Historical Fiction Archives | Otaku No Culture

Fighting Her Way to the Top. Liz Wilkinson, Championess

This tale is not a true biography, since Lizzie didn’t publish a memoir. Some flavour in what society was like in London is toyed with, but ultimately these details take a back seat to focusing on this person’s life from a young girl to an adult who dealt certain demons of her past a permanent ‘death’ blow.

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Legendary Comics
Available to order on Amazon USA
Spoiler Alert

Going beyond the Women’s suffrage movement, Elizabeth Wilkinson dared to defy gender roles by being one of the world’s first lady boxers in 18th Century London. This lass couldn’t make enough shilling to support herself and Tess, her sister, in a world was primarily run by men. These chauvinists believed their place was at the home and were “servants.” Liz disliked her place in society and had no trouble butting heads in her attempt to become recognized as a fighting champion.

I can’t help but be reminded of Chick Fight, which stars Malin Akerman, Bella Thorne and Dulcé Sloan in a different type of story. Writer/director Paul Leyden may well have been influenced by this historical figure. The ideas are the same–we have a heroine who must prove her worth not only to herself but also amongst her peers, fellow fighters who are male and female. When Wilkinson formally issued a challenge to Hannah Hyfield, a foe she’s not ready to face (much like in the movie with Akerman’s character to Thorne) she needs a seasoned pro to teach her the finer points of gladiatorial combat.

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Finding Xerxes and The Fall of the House of Darius Unleashed …

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

On March 6th, Dark Horse Comics unleashed Xerxes to the masses recounting The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander. To say which leader is more ruthless is a moot question. In reading this collected hardcover edition instead of the individual issues, I found the story much easier to follow. I knew I should wait for the compendium but still visited my local comic book store to read as much of the work as it was still being released.

If only Frank Miller was attending Emerald City Comic Con (takes place starting tomorrow till March 17th), I would get this compendium signed too!

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Takeaways from Doctor Who Series 11

The latest season of Doctor Who being led by a new showrunner and after a massive binge-watch and rewatch, I found the season has its specific hits and misses. Chris Chibnall is at the helm of the series now and he is best known for developing BBC’s Broadchurch. Instead of intense drama, five episodes of the ten-episode run plays with the concepts traditional in many a tale of terror. The two most prominent were “Arachnids in the UK” and “The Witchfinders.”

Jodie Whittaker is very likable as the new Doctor. She gives the character an erratic quality similar to David Tennant’s time in the role and has the tendency to be scattered. As the later episodes show, there’s an energy that’s undeniable. She’s more empathetic to others, and this can make for interesting contrasts to previous incarnations.

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