DIGGER
Real Name: Freddie Carnevale, Santo Castellani, Jimmy "Little Man" Desanti, Louis Fredone, Tony Mascapone, George Sims, and seven other unidentified mobsters
Identity/Class: Humans mutates (13 gangsters put into one enhanced being through gamma radiation), (1957 to modern era)
Occupation: Formerly mobsters
Group Membership: Tombstone's gang; formerly Rose's gang and the Wise Guys
Affiliations: Beetle (Janice Lincoln), Syndicate (Electro/Francine Frye, Lady Octopus/Dr. Carolyn Trainer, Scorpia/Elaine Coll, White Rabbit/Lorina Dodson), Tombstone (Lonnie Lincoln) and his gang (including Kareem);
formerly Rose (Richard Fisk), Rose's henchmen, multiple mob goons back in the days
Enemies: A.I.M., Daredevil (Elektra Natchios), Diamondback (Willis Stryker), Maggia (Count Nefaria/Luchino Nefaria, Madame Masque/Whitney Frost, Silvermane/Silvio Manfredi, others), Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Morris Forelli, Rabble (Raneem Rashad), Shotgun (J.R. Walker), Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew);
formerly Beetle (Janice Lincoln), Syndicate (Electro/Francine Frye, Lady Octopus/Dr. Carolyn Trainer, Scorpia/Elaine Coll, White Rabbit/Lorina Dodson), Tombstone (Lonnie Lincoln) & his henchmen (including Kareem);
probably some of the himself that were enemies of another of himself (if that makes sense...see history)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: The Vegas Thirteen
Base of Operations: Currently the sewers of New York;
formerly a hole deep in the Nevada Desert
First Appearances: Amazing Spider-Man II#51 (May, 2003)
Powers/Abilities: Superhuman strength probably around class 60 with other physical abilities enhanced similarly. Digger's body was powered by gamma energy, but had no means of recharging itself, and could be exhausted of all energy and destroyed by constant battle.
Height: 7'4"
Weight: 755 lbs.
Eyes: Glowing pink
Hair: None
History:
(Amazing Spider-Man II#51 (fb)) <Las Vegas, July 3, 1957> -
The mobsters Freddie Carnevale, Santo Castellani, Jimmy "Little Man"
Desanti, Louis Fredone, Tony Mascapone and their six lieutenants, as well as
George Sims, lieutenant of another lord, Morris Forelli, got together, unarmed,
to work out a peaceful solution to their conflicts. Since Sims was present, and
he was known to be Forelli's right arm, none of the other bosses found Forelli's
"delay" strange. Except Forelli found out Sims was working for one of
the other families, and had helped to arrange a recent hit on one of Forelli's
sons. Only when they saw the 4 gunmen show up did they realize they had been
betrayed. That story became known as the story of the Vegas Thirteen, 6 mob
lords and their lieutenants, plus the lieutenant of the executor, all killed in
one night. Their bodies were buried deep into the Nevada Desert, never to be
found again.
(Amazing Spider-Man II#51) - Many years later a gamma-bomb was detonated in the Nevada Desert, near the site where the bodies were buried. A leading scientist in that field of research, Dr. Henry Davis, theorized that gamma rays may have been instrumental in developing life on pre-historic Earth. He might have been on to something, because a green guy climbed out of ground zero, and walked away following some abandoned railroad tracks.
The green guy called himself Digger (because he dug out of a hole? Because the Thirteen were killed in the Golddigger Hotel and Casino?), and when he reached New York, the body count started. He started attacking Forelli's men and establishments, referring to himself as "we".
(Amazing Spider-Man II#52) - He first struggled with Spidey in a night club, which is when Spidey started wondering that his green skin might mean something more than just being weird. After he easily rips apart two cartridges worth of webbing, Spidey realized that his skin was green due to gamma radiation. After the fight, Digger fled into the sewers, feeling strangely tired.
Forelli, knowing Digger had come for him, contacted Spidey to protect him, paying him quite a deal of money to do it. He let Spidey in on part of the story, but always omitting any of his involvement in it. While Spidey got acquainted with Digger's background, Digger got acquainted with all that happened between his death and rebirth, as well as sinking a boat carrying contraband for Forelli, killing all the crew.
(Amazing Spider-Man II#53) - Spidey went to Nevada, and visited the blast site. The hazmat crews there were puzzled by the lack of several body parts and the marks of something digging it's way to the surface. Spidey finally realized what Digger really was. He's was not one, not two, but all of the Vegas Thirteen, their bodies puzzled together and their minds inhabiting the end result, a gamma-powered zombie.
Meanwhile, Digger realized his families (not the mob ones, the conjugal ones) were all long dead. He went after another of Forelli's operations, and this time his fight with Spidey was crashed in by 4 guys with machine-guns (deja vu), who were agents of Forelli. They barely were able to hurt him. He brought the whole place down, and Spidey only managed to save the shooters. He turned them to the cops, collected some green goo Digger had shed, and went to Forelli to give him a couple of words, letting him know about his displeasure on the use of hired guns to stop Digger.
(Amazing Spider-Man II#54) - After analyzing the green goo, Spidey found out that the only thing holding Digger together was the gamma radiation, since the differences between the cells of the Thirteen would naturally reject each other. Then Peter theorized that when the Hulk turned back to Bruce Banner, it's because he was recharging, because turning into a green behemoth had a big strain on his system, and he needed to build up again until his energy levels were up, and adrenaline triggered another transformation. He thought it must be the same with Digger, only since he couldn't turn human, he was constantly losing energy. He could rest, but it just was not the same. So all Spider-Man had to do was wear Digger out until he ran out of juice.
Spidey then went to Forelli's house. He asked Forelli about the truth behind Digger's vengeance quest. Forelli didn't come clean. Digger arrived, and tried to kill Forelli's daughter. Spidey intervened, and Forelli told Digger that his beef is with him: he ordered the execution, he got the approval of the other Families, everything. Digger told him that his daughter will die anyway, and Spidey ordered Forelli to leave.
Peter fought Digger relentlessly, forcing him to expend his energy at a rapid rate, until Digger started to collapse. He ran to the sewers, and Spidey followed. Digger ended up losing all his energy, breaking apart, and dying.
SECRET WARS III HAPPENED
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#1 (fb) - BTS) - Digger got better because Gamma mutates don't die and just go to the Below-Place, which he easily left to return to life by going through the Green Door (established over in Al Ewing's excellent Immortal Hulk title).
He soon got a job opportunity as the muscle for Wilson Fisk's son Richard aka. Rose, who told him that Spider-Man had killed him.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#1) - At a crime syndicate meeting Tombstone questioned Rose's power because he didn't even have his own territory, which led to Rose introducing everyone to his new muscle. Digger crashed through the door and rambled about a Green Door while Rose told everyone that Digger was back from the dead and now working for him. Tombstone accepted to sell items to Rose and set up a meeting in Harlem.
Tombstone's henchwoman White Rabbit oversaw the sale of a Goblin Glider to Rose's henchmen. The sale was interrupted by Spider-Man, but Digger was hiding inside an armored truck, pulled Spidey through the roof and nearly chocked him to death. Spider-Man broke off some of his fingers to break free. Digger craved revenge against Spider-Man for killing him, but Spider-Man reminded him that Digger just melted after he was worn out by him. Tombstone's men started shooting when Rose's men tried to grab the Goblin Glider and just leave. Digger just tossed the armored car at Tombstone's men and gave the order to leave.
Rose retaliated against Tombstone for the failed sale. He claimed Tombstone lacked control over his territory and was too soft on Spider-Man and had his men blow up Tombstone and his home. Digger was present, but ate the rose that was supposed to be left behind as Rose's calling card. He then returned to Rose's office.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#5) - Digger picked up an ice cream cone on his way to the office even though Rose called that he needed everyone to be there as fast as possible. When his driver finally arrived with him at the office they saw Rose getting arrested by the police. Digger dropped the ice cream cone and told the driver to forget he ever had it before they just drove away to avoid getting arrested as well.
They later returned and had something to eat in Rose's former hideout, but Spider-Man interrupted them. Digger blamed Spider-Man for taking down Rose's whole operation and getting him arrested, but Spider-Man wanted to explain to him that Tombstone was actually was behind it.
To get in Rose's good graces again Digger attacked a building owned by Tombstone were he beat up some of his henchmen. White Rabbit called Tombstone to tell him what was going on. Tombstone understood that Spider-Man was responsible for Digger's attack.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#40 (fb) - BTS) - Digger broke Rose out of prison.
(Amazing Spider-Man Gang War: First Strike#1) - The Rose and Digger waited to make their first move during the brewing gang war.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#40) - Rose decided to go after Tombstone's territory, which was run by his daughter Janice in his absence. Digger wasn't so sure about the plan because Rose had just escaped prison, but went along with the plan to take over Diamondback's part of Harlem first because he somehow knew that Beetle (Janice) would try the same. When Beetle arrived to take over Diamondback's crew and his part of Harlem, Rose and Digger had already taken over and were in Diamondback's office.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#41) - Rose let Digger loose on Beetle and her Syndicate. Digger mostly ignored the Syndicate's attacks, used Lady Octopus to swat Electro, ripped off half of Lady Octopus' tentacles and then Scorpia's tail, which he used to whack Beetle. Rose then tried to shoot Beetle, but she bit him up while Digger was still busy beating up Electro, Lady Octopus and Scorpia. Kingpin's men then suddenly arrived.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#42) - They shot Digger, which angered Rose because he thought they were there to take out Beetle. They took Rose with them.
Digger was soon on his feet again and was told by Beetle that he had been abandoned by Rose. White Rabbit offered him a job with Beetle's crew, which he accepted because he needed a new crew after Kingpin took Rose, his own son, out of the gang war.
Digger joined Beetle's crew during the final battle against Madame Masque's gang in Central Park.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#43) - Digger took on the mind-controlled Silvermane and Count Nefaria at the same time only to get blasted in the back by Madame Masque. Beetle ordered him to fall back when Tombstone arrived with his gang and a group of heroes that included Daredevil (Elektra), She-Hulk (Walters), Spider-Man (Parker), Spider-Man (Morales) and Spider-Woman (Drew). They rejoined the battle while Masque was distracted by Spider-Man and Digger took out several A.I.M. agents.
(Luke Cage: Gang War#4) - Digger continued being part of the final battle.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#44) - Tombstone gave the order to turn on the heroes and get out of the fight. Digger attacked Daredevil and Spider-Woman before leaving with the rest of Tombstone's crew.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#57) - Tombstone ordered White Rabbit to kill Beetle. As part of the plane Digger lifted up subway tracks to cause a subway to crash through the street and stop the police transport containing Beetle. Spider-Man held off Digger while White Rabbit and the Syndicate opened the transport to kill Beetle, but inside was actually She-Hulk posing as Janice. White Rabbit realized that Tombstone knew all along that this was a trap and had sent her there to go after Beetle himself.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#58) - Digger fled with White Rabbit and the Syndicate.
Comments: Created by J. Michael Straczynski, John Romita Jr., and Scott Hanna
Peter couldn't be more wrong about the Hulk. While it's funny he entertained
the notion that he could kill the Hulk, there's about one chance in a million
that it can happen. If Spidey tried to wear down the Hulk, he'd fail. The Hulk's
energy wouldn't end. He'd get more angry, thus he'd get more powerful. Spidey's
punches would barely scratch him, and each hit that the Hulk would land would
certainly break a few bones.
--While the Hulk is my favorite Marvel character, I have
to believe that given the proper motivation, especially with the benefit of
being able to plan the fight, that Spidey could possibly take out the Hulk. In
general, I'd sure put my money on ole' greenskin, though--Snood.
I can remember after Digger's first
appearance how Henrique was certain that George Sims would be revealed to have
been connected to Ezekial. This may still happen in the future, though it was
not brought up in this story arc.
Also, it was a big deal over at Spider-Fan that Spidey killed Digger.
Since Digger was sort of a zombie, I'd go with an exception on that one.
Since he was reanimated, it was just his form that was destroyed, and we have no
evidence that he can't reform in the future. It's kind of like thinking the
Absorbing Man is killed every time he gets blown up.
Digger was one of many old foes Spider-Man fought briefly as he traveled through time in Amazing Spider-Man II#500.
Digger only made it on the cover of Amazing Spider-Man VI#4 (August, 2022), but was not seen inside the issue.
Thanks to Leader's Lair for providing the first refurbed image in the history section.
Digger is among the Gamma Mutates in World War Hulk: The Gamma Files.
Profile by Henrique Ferreira, Reformatted By Stunner.
Update by Markus Raymond (2022-2024).
CLARIFICATIONS: Not to be confused with:
images:
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe HC#3, Digger profile (main; refurbed version of Amazing Spider-Man II#53, p16, pan4)
Amazing Spider-Man VI#1, p12, pan2 (head shot)
Amazing Spider-Man II#51, p1, pan2 ("Vegas Thirteen")
Amazing Spider-Man II#51, p20, pan3 (upper body; refurbed)
Amazing Spider-Man VI#1, p12, pan1 (return)
Amazing Spider-Man VI#41, p13, pan2 (vs Syndicate)
Appearances:
Amazing Spider-Man II#51-54 (May-August, 2003) - J. Michael Straczynski (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Axel Alonso (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man VI#1 (June, 2022) - Zeb Wells (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man VI#5 (September, 2022) - Zeb Wells (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man Gang War: First Strike#1 (January, 2024) - Zeb Wells (writer), Joey Vazquez with Julian Shaw (artists), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man VI#40 (February, 2024) - Zeb Wells (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man VI#41-42 (March, 2024) - Zeb Wells (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man VI#43-44 (April, 2024) - Zeb Wells (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Nick Lowe (editor)
Luke Cage: Gang War#4 (April, 2024) - Rodney Barnes (writer), Ramón F. Bachs (artist), Ellie Pyle (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man VI#57-58 (November, 2024) - Zeb Wells (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Nick Lowe (editor)
First Posted: 11/21/2003
Last updated: 10/20/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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