The Space Between

by Corinna Sara Bechko, Danny Luckert (illustrator)

On board the interplanetary ark Dodona, life is strictly regimented and controlled, functioning according to the edicts put in place hundreds of years ago. But when a pilot named Revla falls through the vents and out of her privileged life landing deep within the belly of the ship’s inner workings, she meets an algae tank worker named Les, and everything about their society is called into question. In this multi-generational science fiction epic, each chapter tells a new story of love and rebellion at a pivotal moment in the history of humanity’s greatest adventure. Across the centuries, different factions rise and fall, political movements gain and lose power, and society changes both for the better and the worse, all within the microcosm of the spaceship Dodona. The only hope for the future and the persistence of the human heart. Hugo and Eisner-nominated writer Corinna Bechko (Star Wars Legacy, The Expanse) and artist Danny Luckert (The Red Mother, Haunted) explore love throughout time and across space along the Dodona’s long journey home. Collects The Space Between #1-4.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

Published July 30, 2024

About the author

Corinna Bechko has been writing comics since her horror graphic novel Heathentown was published by Image/Shadowline in 2009. Since then she worked for Marvel, DC, Boom!, Image, and Dark Horse, among others, on titles such as Planet of the Apes, Star Wars: Legacy, Savage Hulk, Aliens/Vampirella, Invisible Republic, and Green Lantern: Earth One. She was recently short-listed for the Aeon Award for her prose short Sooterkin. She is a zoologist by training.

Reviews

[Mohan Vemulapalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Space Between" is a multi-generation Sci-Fi saga that focuses on the inhabitants of a generation ship over a two century span of time as it makes the journey towards a new planetary home for the human race. Although there are a few speculative elements, the book's portrayal of space flight and survival in non-terrestrial environments is mostly realistic and grounded in known scientific principles. However, the strength of this book is actually in its portrayal of the social and historical forces that affect and transform the evolving society on the ship. Expect, a strong cast of well developed characters, a tantalizing look at key aspects of life in space, an honest and sometimes disturbing look at social progress and a hopeful vision for the future.





Note: I read this book in single issue for,. I will update this review as needed when I see the trade.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful art, childish storytelling and politics.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels, to me at least, that fantasy has dominated American comics the past decade or so. The idea of science fiction, even with the science being way off, dominated the late 50s and I would argue well into the 60s. But, the popularity of Star Wars, LOTR and Harry Potter has swung the writing/editorial decision making towards fantasy tropes.

Why the rant? Possibly because my rating for this novella is a bit high. The concept of a generation ship that has taken too long to reach its destination is far from new (see Heinlein Orphans of the Sky, Gerrold's original first pitch to Roddenberry or the television show Starlost).

What makes this stand out for me is how they crafted a story that follows one family through generations, and what happens to the ship over time.

Because when you have finite resources you can only repair/replace so much.

Plus, credit for involving ship/life politics, including economic/status divides.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Space Between collects the first four issues of a comic book written by Corinna Bechko (The Expanse). It tells the multi-generational saga of life aboard the space ark, the Dodona traveling through space toward a mythical home over the course of hundreds of years. When Revla, a young pilot falls from the space above through the vents and finds herself in the ships deep, inner workings, and meets Les, an algae tank worker, the severe class sytem of the ship is thrown into stark relief and their regimented society starts to evolve.

The first chapter (issue) was beautifully paced, and despite the accelerated conclusion, a strong story that drew me in. Subsequent chapters were good, but disjointed, and the jumps in the story were jarring and poorly transitioned. Overall, a good, if familiar science fiction story, with strong art by Danny Luckert.

[Estibaliz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Even though the four issues on this graphic novel are interconnected in their narration of the interstellar trip of a group of humans to their New Home, in a far away planet, the whole volume has quite an anthology feeling to it; and, as such, I haven't personally connected with all the individual stories and characters at the same level, what made the whole experience just slightly over average.

There's a lot of interesting topics here, especially when it comes to power battles and class differences, and politics, and the art was enjoyable enough. But, over all, it's not really that memorable a read.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars overall
This was so much better than I had expected; I picked it to read based on Danny Luckert's art and skimmed the back cover blurb.
Ok, so I know that the science behind the idea of a generational ship like the Dodona shown here, without some sort of passenger hibernation, would need it to be so much larger, for fuel and supplies (which is passingly addressed by the skip being built into an asteroid), but this story, as we skip in each chapter over multiple generations of colonists/travellers, is about the human relationships and fundamentally hope, with co-operation winning out over our worst traits.
[In January 2025 it's a story we desperately need]
Highly recommended 👍

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

We follow the Dodona, a massive space ark, transporting the last (?) of humanity through deep space towards a new home. The story spans a few hundred years as crew wrestles with inequality, demagogues, sabotage, and plain old humans making bonehead moves. I guess I could have just said Snowpiercer in space.
I enjoyed the story and the art quite a bit. Although the characters were thin and the conflicts pretty 1-dimensional it did give a lot to think about.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A visually beautiful, thoughtful exploration of the evolution of a society over a long period of time with all the changes and conflicts and resolutions (that bring more changes and conflicts and resolutions) that involves.

Deserves to be an ongoing series by Bechko and Luckert; there's so much story potential in this world and I'd love to be even more immersed in it.

[Raul Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew absolute nothing about this one before picking it up at the second-hand store. The price was right, and it's sci-fi, so i took a chance. Really glad I did. Unlike anything I've ever read. I won't spoil anything for you here, but if you are looking for something different in the Noah's Ark sub-genre of Science Fiction, give this one a go.

My rating: 4.5 Stars

[Phil Bova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Great author. I’m happy I waited for the trade to come out and read. I had started the monthly, but it’s sometimes hard to keep up with the story.
Interesting look into the human endeavor to survive beyond perception. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice one and done stories, I really like the format. More big two could use these.
Luckeet's art is great and Bechko writes real people.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this was just skimming the surface of the potential of what this could've been.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a Snowpiercer variant in space, but the generational aspect of it reduces the suspense and the lack of character development outside of the central pairs leaves the whole story thin.

[Landon Schmidt-Warnecke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Score: 67
Art: 16/20
Story: 12/20
Characters: 11/20
World-building: 14/20
Writing: 14/20