Edwin Payne (Dead Boy Detectives)

One of the main characters from the Netflix series Dead Boy Detectives (2024), portrayed by George Rexstrew. Edwin Payne is one of the two leading detectives in the series, and is essentially the brains of the Dead Boy Detectives agency who's escaped Hell (and Death) to help other ghosts in need. First introduced in The Sandman, Edwin Payne was a student at St. Hilarion’s boarding school for boys in 1916 when a group of bullies abducted him and offered up his soul to hell by way of a sacrificing ritual. He was dragged away by the demon Demon Sa'al and, despite doing nothing wrong when he was still alive, spent more than 70 years being tormented in hell. However, using his sharp wit and wisdom, he eventually found his way back to the mortal realm as a ghost. After wandering for years, he finally ran into Charles in 1989 before putting his knowledge to good use as a dead boy detective. Edwin is very studious and a “fountain of knowledge,” as he’s extremely well-read and can even read ancient languages such as Aramaic. He maintains an extensive library of occult tomes he uses for research and to cast spells that allow him to gather information and fight dangerous enemies. Along with Charles, he is able to travel by mirror, pass through things, and don disguises. His massive database of totems and spells helps him and his partner, Charles, overpower evil forces.