Perfect for Halloween is an all-new graphic novel for people who are afraid of bugs.
Satan’s Swarm is the latest work from artist Piotr Kowalski and writer Steve Niles, best known for his groundbreaking work on 30 Days of Night. And since Niles is no stranger to creating nightmares on the page, this latest work promises to fulfill that legacy, and then some.
The tone of Satan’s Swarm is drawn from classic B-movies like The Swarm and Empire of the Ants, but it’s lovingly described as a cross between arachnophobia and Jurassic Park. It has been. With gruesome deaths and chilling illustrations by Kowalski, ‘Satan’s Swarm’ will fill your brain with terror.
With the release of Satan’s Swarm from Dark Horse, we had the opportunity to connect with Niles to answer some important questions. In this conversation, Niles discusses everything from the project’s spooky inspiration to the creative partnership behind the book’s haunting artwork. He also talks about how life on the ranch changed his relationship with creepy crawlies (except maybe rattlesnakes).
Get ready for a thrilling journey into a world where bugs are bigger, death is more brutal, and fear never stops. Let’s dive in!
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
AIPT: Steve, it’s great to talk to you again — David Brook. First of all, I love the title. Did you have any other working titles or did you start with this title?
Steve Niles: Hello again! I would like to make the title my own, but it was Daniel’s idea. I had a few other books, but none really captured the spirit of this book. Daniel suggested it to me and I loved it. To be honest, the first title was a bit boring.
AIPT: I’ve seen this described as a combination of Arachnophobia and Jurassic Park. Was that the original idea or did you start somewhere else? ?
SN: Yes. I was going for a great/bad 70’s B-movie vibe, like The Swarm and Empire of the Ants, and those are two great movies to compare to, so a little bit. I didn’t care.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
AIPT: Why is this work better as a graphic novel than a one-shot series?
SN: It’s like a mini-movie when you look at it this way, and I like that. I think it’s too small for a series, but it worked well as a one-shot OGN.
AIPT: Do insects scare or frighten you? If so, which one scares you the most?
Steve: That’s interesting. I used to hate bugs, snakes, etc., but after living on a ranch for over 10 years, I have come to love and accept them, with the exception of rattlesnakes. It’s the worst. We have an orb weaver who is about 500 yen in size, and I watch her hunt and build her nest. The fear is gone.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
AIPT: How did you connect with Peter for this project? Was All Eight Eyes his work?
SN: I’ve known Piotr for many years. We did the 30 Days of Night project together many years ago. When it comes to Satan’s Swarm, I can’t think of a better artist for the job. No one is as detailed as Peter. You can feel the bug in yourself while reading. The art team did a great job.
AIPT: There are some gruesome deaths in this graphic novel. Are you trying to overcome death in fear? Did the dead remain, as they say, on the “cutting room floor”?
SN: I wanted a sense of escalation, so hopefully each death is worse than the last. After years of writing horror comics, it’s hard to think of new deaths, but for some reason they just keep popping up in my head. It’s fun to write.
Provided by: Dark Horse
Provided by: Dark Horse
AIPT: If “Satan’s Swarm” were a song, what would it be and why?
SN: “Boris the Spider” by The Who…for obvious reasons. I hear creepy crawling vermin sounds.
