A Hero Born of Darkness: Enter the World of Red Flag by Amar Williams
- What inspired you to create this story, and how did the idea for its characters and plot take shape?
The inspiration for this story comes from my personal experiences. During my school days, I had a shy, innocent, and kind personality, but I often felt weak and inadequate—a self-perception that deeply affected me. Over time, when faced with situations I could no longer tolerate, I discovered a contrasting side within myself. This other personality was bold, fearless, and brimming with confidence—a voice that constantly said to me, “You are the most powerful person in the universe; no one can defeat you.” While it carried a slightly toxic intensity, I found that, in minimal doses, this personality became a powerful tool to confront challenges and solve all of my problems with power and grace.
This internal duality felt deeply personal yet universally relatable, and I realized it could form the foundation for a compelling story. I believe that when a narrative comes from a place of genuine connection, it resonates with others. That’s how the concept for Red-Flag began.
As I developed the story, everything—the character, its arcs, supporting characters, and action sequences—unfolded naturally. It all stemmed from a place of authenticity, which made the process feel both organic and fulfilling. Over the past five years, this idea evolved subconsciously in my mind, refining itself until I was ready to bring it to life.
- Blending visuals with a compelling narrative is an art. How did you ensure the story and illustrations complement each other seamlessly?
My background has played a significant role in ensuring that the story and illustrations complement each other seamlessly. I’ve been drawing since I was three years old, and I began filmmaking and acting at the age of 16. With over a decade of experience in the filmmaking industry, I’ve developed a strong ability to visualize the final output even during the writing stage.
Being both the writer and artist of the comic gave me complete creative freedom to push boundaries and explore new possibilities. In most comics, when artists are asked to go beyond their usual scope, it often requires additional budgets, as skilled artists are expensive. However, in my case, as the writer, owner of the company, and artist, I didn’t need to worry about financial constraints. This project wasn’t driven by money—it was purely fueled by passion.
I committed myself to going for the extra mile. Every panel was carefully planned, with attention to lighting, shadows, angles, colors, and composition. Nothing was rushed. I took the time to meticulously pre-visualize each element before moving on to the inking and coloring stages. This detailed planning and execution allowed me to achieve the high-quality output that you see in the book.
- What aspects of your story make it stand out in a landscape full of diverse visual storytelling?
When I set out to create my own superhero, I wanted him to be simple, grounded, and rooted in reality. I deliberately avoided the stereotypical tight, flashy spandex suits and bright colors that might feel over-the-top or clichéd. Instead, I focused on making him weirdly relatable, which opened up incredible possibilities for humor, adventure, and subverting traditional superhero tropes.
Unlike most superheroes, Red-Flag isn’t adored or idolized. People don’t call him a hero—they label him a psychopath. He’s not loved but feared and hated. He doesn’t wear a mask or hide his identity because he doesn’t care about the consequences; he’s unapologetically himself.
Typically, superheroes connect with people by showcasing their good side. I wanted Red-Flag to connect by showcasing his dark side. The story isn’t meant to glorify violence or promote negativity; rather, it’s about exploring how to channel our darker instincts in a healthy way—to confront challenges without causing harm to anyone. If you look closely, it’s a message about balance and self-awareness.
When it came to giving him powers, I wanted something unique. However, almost every idea I considered—spiders, bats, other animals, storms, magnetism, earthquake and countless others—was already taken and used by Marvel, DC, or other stories. So, I created a new concept: Gravonetism, the combined power of gravity and magnetism. This ability allows Red-Flag to attract or repel anything with immense force.
Gravonetism opened up endless creative opportunities for action sequences. Red-Flag can jump great heights by repelling from the ground, fly using a triangular gravonium shield that spins like a motor to propel him like a helicopter or plane, repel bullets, and use his power for both offense and defense. Although this specific issue didn’t showcase a lot of his powers, in his upcoming appearances, he will feature great action sequences that reveal his true strength.
To make the power feel real and authentic, I grounded it in scientific possibilities. I researched gravitational and magnetic forces, tapping into the mysteries of the Earth’s core as a source for this unique ability. By rooting the concept in science and unexplored phenomena, I aimed to make it not just creative but also logically believable.
I believe these aspects make Red-Flag stand out in the diverse world of visual storytelling.
- What themes or messages did you want to convey through your work, and how do you hope they resonate with your audience?
The power that writers hold in their hands is truly extraordinary—the power to transform the world into a better place. Whether through books, comics, or movies, stories not only entertain us but also teach and constantly remind us how to be better individuals. They strike the perfect balance between lessons and enjoyment. I always strive to make the most of this power in my stories.
While Red-Flag isn’t primarily designed to teach moral values, it subtly conveys an important lesson: how to channel power and anger in the right way, and, more importantly, how not to misuse them. It’s about understanding the impact of our actions and finding balance.
When it comes to delivering a strong message, however, Yazhi stands out. The story delves into profound themes, especially through the Promise of the Curse Bearers. This promise carries a powerful and transformative message that I hope will resonate deeply with the audience. I want it to inspire people to reflect on how we should live our lives.
I genuinely believe that if people embrace the principles behind the Promise of the Curse Bearers, it could lead to meaningful change and help transform the world into a better place.
- When deciding on the artistic style and tone, I wanted to break away from the conventional approach often seen in comics.
Sometimes, when I read comics, I feel a lack of depth, which I believe stems from having multiple artists working on a single project. For example, one artist might handle the inks, while another works on the colors. This collaborative process, while efficient, can sometimes restrict the overall depth of the final output, resulting in a flat, two-dimensional effect.
Since I am the sole artist for this project, I wanted to explore a different and more cohesive approach. Instead of completing the traditional three-step process for each page—pencils, inks, and colors—I applied these steps layer by layer. This method allowed me to add depth, detail, and a three-dimensional quality to every page while playing extensively with lighting, color tones, and shading.
My background in filmmaking, as a director and cinematographer, significantly influenced my creative choices. Over the years, I’ve gained valuable experience in lighting a shot, framing scenes to look aesthetically pleasing, and working on color grading and Digital Intermediate (DI) to enhance visual storytelling. These skills proved instrumental in shaping the look and tone of the comic.
When I set out to create this comic, I aimed to make it the best-looking comic book in the world. While it may sound ambitious, I poured my heart into achieving that goal. Whether or not I succeeded, I believe I genuinely gave it my all and stayed true to my vision.
- Who or what has influenced your storytelling and artistic vision the most in creating this piece?
The Spider-Man movies directed by Sam Raimi and The Dark Knight by Christopher Nolan have been major influences on my storytelling. I admire how Sam Raimi approached a superhero story as a deeply relatable drama and how Christopher Nolan made us feel that Batman and the Joker could truly exist in the real world. These two franchises heavily shaped my perspective on crafting grounded yet engaging narratives.
As for the artwork, my favorite artist has always been Patrick Brown. Since childhood, I would visit toy stores—not to buy toys, but to admire Patrick Brown’s illustrations on the backs of the toy boxes. His dynamic and detailed style left a lasting impression on me and continues to inspire my artistic vision.
While many elements from real life and various stories have influenced this piece, these are the most prominent inspirations that come to mind.
- What were some of the biggest challenges you encountered during the creative process, and how did you navigate them?
The two biggest challenges I faced during the creative process were time and patience—neither of which I initially had enough of. From the very beginning, I promised myself that I wouldn’t rush the project or set any strict deadlines. I committed to working on it until I was genuinely happy with the output, no matter how long it took.
However, managing time was a significant hurdle. While pitching my film scripts to production houses, I often found myself in waiting periods, which I used to work on this comic. Balancing this project alongside my other commitments—seeking acting and directing opportunities, freelancing as an artist, directing short films, writing and developing scripts, and engaging in team discussions—was incredibly challenging.
Since my primary focus has always been acting and film direction, this comic was a second priority for me. As a result, I couldn’t always navigate the process as efficiently as I might have liked. However, this project became a valuable learning experience, teaching me crucial lessons in time management and patience, which I will carry forward into future endeavors.
Is the city ready for its darkest savior? Find out—grab your copy today on amazon!
