If the continued and enthusiasm for The Expanse proves one thing, it's that season 7 of the TV show would have kept its momentum and audience building, if the series had not ended before it was made. But fans of The Expanse may not realize the show's story actually did continue, offering an even better, direct sequel than a new season would have delivered.

Obviously "better" is subjective, and with The Expanse ending after six seasons, there's no telling what the future could have held for the sci-fi property. But if fan dreams were to come true and bring The Expanse back for another season, it faces one massive challenge thanks to the original novels. Fortunately for all fans of the books and TV show, you can ignore those problems entirely, and dive into the Expanse sequel series you actually crave, right this second.

If The Expanse Wasn't Cancelled, Season 7 Was Going To Disappoint

Ending At Season 6 Saved The Showrunners From Solving The Time Jump Problem

The Expanse's season 6 finale, like the sixth novel of the book series it adapts, ends with the future of its universe completely wide open. With the future of Earth still uncertain, the long-brewing wars between Earth, Mars, and the Belters has been brought to a brutal end. The trio agree to an uneasy alliance and plan to use the Ring network to expand and supply humanity across the universe. It truly is the dawn of a new age for humankind, thrilling fans to speculate on the next steps. So what happens next?

How do you give fans of The Expanse what they want, when the source material changes the characters, the universe, and the state of humanity... without showing any of it actually happening?

That's a question that the TV show would not actually have answered, if it followed its adaptation of the original novels. With the conclusion of the novel "Bablyon's Ashes" by James S. A. Corey, the story of The Expanse then jumps 28 years into the future for the next book in the series, "Persepolis Rising." The wildest times and most critical decisions and battles have ed, with Earth stable, humans establishing a new frontier, and the crew of the Rocinante deeply changed, significantly aged, and adapted to a human civilization spread across light-years.

For the makers of the TV show, this was always going to be a problem. After all, how do you give fans of The Expanse what they want, when the source material changes the characters, the universe, and the state of humanity... without showing any of it actually happening? The beloved cast of the fan-favorite Roci, for instance, got to spend almost three decades together, leaving Naomi and James on the cusp of retirement. But audiences never got to enjoy or even witness it... fortunately, that's right where The Expanse: Dragon Tooth comes in.

The Expanse: Dragon Tooth is The Direct Sequel TV Fans Actually Wanted

The Show's Comic Sequel Picks Up Right Where Season 6 Ends

The writers of The Expanse novel series made their drastic leap forward in the timeline for their own reasons, and there are sure to be many fans of the novels who would argue there is value and meaning in the audience 'missing' three decades of story. But for fans of the TV show desperate to see the show's many characters facing this new world, reacting to threats both old and new, and establishing a new mission, a faithfully adapted season 7 of The Expanse TV show would likely have disappointed much of its audience.

But the BOOM! Studios series from Andy Diggle, Rubin, and sco Pisa fulfills that exact demand, beginning right where season 6 ends... and honestly, where audiences would have expected Season 7 of the TV show to pick back up. Building their reputation as pirate hunters, the crew of the Rocinante find themselves in pursuit of a Martian special forces remnant determined to earn their age to Laconia. Not to mention a more managable time jump of one decade, and shocking new research into the Ring network, too.

If The Expanse Returns, Fans Can Have The Best of Both Worlds

The Expanse Canon Will Likely Make The Sequel Comics Part of Future Adaptations

It's possible audiences will never know how The Expanse TV show would have solved the time jump problem, forced to either introduce makeup or prosthetics to age the cast by three decades, or even recast completely new actors. But the supervision of James S. A. Corey over Dragon Tooth and any Expanse sequel or movie now has more than the novels to look to for inspiration. Which is even more good news for fans.

Every viewer will have their own opinions on whether a Season 7 that took a three-decade time jump is 'the season 7 they want' or not. But there is no denying that The Expanse: Dragon Tooth is a simpler, easier, and more direct continuation of the story TV show fans fell in love with. With record-breaking numbers of fans helping to make these comic sequels a reality, it's clear they've reached must-see status. But for The Expanse TV series, aree they also must-adapt stories for any continuation? Only time will tell.

The Expanse: Dragon Tooth is available from BOOM! Studios where comics are sold.