Artwork Details
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DescriptionHappy Halloween, everyone! Kicking off the holiday right, with a favorite cover from an amazing run that (let's face it) had no shortage of impressive cover images. Nope, it's not an ecologically-themed "what if?" update of Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times": this one boils down a main theme of Mike and Ram's run into a singular, gorgeous, terrifying image. To stop the Parliament of Gears, Swamp Thing dares to insert himself (quite literally) into their plans and designs and cannot hope to remain intact.Throughout their 18+ issues, Ram and Mike never let you forget that they were telling a horror story, and the Pale Pilgrim's comfort and calm certainty here (hauntingly echoing the pose of his grisly trophy behind him) drive that notion into your cerebral cortex like a dull, rusty nail. The gore flowing out into the bottom of the piece (I have to look away! I can’t stand the sight of sap!) is deliciously over-the-top. An incredible composition. Execution-wise, Mike wields the washes here like blunt narrative instruments, integrating the flat grey tones into his illustrative, photo-realistic pen and ink work to stand in cold, stark contrast to the organic, lush and living landscapes that were his swampy interiors. There's still plenty of subtle touch going on (just check out the pen, ink, and wash interplay in the gear to the right of Swamp Thing's head) but cold, lifeless iron has never looked so damned good. And Mike goes even further to separate the spaces of the Parliaments of Green and Gears: this piece (and many of the Parliament of Gears pages from issues 15 & 16 - you can see a few examples elsewhere in my gallery) look like collage pieces, with multi-sized gears, wheels, and chains "dropped onto the page" and acting as jarring, inorganic (almost abstract) scenery to counter The Swamp’s living, loamy flora. Brilliant. Stunned that I am able to display such a treasure. Thanks, Chris! Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Ruben DaCollector 
Member Since 2008
4 - Posted on 10/28/2025
This cover (which many consider to be the greatest one of the series), is an absolute masterclass in visual storytelling. A striking fusion of both horror and symbolism. The manner in which The Pale Pilgrim (I still prefer his former nom de plume, Pale Wanderer!) sits front and center, composed yet unsettling, while the Swamp Thing writhes within a massive tangle of gears behind him, is a haunting visual metaphor for the clash between nature and industry, which became one of the underlying themes of the series.
Perkins’ use of stark black and white gives the piece a heavy, almost oppressive atmosphere, while the intricate web of lines and mechanical forms draws the eye in and makes you want to keep looking! Every tendril feels alive with tension. We're watching the balance between order and chaos here, which is deliberate and masterful. The calm authority (my ode to Hawksmoor) of the Pilgrim contrasted against the organic struggle of the Green.
This cover is a perfect encapsulation of this Swamp Thing series. Mythic, brooding, and deeply human beneath the horror. Perkins didn't just illustrate a cover here, he essentially captured the entire story’s soul in a single, unforgettable image and I think anyone who immersed themselves in this series would agree with that sentiment. While it's always disappointing to see people part with covers like this one, especially after owning it for only a short time, that's also tempered on occasion by seeing the cover ending up in the perfect collection and this is certainly one of those times. Congratulations on landing the big one, Jason!
Gal Schwartz
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 10/28/2025
Perkins at his macabre best! Simply stunning!
E DLS
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 10/28/2025
For once, I am at a loss for words. Not sure I could follow what you and Ruben have so eloquently articulated, so I won't even try. I will just say that this is an extraordinary and truly impressive piece of comic artwork. Wow!
Tyler T
Member Since 2020
1 - Posted on 10/28/2025
This is crazy! The detail is insane, but the concept really works in the vein of horror. Perkins really gummed up the works with this one and it shines! Saptastic cover!
M L
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 10/28/2025
The impact of this image is undeniable. An irresistable, unstoppable, grinding FORCE.
Spectacular. Congrats Jason.
James Dornoff
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 10/28/2025
Wow what a magnificent cover, so much cool detail and creature work. Wonderful tonal quality and shading. Cheers!
Kavi H
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 10/28/2025
I can't really do justice with words beyond what you (and Ruben also in his comment) have already said, so I will just keep enjoying the scan and insane level of Mike's talent on display. So happy you got this one man!!! Not sure if it's my favorite cover of the run or not, but it's certainly in the running for it if I was forced to make a hypothetical choice (a good problem to have when there are so many damn good ones to choose from!). I think this run will be looked back upon among the great ST stories/runs, and this just may be the everlasting image from it. Congrats Jason!
F M
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 10/28/2025
This is indeed super creepy and intense a cover.
The cold stare of the villain, the screaming pain of the hero, the rrrrrrrrrrrrrrust of the gear...Yeah, that's not one for the bedroom (I'm not even sure I would want that in my house, to be honest).
Looking forward to read this series in full.
Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 10/28/2025
Would you know Swamp Thing
If I saw you by Perkins?
Would the green contain
If I saw you Pale Pilgrim?
Mike wash be drawn
And Ram V’s on
'Cause I know the cogs belong
Gears by Perkins
Would you hold my sap
Ink flora goo by Perkins?
Would you help me Ram
If I called up Mike Perkins?
I'll find my way
Through light and gray
'Cause I know it’s rust on nails
Gears and Perkins
Victor Bracamontes
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 10/28/2025
Jason, this cover is insane. Words trully escape me to relay what others have already mentioned other then what came out of me mouth when i opemed the page "Holy $#!@, thats fantastic". Doing spooky month right!
Miki Annamanthadoo
Member Since 2003
1 - Posted on 10/29/2025
Perkins artistry reached new heights on this series! And you have one of the best pieces from it! Congrats and Happy Halloween!
artless artmore
Member Since 2013
1 - Posted on 10/29/2025
Love this! Great organic/mech mashup and what a fantastic series
Toni S
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 10/29/2025
Stellar piece of ART! It visually fascinating! I love yje way Sam inks himself. As Ruben said this is a truly masterclass!!!
Michael Sullivan
Member Since 2021
1 - Posted on 10/29/2025
I very much dig the twisted portraiture style of this piece.
Duke Fleed
Member Since 2013
1 - Posted on 10/29/2025
Move over Bernie Wrightson! A painful scene to view and beautifully executed! Congrats! Not sure if all pilgrim's were scary dudes, but this one would not be invited to Thanksgiving dinner at my place. Everyone would lose their appetite.
Chris Snorek
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 10/29/2025
It's clear to me now. You have to be stopped.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 10/30/2025
A superb range of inking and shading/wash techniques on display, and the strong, oozing black sections draw the eye ever further down. Nice cover!
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 10/31/2025
Stunning Swamp Thing cover by Mike Perkins, depicting the Swamp Thing sacrificing himself in a heroic effort to stop the Parliament of Gears. You can almost hear his screams of pain as the gears grind into his body, ripping into his tendrils as his life drains away. Sitting in front of the machines is the Pale Pilgrim, who calmly ignores the pain and sacrifice of Swamp Thing and sits,. seemingly contented. Tbe art for the cover is masterfully composed and painted by Mike Perkins. It's a great cover that eloquently sums up the message of Mike's run on the title. It's quite possibly the best cover of Mike's long amazing run on Swamp Thing. Fabulous pick-up, congrats!
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