Scourge of the Skull Digger is a mutual request after coming across the Triumph Comics Substack. While the familiar logo caught my eye, this title is my real introduction to the Zinngrabe brothers’ project years in the making. What better way to show how than immersing the reader in the depths of fanatical depravity?
Scourge of the Skull Digger: Layers of a Cult Leader
Through the title character, readers can’t help but look away from a man so much larger-than-life. The artwork alone shows how unlike Skull Digger is from every human surrounding him. He always stands upright in bold outlines making him look bigger than the battlefields he’s in. It gives an air that he breathes into his men, confident in their purpose as well as his own. Readers can almost feel how much Skull Digger gets off on it all when he pulls an injured soldier up close to him with his eyes big and wide. All while behind a mask angled in a way to evoke a dramatic response.
So it’s a surprise when readers see this almost unstoppable force of nature serves a greater evil. The physical effort to show his devotion to a giant demi-god and his scantily clad priestess gives layers to his callousness. He is following their example with patience and with less threats at his training camps. All with as much efficiency and awe-inspiring loyalty. Along with the narrations, this implies that Skull Digger has a bigger goal after serving for so long.
Reflections In The Mask
Meanwhile the people who fight against the Skull Digger show other sides to him. Like the followers he blesses with one ready to take control of a camp. This event plays out with some intense anticipation as demons hide in the shadows and sit on the shoulder of the turncoat. Readers expect the demons to be some kind of warning, instead Skull Digger brings his larger opponent to his knees. Skull Digger shows everyone that he is the one in command of the situation, not his armies, his enemies, or the reader.
The reader will have to settle for one rival from a G.I. Joe-like organization named Clay Jackson to get anything else out of Skull Digger. As a foil, Clay is considerate, willing to give up a little bit of his duty or leisure to help others. Like when his daughter drops her ice cream and Clay gives her his. His good nature earns Clay his family’s devotion and the respect of the special forces.
But are they equals? Hardly, because it looks like Skull Digger is already one step ahead of him.
…Until the End!
Scourge of the Skull Digger: Will You Bear His Image?
Scourge of the Skull Digger is a display of Mark and Steven Zinngrabe’s passions when creating memorable characters. The story feels straightforward but it has layers that keep the title character in everyone’s minds. But it’s not a perfect one. Because of how the narrations are arranged, the length and time to read can offset the pacing by a bit. Kind of like how the giant Cadvious talking with his priestess Chalice makes him feel less menacing than Skull Digger. Also while it’s not a requirement, readers who are unfamiliar with Triumph’s other comic Agents of Talon won’t know the significance of Air Enforcer. Or that since this is a follow-up to the events in one comic, why not continue this in that comic’s next issue?
Still the presentation in an unforgettable villain like Skull Digger is worth checking the Kickstarter out. It gets 7.5/10.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always, remember to look between the panels.