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Digger (Marvel Comics)

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Not to be confused with Digger (webcomic).

Digger is the name of two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

The Roderick Krupp version of Digger first appeared as a story narrator/host in the horror anthology series Tower of Shadows #1 (September 1969), in the story "At the Stroke of Midnight" by writer-artist Jim Steranko.

Publication history

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Originally designed as one of the hosts of Tower of Shadows and its sister title, Chamber of Darkness, both beginning in 1969, the Roderick Krupp version of Digger played a role similar to that of Tales from the Crypt's Crypt Keeper of the 1950s EC Comics and later HBO television series.[1] Providing a panel or two of introductory material leading into and usually closing the story itself, Digger appeared sporadically through the nine-issue run of Tower of Shadows and the eight-issue run of Chamber of Darkness. Digger was worked into Marvel's main shared universe, the Marvel Universe in 1987, returning with other lesser-known characters in Captain America #329 (May 1987). He appeared with these other characters as a member of the team the Night Shift, supervillain antagonists who were then primarily used in the series Avengers West Coast during the 1990s. Digger appeared as part of the "Night Shift" entry in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #5. After a long period in which the character had no appearances, a new version of Digger appeared in 2008. Returning to his roots, he was used as the narrator for Dead of Night featuring the Man-Thing, a four-issue miniseries published by Marvel as a part of its mature content MAX imprint.[2] In this series, Digger tells his version of the Man-Thing's origin, as well as three other semi-connected tales starring Man-Thing and related characters. The Digger sequences in the miniseries were painted by artist Nick Percival. In 2009, Digger appeared in Marvel Zombies 4. This series also featured the character's death and resurrection.

The Gamma Mutate incarnation of Digger first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #51 and was created by J. Michael Straczynski and John Romita Jr.[3]

Fictional character biography

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Roderick Krupp

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Digger
First page from Dead of Night Featuring the Man-Thing #3
Art by Nick Percival
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceTower of Shadows #1 (September 1969)
In-story information
Alter egoRoderick Krupp
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsNight Shift
AbilitiesSuperhuman strength

Roderick Krupp is a serial killer who buries his victims alive while telling them macabre stories, and becomes known as Digger for his modus operandi. While living in a decrepit Los Angeles mansion known as the Tower of Shadows, he is contacted by the vigilante Shroud and joins the supervillain team Night Shift.[4]

Digger is later exposed to a virus from the Marvel Zombies universe and transformed into a zombie. Dormammu assumes control of the Night Shift and uses them to fight the Midnight Sons. Jennifer Kale, Black Talon, and Zombie contain the virus, causing the Night Shift to stop attacking them.[5]

Digger and the rest of the Night Shift are hired by Snapdragon to kill the Moon Knight on behalf of Count Nefaria who was operating as the Kingpin of Los Angeles. When they fail and are bailed out of prison by Snapdragon's lawyer, Count Nefaria reduces Digger and the Nightshift to ashes.[6]

During the "Spider-Geddon" storyline, Digger and Dansen Macabre turn up alive as they, the Brothers Grimm, Skein, and new member Waxman rob a bus of people only to be thwarted by the Superior Octopus (Doctor Octopus' mind in a Proto-Clone of Peter Parker). The Superior Octopus agrees to spare them more pain in exchange that the Night Shift becomes his agents, where he will compensate them from his own funds.[7]

Digger and the Night Shift assisted the Superior Spider-Man in fighting Terrax and then searching for survivors.[8]

Digger, Dansen Macarbe, and Skein fight Spider-Man of Earth-41145 and Spiders-Man of Earth-11580 and are defeated by them. As a restored Doctor Octopus watches the funeral of his Elliot Tolliver alias from afar, Digger is seen finishing his digging. He is told by Doctor Octopus to distribute a severance pay to the rest of the Night Shift in exchange that they don't bother him again and warns them to not go visit the Brothers Grimm in the hospital.[9]

Gamma mutate

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Digger
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #51 (May 2003)
Created byJ. Michael Straczynski
John Romita Jr.
In-story information
Alter egoFreddie Carnevale, Santo Castellani, Jimmy Desanti, Louis Fredone, Tony Mascapone, George Sims, and their chief lieutenants
SpeciesComposite gamma mutate
Team affiliationsSinister Syndicate
AbilitiesSuperhuman strength
Superhuman durability
Superhuman agility and speed

On July 3, 1957, crime boss Morris Forelli kills rival crime bosses Freddie Carnevale, Santo Castellani, Jimmy Desanti, Louis Fredone, Tony Mascapone, George Sims, and their chief lieutenants during a meeting in Las Vegas and buries their bodies in the desert. Sometime later, a gamma bomb test is conducted in the desert, fusing the Vegas Thirteen's corpses into a patchwork gamma zombie who plans revenge on Forelli. This leads to Digger encountering Spider-Man, who defeats them and renders them inert.[10][3][11][12]

Digger is later resurrected via the Green Door and becomes a minion of Rose. They appear under Rose's command in the "Gang War" storyline (2023) as well as the sixth volume of The Amazing Spider-Man (2024).[11][13][14][15]

Powers and abilities

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Both incarnations of Digger possess superhuman physical abilities.

The gamma mutate incarnation of Digger can resurrect via the Green Door and possesses the combined memories and skills of their components.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Janson, Tim Mania Comics: "Comic Review: Dead of Night Featuring Man-Thing #1 Archived 2008-03-06 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Book Review: Dead of Night (Featuring Manthing) - Issues #1-4". horrornews.net. Horror News. September 11, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Allan, Scoot (July 31, 2020). "Spider-Man's 25 Strongest Villains, Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  4. ^ Captain America #330 (June 1987)
  5. ^ Marvel Zombies 4 #2 - 4 (July - September 2009)
  6. ^ Moon Knight (vol. 6) #6 (December 2011)
  7. ^ Superior Octopus #1 (December 2018)
  8. ^ The Superior Spider-Man (vol. 2) #1 - 4 (February - May 2019)
  9. ^ The Superior Spider-Man (vol. 2) #11 - 12 (November - December 2019)
  10. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #51 - 54 (May - August 2003)
  11. ^ a b Humphries, Rebekah (February 9, 2021). "Spider-Man Will NEVER Take Responsibility for Killing One Forgotten Marvel Villain". CBR. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  12. ^ Cebulski, C. B.; Lee, Stan; DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt, eds. (October 8, 2024). Marvel Encyclopedia: New Edition. DK Publishing. ISBN 978-0-593-84611-7.
  13. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 6) #1 (June 2022)
  14. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 6) #40 - #44 (February - April 2024)
  15. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 6) #57-58 (November 2024)
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