UFC, WWE, and Olympic superstar, multi-ESPY Award-winner, and Hollywood actress Ronda Rousey has stepped out of the ring and into the world of comics. Artists Writers and Artisans (AWA), the independent developer of bold, original stories from the world’s most outstanding creators, announced today the upcoming Kickstarter campaign for Rousey’s graphic novel debut, EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED. Penned by Rousey and edited by Axel Alonso, AWA Chief Creative Officer and former Editor-and-Chief at Marvel, with art by Eisner and Ringo Award-winning comic book artist Mike Deodato, Jr. (BAD MOTHER, WONDER WOMAN), the graphic novel draws on Rousey’s incredible career in the ring and pairs it with Deodato’s martial arts background to create the most accurate and action-packed fight scenes in comics!
Her codename: “Mom.” With a fake baby bump filled with guns, she’s built a reputation as one of the deadliest hitwomen 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). A few weeks later, Mom finds that her codename is about to become a whole lot more literal. 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. EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED sets a new bar for the authenticity of fight scenes through a unique creative process developed by Rousey, Deodato, and AWA.
“I felt like I had to tell this story, because EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED pulls from the most important parts of my life: motherhood, my career as a fighter, and fun action movies,” said Ronda Rousey. “I knew I needed an artist who understood how to translate my fighting from real life to graphic novel artwork, so it’s been truly gratifying watching Mike Deodato bring this story to life. I’m so excited to work with AWA and share my very first graphic novel with the world and I hope comic fans will enjoy this adventure.”
Through Kickstarter, AWA allows fans to support its most ambitious limited-edition projects. This new graphic novel will feature Kickstarter exclusives and include premium, tiered rewards for the biggest Ronda Rousey fans. The EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED Kickstarter will launch on July 25 and those interested in learning more about the campaign and its reward offerings should sign up here to be notified when the campaign is live. Throughout her career as a global superstar, Rousey has built a huge fan base around the world and Kickstarter allows fans to support this debut in more than 200 countries worldwide.
Chief Creative Officer of AWA Axel Alonso added, “Ronda has brought the same level of ferocity, discipline, and craft to her original script that made her a champion in Judo, UFC, and WWE. A potent blend of dark comedy, romance, and over-the-top action, EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED delivers a knockout punch on every level. You’ll laugh, you’ll wince, you’ll cry, and you’ll thrill at the action scenes — meticulously choreographed by Ronda and executed with precision by comic book maestro and martial arts black belt Mike Deodato, Jr. — that literally leap off the page.”
This marks AWA’s third Kickstarter project, following the successful campaigns for Frank Cho’s FIGHT GIRLS – DELUXE DIRECTOR’S CUT EDITION, and Garth Ennis’ MARJORIE FINNEGAN, TEMPORAL CRIMINAL, both of which surpassed their initial funding goals within hours.
For more information on the EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED Kickstarter and other content, visit AWA Studios on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and AWAStudios.com.
ABOUT AWA
Artists, Writers, and Artisans, Inc. (AWA) is an award-winning independent graphic fiction publisher and entertainment studio founded in 2018 by alumni of Marvel, DC, NBA, Fox, Hulu, and MTV, with former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso serving as Chief Creative Officer. Armed with some of the freshest and most critically acclaimed graphic fiction in a generation, AWA has established itself as an industry leader regarding its relationship with artists and writers by providing creators the freedom, incentive structure, and editorial support to pursue their boldest, most original, and socially relevant work. AWA has assembled a lineup of the world’s most renowned comic book talent, and its titles have been recognized as Eisner, Ringo, and New York Press Club award winners. With AWA’s Film & TV Studio, the company is building a distinct array of cutting-edge film and TV projects anchored in its burgeoning library of groundbreaking stories. Led by Hollywood veteran Zach Studin, AWA Studios has more than 20 projects in active development with industry-leading studios, networks, and streamers including the feature film adaptation of the AWA graphic novel MARJORIE FINNEGAN: TEMPORAL CRIMINAL, currently in development with LuckyChap Entertainment and Camp Hobart and the television adaptation of DEVIL’s HIGHWAY with Fremantle. Investors include Lupa Systems, Lightspeed Venture Partners, SISTER, and Fremantle. AWA is repped by Grandview.
I Am Refocused Radio’s note:
I Am Refocused Radio is thrilled to spotlight Ronda Rousey’s groundbreaking new project, Expecting the Unexpected. As a UFC, WWE, and Olympic superstar, Ronda has consistently pushed the limits of what’s possible, and now she’s taking her talents to the world of graphic novels. This action-packed, genre-bending story not only showcases her unparalleled skill in crafting authentic fight scenes but also dives deep into themes of motherhood, love, and resilience. Collaborating with top-tier talent like Axel Alonso and Mike Deodato Jr., Ronda has created a comic that is as thrilling as it is personal.
Fans of action, comics, and strong female protagonists should not miss this project. By supporting Expecting the Unexpected on Kickstarter, you’re not only backing a unique and creative story but also joining Ronda on her journey to redefine what it means to be a multifaceted, unstoppable force.
