The History of Long Beatdowns in Fiction

[Dennis Dune]

Yeah, I'd heard of Fearless Nadia long ago, but have never seen even a clip thereof.

Occasionally I've seen brief representations of women in films or comics who weren't formally trained, but who were just really tough, and thus able to hold their own with men, at least under certain circumstances.

Allegedly there was a real-life woman in (I think) Chicago around the turn of the century; a hefty black woman whom the locals turned to for help in sorting out drunks and such. Her nickname "Black Mariah" was transferred to urban ambulances at some point.