Meet Protan and Neutrina: The Twin Heroes of The Space Between

Every universe starts somewhere. The Backpack Universe starts with two kids: twelve-year-old fraternal twins Protan and Neutrina, the children of brilliant scientist Dr. Barrillo. They were born with abilities that set them apart long before they understood why.

Protan: brilliant, caring and brave

Protan is brilliant, caring and incredibly brave. Although he is a twin, he is very much a loner. He has always known there is something different about him and his sister, but instead of fearing it, he accepts it and chooses to see it as what enables him to make a difference.

Read Protan’s full character profile.

Neutrina: intelligent, confident and determined

Neutrina is mature for her age, a free spirit and deeply caring. She shares the extraordinary connection at the heart of the twins’ story, embracing what makes them different and bringing her own perspective, courage and power to the Backpack Universe.

Read Neutrina’s full character profile.

Three forms for each hero

As their powers grow, the twins appear in three forms: their regular form, a powered-up form and a super-powered form. You can see every form in the Backpack Comics poster collection.

A family story at its core

After Dr. Barrillo disappears while working on a military super-soldier project, the twins grow up through family instability and orphanages, with their longtime nanny Karen Rice eventually becoming their guardian. When they discover the underground training facility their father prepared for them, they begin to understand that their family history and their powers are connected in ways they never imagined.

Without giving too much away: the twins are never as alone as they think. The silent protector who has stayed close to them all along turns out to be their father, transformed by his own failed experiment.

Why their story matters

Protan and Neutrina have always protected children who were lost, abandoned or forgotten. When they discover their powers, that instinct becomes a mission. It’s the heart of Backpack Comics: original heroes, and a new generation of readers who can see themselves in them.

Where to meet them

• Read their story in The Space Between graphic novel.
• Color the twins in the Backpack Comics Coloring Book.
• Wear your favorite twin with Protan and Neutrina hoodies, tees and sweatshirts.