This issue finally reveals the man behind the nickname: John Smith. Yep, the most regular name ever, attached to a man with some very irregular levels of ambition. Smith isn’t just chasing history he’s chasing recognition. A flashback to a museum gala shows him watching another archaeologist get praised while he stands unnoticed. That moment lights the fuse. Respect becomes his obsession, and the deeper we go into the story, the clearer it becomes this man will do just about anything to earn it.
Meanwhile, The Kid just wants to earn money to help his sick grandmother. Guiding academics through the jungle seemed like a simple gig until Smith gets them into a confrontation with local workers guarding a restricted area. When things explode, The Kid does the smart thing: he runs. Smith? He stays and fights everyone. That’s the moment the poor kid realizes this expedition is less “historical tour” and more survival mission.
Visually, Sam Gudilin absolutely crushes it. The art is packed with energy dynamic angles, intense action beats, and a jungle atmosphere that feels thick with danger. Gudilin’s storytelling makes every confrontation feel explosive and every moment of fear hit harder. You can practically feel The Kid realizing he made a very bad career decision.
What makes The Digger #2 work so well is its balance of pulp adventure and character depth. John Smith isn’t a simple villain he’s driven, frustrated, and dangerously obsessed with recognition. That makes him unpredictable… and fascinating to watch.
SCORE:
5/5
The Digger is shaping up to be one of those indie comics you don’t want to sleep on. High-stakes jungle adventure, a morally slippery archaeologist, and a kid learning the hard way that some expeditions should never have started. And judging by how things are escalating?
The jungle might not be the most dangerous thing out there!
Publisher: Invader Comics
Writer: T. S. Luther
Artist: Sam Gudilin
Letterer: HdE
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