Sandman Universe begins
Gaiman comics come to life in ‘Dead Boy Detectives’
Worlds collide in Netflix’s newest series, “Dead Boy Detectives,” premiering on the streamer Thursday, April 25. Not only does the series blend original comic book media with television — which has previously been done in shows such as CW’s “The Flash,” Netflix/Marvel’s “Jessica Jones” and, of course, the AMC sensation “The Walking Dead,” to name a few among many — but it also brings together some of the greatest minds and talents working in television today.
Based on the fictional crimesolving duo created for DC Comics by British master of fantasy Neil Gaiman (“Good Omens”), the series, which refers to itself as “a Netflix supernatural series” in the trailer, comes from Kelli Breslin, the producer behind “You,” and Steve Yockey, the creator of HBO’s “The Flight Attendant” and a former producer on the much-loved series “Supernatural.”
As far as the show’s leading dramatis personae are concerned, the Dead Boy Detectives are comprised of two ghosts: Charles Rowland and Edwin Payne, played by “The Lodge’s” Jayden Revri and new talent George Rexstrew, respectively. First introduced to Gaiman’s Sandman Universe by way of the “Season of Mists” storyline in “Sandman No. 25” (an issue with art by Matt Wagner and Malcolm Jones III), the spectral pair have since appeared in several of Gaiman’s comic book issues, including two “Children’s Crusade” annuals and their own four-issue miniseries called “Sandman Presents: Dead Boy Detectives” by Ed Brubaker (“Too Old to Die Young”) and Bryan Talbot (“Alice in Sunderland”).
“Charles was more or less me as a boy,” Gaiman told Netflix’s Tudum while explaining his personal connection to the pair that was originally a simple side story. “I loved writing him and Edwin, and was proud to send them out into the world.”
Given that the pair of phantom investigators has been involved in several storylines since their April 1991 print creation, Netflix’s “Dead Boy Detectives” acts simultaneously as a coming out party and as somewhat of a reimagining of Edwin and Charles’ original story.
Presented as children in the source material, Netflix’s Dead Boys have been given new life (on screen, anyway) as young men. According to Tudum, although Edwin and Charles are “dead and born decades apart, they’ve chosen to remain on Earth and use their powers for good.”What this means is: old-timey ghost Edwin, known as “the Brains,” and the much more newly dead Charles, known as “the Brawn,” work together to solve crimes, hauntings and other various sinister phenomena.And they truly are best friends, despite the generation gap.
“They will do anything to stick together — including escaping evil witches, Hell, and Death herself,” reads the Netflix plot synopsis. “With the help of a clairvoyant named Crystal [Kassius Nelson, “Hollyoaks”] and her friend Niko [Yuyu Kitamura, “Expats”], they are able to crack some of the mortal realm’s most mystifying paranormal cases.”
Joining the core four in their adventures in the Sandman Universe are Caitlin Reilly (“Hacks”) as Litty, Briana Cuoco (“The Flight Attendant”) as Jenny Green, Lukas Gage (“Euphoria”) as Cat King, Max Jenkins (“Dead to Me”) as Kingham, David Iacono (“The Summer I Turned Pretty”) as David the Demon and Ruth Connell (“Supernatural”) as Night Nurse.
Jenn Lyon (“Claws”), Lindsey Gort (“All Rise”), Lauren K. Robek (“Resident Alien”), Sharon Taylor (“Smallville”),Troy James (“Channel Zero”), Rochelle Okoye (“Batwoman”), Miranda Edwards (“The Strain”) and Gabriel Drake (“Nancy Drew”) are also among the fantasy-action series’ many cast members.