Author Spotlight: Trenn Williams, Creator of “The Knights” Comic Book
Welcome to Mind the Typos! In the world of comic books, a new voice is emerging with a fresh take on the superhero genre. I had the pleasure of interviewing Trenn Williams, the talented creator of "The Knights" comic book, a exciting story of a teenager turned superhero to the pages. In this interview, we get to know Trenn better and explore the inspirations behind his captivating work.
1. Could you please introduce yourself and tell us about your book?
Hello, my name is Trenn Williams, and I am an illustrator and an up-and-coming comic book artist. I’m working on a comic called The Knights, which is about a teenager named Tre Anders, who lives in a world of super-powered beings known as “Red Eyes”(because every super-powered being is born with dark red eyes, which glow when they use their powers). Tre is from Irvington, New Jersey, and he decides to become a superhero and take matters into his own hands because the neighborhood he lives in is extremely corrupted. Even the superheroes and some of the police are working with criminals on the low, controlling crime, or are flat-out criminals themselves.
Tre also makes this decision because he uses his alter ego as an escape from his real world and how he feels about himself. Through his alter ego, he gains the confidence and courage he feels he cannot express as his regular self. During his vigilante journey, he gains the attention of a superhero team known as the “Knights,” who share his mission for the city.
2. What inspired you to write your book, and can you tell us about it?
I've always been an extreme superhero fan, and when I was in high school, I started a comic after reading a Human Torch graphic novel my mother bought me. It was based around Johnny Storm being in high school and dealing with teenage problems as a teenager, and I thought it would be dope to make a teenage superhero team based off a couple of my friends. Fast forward, I'm no longer friends with those people, so I scratched it, but I've always drawn characters I made up. It wasn't until I went to the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in Dover, NJ, that it actually awakened in me the desire to develop these characters further and build a universe. The Infinity Saga from the MCU also influenced the way I want to tell my stories and have characters within and Easter eggs in other characters' comics.
3. What themes or messages do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I want adults and kids that look like me to have more mainstream superheroes—as leaders and teams, not just as sidekicks or side characters, or being the only one on a team. I feel as though this is something we need—something the kids need: cool stories for us, by us, and about us, set in neighborhoods we grew up in. I want to connect with my people and make stories about superheroes.
4. Are there any particular authors or books that influenced your writing style or inspired you?
I wouldn’t say anyone in particular influenced my art style, but the artists who definitely inspired me to try a more comic style while maintaining my realism are:
- Tyler Forrest Martin, founder of Godhood Comics with his comic The Antagonist
- Chris Stevens
- Elizabetta D’Amico
- Aset
- Matteo Melani
Just to name a few.
5. Lastly, could you provide your contact information or social media handles for readers who would like to connect with you?
If you would like to reach out, talk, follow, network, or show love, you can find me on 📱:
There you have it—Trenn Williams is an exciting new voice in the comic book world, and "The Knights" promises to offer readers a fresh perspective on the superhero genre. I wish Trenn much success and can't wait to engage with the story and characters. Be sure to check out Trenn's work, and always remember to mind the typos!
