Ronda Rousey stands out as one of the most accomplished athletes in professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. With an Olympic bronze medal in Judo earned in 2008, she subsequently made her mark in the world of mixed martial arts, culminating in her induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018. Transitioning to the realm of professional wrestling, Rousey secured multiple championship titles in WWE before her departure in 2023. Now, she embarks on an exciting new chapter, making her debut as a writer in the world of graphic novels.
Rousey’s upcoming graphic novel, Expecting the Unexpected, is set to be released on October 7th by Artists, Writers, and Artisans (AWA). This novel features the artistic talents of Mike Deodato, with colors by Marco Lesko and letters by Sal Cipriano. The synopsis provided by AWA is as follows:
Her codename: “Mom.” With a fake baby bump filled with guns, she’s built a reputation as one of the deadliest hit-women on the planet. But on the verge of her big break in the criminal underworld, Mom makes a fateful decision: sleeping with a potential target (who just so happens to be a top-ranked assassin himself). What follows is a wild mashup of action, adventure, comedy, and romance as a newly pregnant Mom with a bounty on her head fights off wave-after-wave of assassins, falls in love with her baby daddy, and decides how to face her personal and professional predicament.
CBR recently delved into the origins of the graphic novel, exploring how Rousey has adapted to this new medium, and what the future may hold for her characters.
CBR: Congratulations on the book. I read it the other day; it was a blast. It must be incredible working with Mike—he is a legend.
Ronda Rousey: Thank you for the kind words! You’re the first person outside our team to read it and share your thoughts. Mike’s incredible—his contribution has made me so proud to put my name on this work.
It’s interesting how it reflects the sentiment seen in narratives such as Sling Blade, Good Will Hunting, or Rocky, where if someone doesn’t provide you with a project, you take the initiative yourself. That aspect resonates throughout this story, correct?
Rousey: Absolutely! It all came together during the chaotic days leading up to my second WrestleMania. It was a hectic time, and in the midst of that pressure, Paul Heyman asked me what kind of movie I wanted to star in. I realized I was being a bit of a spoiled brat waiting for someone to hand me my dream project. I asked myself, What character could only I play?
Rousey quickly sketched out a logline for her story: A pregnant assassin fights her way to an abortion clinic, only to realize how much she wants to keep her baby amidst overwhelming threats. She envisioned a tale akin to John Wick but infused with the realities of pregnancy. “I wanted John Wick, but pregnant—with bathroom breaks,” she quipped.
The creative process involved a whirlwind of events, including Rousey dealing with injuries sustained during her WrestleMania match while generating ideas for her graphic novel. She expressed a desire to explore how a pregnant woman could fend off assassins, taking inspiration from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.
CBR: That first draft must have been challenging under those conditions.
Rousey: It truly was. I couldn’t get the idea out of my mind and felt compelled to type it out—so even with a hand in a cast, I thumb-typed for hours on my phone. Upon arriving in Arizona, I completed a rough draft after what felt like an eternity. Admittedly, it was rough, a 60-page block of text. I took it to my agent, and after a thorough examination, he suggested I study screenwriting to refine and develop my story further.
Over the years, Rousey immersed herself in the intricacies of screenwriting, eventually landing an internship at William Morris Endeavor’s story department, assisting in script coverage. Under the mentorship of Adam Novak, Rousey refined her screenplay to its potential, leading her to think the narrative would transition better into a graphic novel format.
After presenting her work to AWA and meeting editor Axel Alonso, who saw the potential in her script, Rousey enlisted Deodato as the illustrator. Rousey reflected on her relentless commitment to the project, characterizing her journey as a personal one, particularly as it relates to her experiences as a mother.
John Swartzwelder, a prolific writer for The Simpsons, once noted that writing is arduous, but rewriting is far more enjoyable. Do you share this sentiment?
Rousey: I genuinely enjoy rewriting. It’s about improvement—similar to honing a skill in sports. One of the lines took years to refine, and now it feels perfect. It becomes a continuous process for every scene, which I enjoy.
So, did you provide an initial script to Mike, or did he also aid in plotting the graphic novel format?
Rousey: It was a collaborative effort between me, Mike, and Axel. Axel helped reformulate my screenplay into an appropriate comic script, allowing us to refine our story further.
Having Axel Alonso as an editor is undoubtedly beneficial.
Rousey: Absolutely. He guided me through the process, ensuring we achieved the best possible outcome for my debut novel.
The discussions extended into the translation of action scenes from script to comic form—highlighting challenges unique to both mediums. Rousey expressed her love for action scenes in graphic novels and revealed her aspirations to innovate within that space, bringing her unique expertise in combat to enhance her narrative.
Rousey and Deodato put significant emphasis on crafting clear geography for fight scenes, ensuring readers could easily follow the action. Their thorough approach included recording fight sequences and developing storyboards, elevating the narrative’s visual clarity.
And your use of QR codes linking to fight demos is quite innovative!
Rousey: Correct! Those clips showcase how we staged the fights, emphasizing Mike’s influence on the choreography. His martial arts background shines through in the artwork.
As Rousey reflects on her collaborative journey with her team, she mentions the fun dynamic between her characters Hapa and Mom, noting the challenge of maintaining a relatable yet entertaining dialogue amidst their action-packed lives.
Now, how do you foresee the evolution of your characters?
Rousey: I’ve already written the sequel! It explores themes present during my real-life experience of motherhood.
In a landscape where graphic novels become stories that can thrive independently, do you prefer to write initially as a screenplay?
Rousey: Absolutely. I find it easier to draft a screenplay, which can then be adapted into a comic script, allowing for more detail in each panel as opposed to the tension of initial formatting.
Expecting the Unexpected will be available on October 7, 2025, and can be preordered at the link.
Based on reporting by CBR.com. Read the full story at CBR.com.