Invader Comics 'Evil Indiana Jones' Comic 'The Digger' to Become a Tabletop RPG

Invader Comics is preparing to take one of its breakout comic titles from the page to the gaming table, with The Digger: Eyes of the Devil heading to Kickstarter as both a collected graphic novel and a new tabletop RPG.

Created by writer T.S. Luther and artist Sam Gudilin, The Digger is a four-part pulp-horror adventure set in 1930s Veracruz, Mexico. A young boy, desperate to earn money for his sick grandmother, agrees to guide an American treasure hunter known locally as El Excavdaor to ancient Olmec ruins hidden in the jungle.

Unfortunately, there is a reason other guides refund to work with him.

What starts as an archaeological adventure rapidly becomes a much darker mix of folklore, supernatural horror and survival. Invader has described its central character as an “evil Indiana Jones.”

The original comic has done rather well for a relatively small independent release, with all four issues selling out their original printings and later issues actually increasing sales rather than suffering the usual attrition of a mini-series. That resulted is a second printing of the complete run in August.

Reviews have also be enthusiastic, with The Digger #1 and The Digger #2 both receiving10/10 from Nerd Initiative, while Fanlight Zone gave later issues around the 9/10 mark and the finale 9.3/10. Many reviews particularly praised Luther’s characer work and Gudilin’s distinctive, heavy stylised artwork.

The forthcoming Kickstarter will collect the entire comic as The Digger: Eyes of the Devil while also introducing Invader Comics first tabletop roleplaying game, allowing players to undertake their own expeditions in the setting.

The RPG, called The Digger: Treasure Hunt, is being designed by Jon Opra and T.S. Luther, and is a two-player competitive storytelling game that allows the players to “step into the shoes of would be treasure hunters, crafting your own tale of pulp and misadventure competing and collaborating in classic secens designed to invoke the danger and intrigue from the original graphic story it’s based on.” While nothing has been revealed about the system, the Kickstarter pre-launch page does mention only needing a handful of D6’s to play.

Who are Invader Comics?

Invader Comics is an American independent publisher specialising in horror, sci-fi, and stranger creator-driven material, what it calls “the weird, the strange, and the ignored.” The company grew out of long-running indie publisher 215 Ink, which was relaunched as Invader Comics in 2022 under editor-in-chief Mike Perkins, alongside managing partners Keith Foster and Kevin Miller.

Rather than flooding the market, perkins has described Invader as a curated boutique publisher that puts substantial promotional effort behind each title. Its comics now reach comic shops through Lunar Distribution, while books are also available the book trade, digitally, and direct.

The Kickstarter is currently in its pre-launch stage, with Invader saying the campaign will launch once the preview reaches 100 followers.