From the writing team of Tarun Shankar and Kelly Zekas (These Vicious Masks) comes this incredible graphic novel about Elizabeth Wilksinson, an 18th Century boxer who is forced to come to terms with her half-Indian side and her criminal father as she faces the powerful female bare-knuckle boxers of her day.
With art from Amanda Perez Puentes, this graphic novel follows Wilkinson, dubbed the “Championess of Europe“, as she gains notoriety amidst the ferocious 18th Century craze of Bare-Knuckle boxing. Based on a true story, Elizabeth Wilkinson struggled to make ends meet for her and her sister Tess while facing the fiercest female bare-knuckle boxers of her day.
Here’s the summary…
Championess is based on the true story of Elizabeth Wilkinson, a female bare-knuckle boxer in 18th century London. Elizabeth, reimagined as half-Indian, and her sister Tess struggle to make ends meet and cover Tess’s debts. While Elizabeth works odd jobs at the local newspaper, the only way she knows how to make enough money to help them survive is her true passion, bareknuckle boxing. With Tess’s support, Elizabeth trains at the boxing facility of one of the most famous retired boxers and the only real fight promoter of any notoriety, James Figg. As Elizabeth trains with Figg and James Stokes, she confronts her personal demons of what destroyed her family and comes to terms with being the first half-Indian female boxer in a white male world.
Last November, it was announced that Championess is to be adapted into a television series by new UK-based production company Watford & Essex, a joint venture between Legendary Entertainment and acclaimed showrunners Emma Frost and Matthew Graham!
In the meantime, check out a sneak peek of the first ten pages below!
Championess will be available in bookstores and online retailers on April 13, 2021. For the latest news regarding Championess and to pre-order the graphic novel, visit Legendary.com!Â
