[Warning: Contains spoilers for The Expanse limited comic book series. Read on at your own risk.] First, I am an avid fan of both the books and the Amazon Studios television series. Therefore, I was very excited when Boom! Studios announced a limited Expanse series of comic books. The four-part, special event series focused on Bobbie Draper and Chrisjen Avasarala, almost exclusively. It follows the pair’s clandestine efforts to uncover the plot of disappearing Martian tech and ships. Through three issues, the story keeps you captivated. The Expanse #4, however?
The series was to be a bridge between the events of the show’s Seasons 4 and 5. For the most part it did an amazing job. Above all, we get to see some more of the personal relationship between Bobbie and Avasarala. Likewise, we discover The Consortium, ultimately learning the truth of its nefarious plan. Essentially their whole operation is a human trafficking scheme, which Bobby discovers in The Expanse #4. Unfortunately, however, that’s where the story ends, literally and figuratively.
The Expanse #4 ends series with a fizzle
When Issue #3 concluded, Bobbie was in the process of making an apparently shocking discovery. As it turns out, the discovery really wasn’t all that shocking. To the contrary, it was fairly predicable. Above all, Bobby discovers a group of “passengers” in a shipping crate. Surprisingly, they are Earthers and Martians alike. All paid the Consortium for a chance to make it off-world and through the Ring. Bobbie exposes the operation and… that’s it. Really, that’s it. That’s where The Expanse #4 ends.
Sure, there is allusion to the refugee and colony ships trying to traverse the Ring. Notwithstanding, the series ends without ever really tying in to the show at all. It doesn’t dive into the Martian side of the conspiracy. Further, there’s no reference to Marco Inaros. Season 5 of the show doesn’t mention the Consortium, and in fact barely touches on the disappearing ships of the Nemesis Games novel.
Image: Boom! Studios 
Image: Boom! Studios
Perhaps we’ll subsequently see more of the story in Season 6. That will certainly help to make the events of The Expanse #4 more poignant. But as limited series conclusions go, I’m disappointed to say this was a bit of a dud despite having so much potential. All in all, though, the Expanse limited series is still worth the read, especially if you’re a fan of Bobbie or Avasarala. You can now purchase the entire series online and at retailers everywhere. For our reviews of the other issues in the limited series, see the links below.
