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Andre the Giant: Life and Legend by Box Brown
The Arncliffe Puzzle by Gordon Holmes
Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett
The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom
Code Name Pauline by Pearl Witherington Cornioley and Kathryn J. Atwood
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Flash Forward by Robert J. Sawyer
Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Skottie Young
Grizzwold by Syd Hoff
A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis
The Last Sewer Ball by Steven Schindler
Let's Call it Canada: Amazing Stories of Canadian Place Names by Susan Hughes, Clive Dobson and Julie Dobson
The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Mr. Pratt's Patients by Joseph C. Lincoln
Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
The Return of the Player by Michael Tolkin
Roadside Picnic by Arkady Stragosky and Boris Stragosky
Soulless: The Manga, Vol. 3 by Gail Carriger
Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett
Trust No One by Linda Sue Park
Undead by Kirsty McKay
Voltron Force Volume 3: Twin Trouble by Brian Smith
Undead by Kirsty McKay
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
What Does the Fox Say? by Ylvis
The Whole Enchilada by Diane Mott Davidson
Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
Yoko Ono: Collector of Skies by Nell Beram

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Andre the Giant: Life and Legend: 07/06/14

cover art

Andre the Giant: Life and Legend by Box Brown is a graphic novel biography of Andre Roussimoff. It starts with his childhood in France when people first started to notice is unusual stature. It goes through his wrestling career in Canada, the United States, Japan and his role as Fezzik in The Princess Bride (1987).

Andre the Giant, and Hulk Hulgan, who introduces the book through an illustrated interview, are a pair of wrestlers celebrities who were a ubiquitous part of my childhood. Even if one didn't watch wrestling (myself included), one knew their names. So reading his biography, especially as a graphic novel, was a no brainer for me — I even had it on pre-order.

Most of the book is divided between Roussimoff's health issues that arose from his uncontrolled growth, and his drinking. Brown suggests that his drinking became a way to self medicate especially as the pain worsened and his sense of isolation grew. His breakneck schedule of numerous appearances, long distance flights and bus trips, didn't give him much time do unwind. The alcohol, drunk in copious amounts was the solution.

Box Brown's style is one of heavy lines, squared edges and an emphasis on black. It reminds me of Hope Larson's use of black space in Mercury.

Five stars

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