Ronda Rousey has many accolades to her name: the first American woman to medal in Olympic judo by winning bronze in 2008, judo gold medalist at the Pan American Games, MMA champion, WWE champion and author
Now she can add “graphic novel writer” to her list of accomplishments.
Rousey appeared at the New York Comic Con 2025, held Oct. 9-12 at the Javits Center in Manhattan, to promote and sign copies of her debut 160-page original graphic novel “Expecting the Unexpected.”
You might know Rousey as a North Dakota native, but she also has roots in Devils Lake. She used to work summers in Devils Lake, going back and forth from Minot. Her father also worked in the area as director of research and development at Sioux Manufacturing.
The book is described as 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.”
“I went into this with no knowledge at all,” Rousey said at a roundtable interview.
She said it started out as a screenplay but after some thought that “it would make a cool graphic novel.”
With that in mind, and a successful Kickstarter fundraiser, she brought it to Artists Writers & Artisans, Inc., more commonly known as AWA Studios, who have published a variety of titles from various comic book industry veterans, including some from veteran television writer/producer J. Michael Straczynski, best known for his creation of the sci-fi TV series Babylon 5.
“One great thing about the medium is it allowed people to take risks that they wouldn’t otherwise,” she said.
Rousey added that the story draws from her life, including an incident involving an irate customer when she worked at a 24 Hour Fitness.
While there’s a little bit of real life in it, it is mostly fantasy. “I think its more of a fantasticalization of my life,” she joked.
To bring the visuals to life, Rousey worked with acclaimed Brazilian comic book artist Mike Deodato Jr., best known for his work on comic book titles like “Wonder Woman,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “The Amazing Spider-Man” and many others.
“He’s such a great sport and being a master in his field and dealing with me,” she said. She said she would give feedback on some of his drafts while also aware of the time constraints.
“I’m obsessed with the story. I’ll go back and forth forever,” she said.
Released on Oct. 7, “Expecting the Unexpected” is now available on Amazon and other major retailers.
