Back in August 2018, comic fans were introduced to the chaotic duo of Charlie and Vita in Crowded, and come February 2022, their high octane, zany adventure came to an end. Along with being a captivating dark comedy with a satirical take on the gig economy, the comic series delivered a queer dynamic duo who are unapologetically themselves without their sexuality being their sole defining feature or a point of contention. With the series complete, there is no time like the present to introduce oneself to Charlie and Vita.
Crowded, created by Ro Stein, Ted Brandt and Christopher Sebela, takes place in the not so distant future where technology and capitalism have lead to a world where assassinations are legal as long as people use the app Reapr, where one can post a hit publicly and others can crowdfund the kill. Whoever kills the person would then get the money. While some campaigns can get high, Charlie takes the cake as the million dollar girl; however, she is unsure why her head has garnered such a prize, and with everyone out for her blood, there is only one person willing to protect her, Vita, a disgruntled body guard whose track record is remarkable; although, her surviving clients gave her a poor rating because of her grumpy personality.
The comic is not subtle about its commentary on the gig economy by turning services like Uber and Lyft into deadly jobs where one can make a lot of money if they successfully kill someone. However, those high paying jobs are few and far between, and the higher the pay, the bigger the competition, thus setting up anyone in this line of work for unstable income.
There is also the added commentary of social media, with some of these Reaprs creating an online persona that is dependent on murder and audience engagement, while those funding the campaigns feel empowered by having a say in anything and are also numbed by that disconnect between their support online and the consequences of that in reality, which in this world can lead to death. In fact, those running this system are very aware of the false sense of power the digital world gives the masses, as Reapr is set up in a way where it is possible to off an average civilian for petty reasons, but if someone wanted to take on the people in charge of said system, whether that be the government itself or the corporate big wigs behind these apps, they are set up to fail, so why bother even fighting the system in the first place.
This is a dark world, and it is a satire of our modern society. There is no denying the comparisons, and while something so on the nose and biting can seem like a downer, Crowded uses comedy to make this dower situation not only more bearable and engaging, but it also takes what we currently experience in 2022 to such a heightened level that readers can find humor in the absurdity while also seeing how this is a cautionary tale, similar to shows like Made For Love or films like Sorry to Bother You.
Along with the wild situation lending itself to comedy, the true stars of Crowded are the leading women. They are both disasters in different respects, with Charlie being an over the top, selfish and impulsive woman while Vita is an overworked, high-strung bodyguard who has no work-life balance; however, it is these flaws that don’t just make the pair hilarious; it makes them real.
Neither of them is perfect, thus giving them plenty of room to grow — and grow they do in a realistic way, as not all their problems are solved in the end, but there is closure and a hope that they continue on the path they’re on. Vita in particular is proof that anyone can become a hero no matter where they start from, but how one does so can be in the little things they do, and it can be through their own strengths.
It’s not just these two on their own that is compelling. Their pairing is something that takes viewers on a roller coaster, as there is plenty of angst and flirtation between the two, without boiling either down to being a love interest. Their relationship is more complicated than that, which is great given the high stakes’ situation. It would do a disservice to the characters and story to deliver a dream romance when neither are in a position for that at this time. They are characters first, characters who have amazing chemistry, hilarious banter and lots of problems to work through.
Crowded is not just a fun ride, it is also a relevant ride. What it has to say about the digital era, power and the gig economy hits hard, and the characters at the heart of the comic are a great example of flawed protagonists. Along with that, this is a great example of how queer stories can transcend queer tragedies or the coming out narrative, as Charlie and Vita are unapologetically queer without the story making their sexuality part of the conflict. For fans of sci-fi and satire, Stein, Brandt and Sebela have created a sensational, Sapphic story that isn’t afraid to bite back and have fun while doing it.