Book Review: Andre the Giant: Life and Legend by Box Brown

Andre the Giant: Life and Legend by Box Brown

This graphic novel tells the life story of Andre Roussimoff, better known as the professional wrestler Andre the Giant. He grew up in France and was afflicted with acromegaly, with his body continually growing even as an adult. He was a big child and just became bigger and bigger. He had some odd jobs before he found professional wrestling. In that career, his amazing and intimidating size was a benefit. He traveled around the world, wrestling in Japan and Europe before heading to North America. He became a celebrity in 1970s and 1980s professional wrestling. He had a friendly, outgoing off-stage demeanor that endeared him to many. He also drank a lot (partly to deaden the pain of his condition) and would occasionally mouth off to people. He was quick with an apology later. His fame was astronomical and he earned enough not to have financial worries. He was also free enough to do what he wanted, including his charming turn in The Princess Bride.

Author and artist Box Brown is a wrestling fan and put in a lot of research into this book. Brown has plenty of insights into wrestling culture (how it is fake but back in the day no one said so because it was a form of entertainment) from those times. He relates the legendary stories (Andre turning over a car with two people in it, for example) in a charming narrative that gets the reader to see more of Andre's life than his public person. The book is not too in-depth but is enjoyable and gives fans a better understanding of what Andre went through.

Recommended.