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UFC star Ronda Rousey learned how to write comics from the former boss of Marvel Comics

Ronda Rousey's new graphic novel, Expecting the Unexpected, is her first foray into writing comics, and she had to learn how do it from some very seasoned hands

Panels from Expecting the Unexpected — Image credit: AWA

News by Jules Chin Greene, Staff Writer

Published on Thu Oct 30 2025

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In case you haven't noticed, more and more people from outside the comic book industry are writing or co-writing comics. Post Malone was at New York Comic Con this year to promote his new book with Vault Comics, Post Malone's Big Rig. In 2021, Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke co-wrote a miniseries with Marguerite Bennett for Image Comics called M.O.M.: Mother of Madness. Likewise, Jamie Lee Curtis co-wrote a graphic novel with Russell Goldman called Mother Nature for Titan Comics in 2023.

Now, Ronda Rousey has made her comic book debut with a graphic novel from AWA called Expecting the Unexpected. It's a story about a hit-woman operating under the codename "Mom," who discovers that she's pregnant after sleeping with a potential target. Drawn by Mike Deodato, Rousey was supported by veteran comic book talent while bringing the story to life on the page.

Speaking to our video producer, Ashley Victoria Robinson, as part of our Popversations interview series, Rousey explained that she had originally written Expecting the Unexpected as a screenplay. "There is so much I don't know about comics, coming into this space, this is my first one ever. I originally wrote it in a screenplay format. And then Axel Alonso, who is the former editor-in-chief at Marvel, he helped me to take that and make it into a comic book script. And we pored over it panel by panel to really hone in on the story. I learned a lot from him, I learned a lot from Mike [Deodato]," Rousey said.

If you're a Popverse member, you can watch the entire Popversations interview with Ronda Rousey here. And if you're not a Popverse member, you can find out more about memberships here.

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Jules Chin Greene: Jules Chin Greene is a journalist and Jack Kirby enthusiast. He has written about comics, video games, movies, and television for sites such as Nerdist, AIPT, and Multiverse of Color.