The Expanse: Dragon Tooth Review – Bridging the Void

Introduction: Bridging the Void

For fans of James S.A. Corey’s sprawling science fiction saga, The Expanse, the gulf between the sixth novel, Babylon's Ashes, and the seventh, Persepolis Rising, has always represented a monumental narrative void. This thirty-year time jump abruptly transitions the universe from the ashes of the Free Navy conflict to the sudden, shocking emergence of the Laconian Empire. For years, the events of those missing decades remained a mystery, a silent chapter left to the imagination. Now, that silence has been broken. The Expanse: Dragon Tooth, a 12-issue comic series from BOOM! Studios, serves as the official, long-awaited bridge across that void, chronicling the untold stories of the Rocinante crew and the geopolitical shifts that reshaped the solar system.

Dragon Tooth is far more than a supplementary tale; it is an indispensable addition to the canon for any serious fan. It accomplishes this by revealing the secret histories of beloved characters and, crucially, resolving lingering questions from both the novels and the television show, thereby weaving a richer, more complete saga.

To fully appreciate its significance, however, we must first revisit the state of the universe on either side of this thirty-year gap.

For the full context of the saga, check out our Expanse Series Reading Guide.

The Expanse: Dragon Tooth

The collection of the essential 12-issue series. Start bridging the gap today.

1. Setting the Stage: The Thirty-Year Gap

Jumping the narrative forward three decades was a bold creative choice by James S.A. Corey, one that trusted the reader to accept a radically altered political landscape without immediate explanation. This void, while dramatically effective, left a chasm of unanswered questions. The Expanse: Dragon Tooth retroactively validates that choice by meticulously showing the logical, step-by-step progression that led from one era to the next.

Following the events of Babylon's Ashes, the Sol system is in a state of profound psychological exhaustion. The Inner Planets are reeling from the billions dead in Marco Inaros's devastating rock attacks. Mars, its grand terraforming project collapsed and its national dream shattered, has become a shell of its former self, creating a dangerous power vacuum. In the Outer Planets, the militant OPA has reformed into the Transport Union, a governing body with newfound—but fragile—legitimacy, controlling the lucrative trade through the Ring Gates. The system is battered and traumatized, but beginning the slow process of rebuilding.

This hard-won stability is shattered at the start of Persepolis Rising. Emerging from the Laconia system, a rogue fleet of Martian defectors returns with warships built from advanced, protomolecule-hybrid technology. Their arrival is not merely an attack; it is a paradigm shift. With terrifying, almost supernatural efficiency, they shatter the decades-old balance of power and swiftly conquer the entire Sol system, establishing a new galactic empire under the iron will of High Consul Winston Duarte. How did a stable, recovering system fall so completely? What became of the Rocinante crew in those intervening years? Dragon Tooth provides the definitive answer.

2. Dragon Tooth: Forging the Narrative Link

The core function of The Expanse: Dragon Tooth is to serve as the definitive narrative link between two vastly different eras of the story. Published by BOOM! Studios, the series was explicitly created to fill the void left by the novels' time jump and is positioned as the only place for fans to find this official content. Its primary objective is to weave together disparate threads, creating a more cohesive universal tapestry. Crucially, this acts as an official "patch" to the canon, reconciling known divergences between the show and the books—such as the fates of characters like Alex Kamal and Anderson Dawes, or the composite nature of Camina Drummer's on-screen persona.

Based on the official synopsis, the series makes several key narrative promises to the reader:

The success of such an ambitious and vital undertaking rests squarely on the shoulders of its creative team, who are tasked with bringing this crucial, untold chapter to life.

3. Creative Vision and Execution

Adapting a universe as beloved and complex as The Expanse requires a creative team that not only understands the source material but also respects its foundational principles of scientific realism, nuanced characters, and intricate political storytelling.

For The Expanse: Dragon Tooth, BOOM! Studios entrusted this critical task to writer Andy Diggle and artist Rubine. The significance of this pairing cannot be overstated. Diggle is an ideal choice, acclaimed for his grounded, character-driven genre work on titles like The Losers and Green Arrow: Year One, which demonstrates his skill in handling the gritty realism the franchise demands. With Diggle's pen and Rubine's illustrations, the responsibility falls to them to maintain the established tone and depth that fans expect. They must capture the voices of the Rocinante crew while visually rendering a universe known for its hard-sci-fi aesthetic. Their work is not merely adaptation but canon-building, a task that requires a delicate balance of reverence for the original and the creative confidence to explore new territory.

4. An Indispensable Chapter for Every Fan

This brings us to the central claim: The Expanse: Dragon Tooth is a must-read for every fan. This is not hyperbole. By being the sole piece of official media to bridge the thirty-year gap, the series elevates itself beyond supplemental material. Unlike other tie-ins, such as the Origins comics which provide valuable but non-essential backstory, Dragon Tooth contains foundational plot and character arcs. It is, in essence, Book 6.5 of the main saga.

For those who have followed the journey of the Rocinante crew, this comic is not optional—it is the connective tissue that explains their profound evolution from war-weary heroes to the seasoned, hardened figures we meet in Persepolis Rising. It provides the crucial political context for the rise of Laconia, showing how the system’s vulnerabilities and the establishment of the Transport Union created the conditions for Duarte’s formidable fleet to return and seize control. Without this story, the Laconian conquest, while dramatic, feels abrupt. With Dragon Tooth, it becomes the inevitable culmination of three decades of unseen history.

Persepolis Rising (Book 7)

See where the story goes next. The rise of the Laconian Empire begins here.

5. The Verdict: A Resounding Recommendation

The Expanse: Dragon Tooth successfully fulfills its ambitious promise to bridge two monumental eras of a beloved science fiction epic. It masterfully connects the dots between the Free Navy War and the rise of the Laconian Empire, delivering a story that feels both essential and seamlessly integrated into the existing canon. For fans who have long wondered what transpired during the thirty-year gap, this series is a deeply satisfying and necessary chapter.

This high rating is earned through the series' masterful handling of the lore, its crucial narrative function, and its immense value to the fandom. It falls just shy of a perfect score only because the comic medium, by its nature, cannot replicate the deep, internal monologues and multi-perspective narration that define the novels' political and philosophical depth. However, it compensates with stellar visual storytelling, coming remarkably close to offering a complete experience. It stands as a testament to how to expand a universe the right way, leaving fans eager for what comes next.

The Expanse: Season 6 [Blu-Ray]

Revisit the end of the Free Navy War before diving into the missing years.

What's Next for The Expanse in Comics?

The universe of The Expanse is set to continue its expansion in comic form. Following the success of Dragon Tooth, BOOM! Studios has already announced a follow-up series, The Expanse: A Little Death, which will pick up after the events of the first series and continue exploring the timeline.

Significantly, the new series brings a familiar face to the creative team: Wes Chatham, the actor who so masterfully embodied Amos Burton on screen, will join Andy Diggle as co-writer, with art by Francesco Pisa. Having the actor who perfected Amos's unique psychology and voice co-writing his further adventures is a massive boon for the franchise, promising a level of character fidelity rarely seen in adaptations and ensuring the spirit of The Expanse will continue to thrive.

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