Andre the Giant: Life and Legend

Andre the Giant was a performer whose real life was as rich and exaggerated as his wrestling exploits. From flipping cars and launching careers to traveling the world and dealing with his debilitating condition, Andre’s story is one truly worth telling.

Box Brown has obviously done his research, compiling bits from numerous articles, wrestling biographies, interviews, and stories of friends, foes, and family to tell the parallel stories of Andre the Giant and Andre Roussimoff, the man behind the legend. Brown takes us behind the scenes of Wrestlemania III, examining the entire headline match with the practiced eye of a storyteller, revealing how every action was calculated to create a historic moment: the passing of the torch from Andre to Hulk Hogan.

These outside-the-ring glimpses of Andre’s life are ably supported by the black-and-white ink drawings. The art is simple, sparing detail until absolutely necessary, allowing good framing to imbue Andre with the larger-than-life aura that accompanied his oversized frame.

Heartwarming and humorous, but tempered with honest insight into his flaws and missteps, Andre the Giant: Life and Legend is a wonderful read.