Charles Rowland, the original one-half of the Dead Boy Detectives Agency, is one of the leading protagonists in the story who is notable for his bravery and kind heart.
It has been decades since he died at the hands of his bullies but ever since he realized he was a ghost, and he has already found a best friend in Edwin, Charles decided to stay on the mortal plane instead of going to the afterlife.
From then on, it has been a wild ride of mysteries and unresolved cases that he and his best mate Edwin have been trying to solve, helping other ghosts pass on to the afterlife.
A troubled life
Charles lived a rough childhood. His father was abusive and beat him regularly, and while his mother was always scared and crying, she couldn’t do anything to prevent it.
No matter how much he tried to make it better, his father continued to treat him with the same abuse. After his death, as a ghost, he routinely peeks at his parents, who have now grown old.
He tells Crystal at first that he likes to keep a watch on them, but later he comes clean and confesses that he makes sure that his father is not abusing his mother in any way he used to with him.
Nature & death
Charles was an upright person always. Even as he stood weaker than others and was outnumbered, he never stayed quiet and let the bullies have their way with the weak.
When the usual bullies in his school were beating up another student, just because he was Pakistani, Charles helped him and fought the guys. Later, he would become the punching bag himself.
It was this bullying that eventually killed him, as he was suffering from hypothermia from being thrown into the water, as he was being stoned by his bullies. He would die and not realize that he’s a ghost for a long while before Edwin helped him make that realization.
Meeting Edwin
Edwin met him as a ghost in 1989. Charles hadn’t realized he was dead yet. With Edwin, inside that shed, he bonded really well and enjoyed a great time together. He eventually did realize that has passed away.
Instead of choosing the afterlife, he decided to stick by Edwin’s side and eventually creating the Dead Boy Detectives Agency to resolve ghostly mysteries.
He doesn’t have any knack for magic and he doesn’t exercise patience and rationality much; Edwin handled all that himself.
Charles sports a bottomless magical bag and also a cricket bat that he swings at the enemies with great fervor and strength. He’s the brawn of the operation as Edwin is the brain of it.
Love & friendship
Charles likes Crystal romantically and also manages to have a relationship with her which is short-lived because other issues get between them.
He makes out with her as well and always stays vigilant in terms of her safety. He is even more careful and desperate to rescue Edwin from hell after he’s dragged back in by a diabolical demon.
Edwin is rescued by Charles and he finally confesses his true feelings for him. Charles maturely handles the confession and tells his best friend that he’s not romantically in love with him, but that he’d always be his best mate and do anything for him.
Also Read: The love triangle in Dead Boy Detectives explained