“I’m Adam, and I make a webcomic called Vacant Expression, even though I don’t know how to draw,” his bios often begin. It’s not false modesty as it’s part of the appeal. The stripped-down style lets his jokes breathe, making space for unexpected punchlines, painfully relatable moments, and the occasional chaotic spiral into absurdity.
But this isn’t just a casual doodler playing around online. Adam’s roots are in comedy. “I’m a comedian who specializes in joke writing and adding humor to any project,” he says. After cutting his teeth in the Milwaukee comedy scene, he made the move to Chicago, where he studied at The Second City and performs in a two-person improv group.
Sometimes the jokes are simple. Sometimes they’re painfully self-aware. And sometimes, as the artist puts it, “I put effort into being funny and sometimes that goes okay.” But that’s the magic—Vacant Expression thrives in that liminal space between apathy and overthinking, between wanting to say something profound and settling for “meh.”
On platforms like Instagram and Webtoon, his comics have quietly amassed a loyal following. Meanwhile, over on Patreon, fans can throw in $3 to get their name immortalized in his “Thank You to My Patrons” panel at the end of each strip. “I’m considering other tiers, but I’m trying to be realistic so I’m taking it slow,” he writes.
Crivello also freelances as a humor writer, describing himself as “a funny man for hire,” and helps clients punch up their writing with tailor-made comedy that fits their voice. His style may be minimalist, but his comedic instincts are anything but basic.
