The modern consumer is often paralyzed by choice. From endless streaming options to countless brands of toothpaste, the sheer volume of decisions we make daily can dilute their significance. Yet, for a generation of readers in the 1980s and 1990s, choice was not a burden—it was an empowerment. The “Choose Your Own Adventure” book series taught middle-grade readers that their decisions mattered, allowing them to navigate branching storylines and claim agency over their narratives.
That spirit of interactive storytelling is returning with a visual twist. Oni Press is set to release a graphic novel adaptation of the classic 1980 title Space and Beyond on August 4, 2026. This new iteration transforms R.A. Montgomery’s original text into a vivid, multi-pathway visual experience, offering fans a chance to relive the magic of discovery with over 44 distinct endings.
A Fresh Take on a Classic Odyssey
The original Space and Beyond placed the reader in the shoes of a protagonist born on a spaceship traveling between galaxies, raised by parents from two different planets. The new graphic novel retains this core premise but enhances it with modern storytelling techniques.
Written by Jeremy Lambert—known for his work on The Night Mother and Dungeons & Dragons —and illustrated by Dani Bolinho, who previously worked on Choose Your Own Adventure: Forecast From Stonehenge, the project bridges nostalgic charm with contemporary comic artistry. The result is a narrative that feels both familiar and fresh, inviting readers to become the hero of their own cosmic journey.
Navigating the Galaxy
The story invites readers to step into a spacesuit and hurtle through time and space, making critical decisions that shape the outcome. The stakes are high, and the scenarios are imaginative:
- Choose Your Origin: Decide whether you were born on the planet Kenda or Croyd.
- Diplomacy or Conflict: Encounter alien groups and determine if they are friends or foes.
- Survival Challenges: Face the gravitational pull of black holes or avoid being transformed into energy particles by a glaring sun.
- Time Travel: Journey back in time to observe dinosaurs up close.
- Peacekeeping: Attempt to bring peace to troubled worlds across the universe.
“It’s all up to you, so be careful! The choices you make could bring you home or launch you even farther into the infinite depths of the vast universe.”
Visual Storytelling with Consequences
In this exclusive preview, the artwork by Dani Bolinho plays a crucial role in the narrative. The vibrant illustrations depict a space pod journey alongside a three-eyed alien companion, navigating through mysterious nebulae and seeking refuge on a mother ship. The visual medium allows for a more immersive experience than the original text, where the tension of evading a black hole or the wonder of seeing dinosaurs is rendered in dynamic detail.
This adaptation highlights a broader trend in publishing: the resurgence of interactive media through visually rich formats. By combining the interactive mechanics of the original books with the immediacy of graphic novels, Oni Press is appealing to both nostalgic adults and a new generation of young readers who crave agency in their entertainment.
Why This Matters
The revival of Choose Your Own Adventure is more than a nostalgia trip; it reflects a growing desire for personalized storytelling in an era of algorithmic content. Unlike passive consumption, these books require active engagement, reminding readers that every decision has a consequence. As we navigate a world where choices often feel meaningless, projects like Space and Beyond offer a refreshing reminder that our actions define our path.
Conclusion: The upcoming graphic novel adaptation of Space and Beyond successfully modernizes a beloved interactive classic, offering readers a visually stunning and empowering journey through the cosmos. With its 44 possible endings, it proves that the thrill of choice remains as potent today as it was in the 1980s.
