Trevor Jackson’s tattoos look chosen for a reason. Many connect to a person, belief, film, game, or memory he wants to keep close, so the collection feels more like a scrapbook than a random sleeve.

He has explained much of the ink himself. His first tattoo used a Bible verse in his mother’s handwriting; others refer to family, music, martial arts, and characters that shaped him. There’s even a large back piece tied to a frightening period in his life. Here’s a look at the tattoos Jackson has discussed, without trying to guess at marks hidden under his shirt.

Trevor Jackson’s first tattoo is a Bible verse from his mother

Jackson got his first tattoo at 18. It’s 2 Timothy 1:7, a Bible verse his grandmother taught him, written in his mother’s handwriting. That made it easier for his mother to accept: the words weren’t random text picked from a book, but a family memory in familiar handwriting.

The verse says God gave people power, love, and a sound mind instead of fear. Jackson has called it the first Bible verse he learned, making it both a faith tattoo and a piece of home. It sits on his left side, in the area that later grew into tattoos across his left arm and back.

It also gives a sense of how he approaches ink. Jackson has said his tattoos carry “extreme meaning,” usually tied to a situation, value, or belief. Even when the subject is a game or comic-book character, there’s generally a personal reason behind it.

The Jesus and Peter back tattoo came from a rough period

The clearest view of Jackson’s back shows Jesus pulling Peter out of the water, with a boat included in the scene. He said the design came from a difficult period when he felt he had been saved from something that could have gone badly.

It’s one of his larger, more detailed tattoos. Jackson said it took three sessions, which tracks with the shading and the way the figures fill his back. Water, movement, and a religious story all come together in one scene.

The message is direct but personal: being pulled out of trouble. Jackson has also said he’s proud of times when he felt lost, sad, or unsure, because those experiences helped shape him. The back piece fits that idea especially well.

Jackson explained the feeling behind the design without presenting it as a full account of his life. It’s a religious reference tied to survival and relief, not evidence that every tattoo he has carries a hidden religious message.

His left arm mixes Mortal Kombat with Toy Story

Jackson’s left arm has some of the collection’s more playful references: designs from Mortal Kombat and the aliens from Toy Story, pointing toward the famous claw. The mix may sound unusual, but both come from things he genuinely enjoys.

The Mortal Kombat design is a tribute to his favourite game. Jackson jokes that he’s very good at it and that the tattoo warns people not to challenge him. It’s a fun detail, but it still follows his broader rule: a tattoo has to mean something before it earns a place on his skin.

The Toy Story aliens carry a more reflective idea. They’re stuck in a glass case, waiting for the claw to lift them somewhere else. Jackson related that image to the feeling that people are here to do something bigger, even if they don’t yet know what it is. Their wish to ascend became a reminder not to stay stuck or settle for a stationary life.

These aren’t just childhood references. Jackson uses familiar characters to express ideas about ambition, freedom, and growing into something bigger. The cartoon images feel approachable, while the stories behind them add another layer.

Prince, Bruce Lee and Capoeira fill out the arm story

Jackson has several more references on his arm. A Prince tattoo connects to the point when he started feeling more confident making music and playing guitar. Prince showed him he could do things differently, write for himself, and take charge of his own direction.

A tattoo tied to Bruce Lee recalls the martial-arts movies Jackson’s dad showed him as a child. Lee became a major influence, and the design represents making your own path instead of letting other people decide who you should be. Jackson has compared that kind of self-belief to figures such as Muhammad Ali, who carried himself as great before everyone else agreed.

Another piece represents Capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art that enslaved people in Brazil disguised as dance when they were barred from training openly. Jackson has talked about its mix of discipline, acrobatics, music, and movement. The tattoo brings cultural history and physical practice into the collection.

Together, the designs explain a lot about the arm. Prince represents creative freedom, Bruce Lee self-belief, and Capoeira discipline and history. They look different, but the ideas fit beside one another.

Jackson’s approach has something in common with how Titus Welliver’s tattoos are discussed: what matters isn’t only how much skin is covered, but why certain memories stayed important enough to become permanent.

The Jackson ambigram and Silver Surfer tattoo are all about identity

One of Jackson’s cleverest pieces is an ambigram that reads “Jackson” from either direction. Turn it around and his name still works. It’s a smart bit of lettering, and it suits someone who thinks about identity and how he wants to move through the world.

Above it is a Silver Surfer tattoo. Jackson calls the Silver Surfer his favourite superhero. He likes that the character gave up his own life to save his world and carries the power of the cosmos. The tattoo is about more than a comic-book costume; it points to sacrifice, scale, and a bigger purpose.

The two images occupy the same area but carry different ideas. The ambigram is personal and name-based; the Silver Surfer looks toward a much larger fictional universe. One says who Jackson is, while the other points to the kind of heroic story he finds inspiring.

Jackson’s advice on timing is practical: get a tattoo when you actually feel ready, not because you think there’s a perfect age or schedule. His collection reflects that. He isn’t forcing every piece into one strict style; he’s recording what mattered at different points in his life.

Family ink, One Love and the woman on his arm

Family is another strong thread in Jackson’s tattoos. He and his father have matching lion designs: his father has the large lion, with Jackson represented by a cub inside it. The pairing makes the animal imagery about their relationship rather than a generic lion tattoo.

He also has “One Love” inked on his body. The phrase comes from his family, especially his uncle Squeak, a large man Jackson describes as one of the gentlest people he knows. His uncle would say the words back whenever he saw the tattoo. The phrase caught on in the family, making the lettering a kind of private greeting that became permanent.

On the back of his arm, Jackson chose a portrait of a woman he first noticed in a tattoo shop. He didn’t know who she was; he simply liked the image and asked the artist to use it. The portrait includes a yin-yang symbol, the number 8 in the earring, and 777 in the hat.

Jackson connects those details to balance and numbers he likes. The yin-yang represents balance; eight is his favourite number, and sevens have appeared often in his life. It’s an example of how he can start with an image that catches his eye and then build personal meaning into the small details.

He has talked about filling out the other side of his body, including tattoos on his left leg and right side. Those were future plans, not completed work. The same goes for Flash, Ninja Turtles, and Rough Drafts designs he has considered; they shouldn’t be listed as tattoos he already has.

That mix of finished pieces and future ideas keeps the collection in motion. It’s best read as a timeline of people, stories, and interests rather than a fixed catalogue.

Watch Trevor Jackson talk through the stories behind his tattoos in the GQ Tattoo Tour: