of Lykos: The Metal Wolf.

Moses Black: billionaire, philanthropist, and vigilante—who is he really, and what makes him the Metal Wolf?

The Origins of a Hunter

Born on June 9, 1985, to government scientists Moses Black Sr. and Aretha Black, Moses Jr. was bound for an extraordinary life from the start. His parents met while working on "Project Beta," a classified government initiative studying alien life forms—most notably a metallic alien organism designated Element-1 (or Natural 1). Discovering that Natural 1’s DNA could drastically enhance human abilities, the Blacks refused military orders to weaponize their findings. Instead, they destroyed their research files, went off the grid, and fled into the wilderness.

Tragedy struck early: Aretha died shortly after childbirth due to a blood clot. Raised alone in the wild by his father, young Moses was trained in science, survival, and martial arts. When a deadly bout of pneumonia threatened young Moses’ life, his father made a desperate choice—injecting him with the remaining alien blood samples. The alien suit/organism bonded with him, granting superhuman strength, speed, heightened senses, and remarkable durability. By age ten, Moses could lift 500 pounds with ease. But after the CIA tracked down and killed his father, Moses was left completely alone.

From the Pack to the Streets

Orphaned in the wild, Moses was adopted by a pack of wolves, learning to hunt and communicate with nature on a deep level. But when hunters slaughtered his pack, he wandered into the violent city of Cleveland

Living as a homeless youth, his unbelievable strength caught the attention of Red Rock, leader of the Maple Row gang. Moses became a feared street enforcer until a drug deal gone wrong left him shot multiple times—including twice in the head. A miraculous recovery in just three days served as a wake-up call. Realizing his path dishonored his parents, Moses abandoned gang life, vowing never to harm the innocent again.

Walk by FAITH...

Headed down the wrong path Moses found his first Redemption. Adopted by human rights activist Cheryl Belveaux, Moses turned his life around. He graduated as valedictorian, invented life-enhancing technologies, and built a massive empire—becoming a multi-billionaire philanthropist dedicated to giving back to the society which merely survived.

Ashes of a sparking 🔥 flame,

Moses Black’s life has been defined by a chaotic path from orphan and gang member to global tech pioneer. Driven by a mission to bring clean water, power, and food to impoverished communities, Moses partnered with Prof. Lina Fula. Together in the Central African Republic, they earned the title "the lone wolves of science".

Tragedy struck when militia leader Rom Hawk invaded Lina’s village to demand protection payments for warlord Ollie McGregor. When Lina stood her ground, Rom Hawk brutally murdered her to send a message. Arriving too late to save the love of his life, Moses’ overwhelming grief unleashed the alien DNA within him—the metallic organism known as Element 1 or Uronium A.

As bio-metallic steel vertebrae, armor, and a cowl fused onto his body, the Metal Wolf was born in a storm of agony and rage.

His hunt culminated in the Congo, where Ollie was running a brutal mining operation exploiting children and vulnerable workers. Harnessing superhuman speed, durability, and raw ferocity, Lykos obliterated Ollie’s forces and brought down the warlord. But he didn't just bring vengeance—he brought salvation, deploying large-scale tech evac transports to shuttle displaced workers to safety.

From Vengeance to Heroism: Unexpected Allies

Lykos' journey is one of transforming a vigilante born from vengeance into a hero of a righteous cause. Delivering ruthless justice in the streets of Hustleton and Cleveland, he stands alongside trusted allies like telepathic counselor Dr. Veronica Knight and Marissa King (Mars).

As teased in The Natura Issue #1, Lykos will continue to cross paths with unexpected powerhouses in the coming months, shaping the future of the entire 50*Fifty universe!

Stop by Booth 821 at the Cleveland Gaming Classic all weekend long to pick up Lykos: The Metal Wolf issues meet the illustrator and writing team behind Lykos and Mars, take pictures, autograph and explore other titles of the Indie Collaborative Natura-Verse.