Andre the Giant was more than a wrestler. He was larger than life character, a figure that even those who have never watched a wrestling match in their life know. He's an icon, a symbol. We all know his voice, stature and nickname; we know his famous matches and legendary role in the cinematic masterpiece The Princess Bride. What Andre the Giant: Life and Legend does is tell us the story of the man. It's a graphic novel about life, pain, struggle and acceptance. It's moving and captivating and something that you should read whether you are a fan of wrestling or not.

The story of Andre the Giant is a surprising one. Through a series of interviews, recorded events, and memoirs, Box Brown assembles the life of a mythical man. The story of a man's life unfolds much as you would expect, starting with his youth and working up to his untimely death. What we get here is heavily researched and painstakingly detailed. Few comic biographies feel so finely detailed. It draws such a clear picture that by the end you'll feel as if you knew this man. You'll understand his pain.Brown delivers this biography with a stunning amount of care and grace. It would have been easy to just hit the the highlight reel, to jump from big event to big event. Brown avoids that and allows us to truly get to know Andre the Giant. What makes it unique is the way Brown focuses on the smaller moments of the man's life. Sure, there's plenty of wrestling and stardom, but the focus is on the life lived in between. On the everyday struggle of being over seven feet tall and weighing over 500 pounds. It's those moments that make this story work so well.Brown's art is great, as well. He's thick-lined cartooning works perfectly for the story of Andre the Giant. This isn't a showy, splash page filled comic. Instead, it's about people, conversations, and emotion. You only have to look at the cover to see the kind of weight and emotion Brown conveys throughout this whole story. Andre's life is beautifully rendered. It's clear that Brown cared about this story. By the time you reach the end, you'll care to. It grabs you and won't let go. Without a doubt, this is a powerful comic and required reading for wrestling fans.Do yourself a favor and buy this graphic novel. It's a brilliant work of art that demands to be read. It's worth every penny and easily a contender for book of the year. It's hard to imagine something better than this coming along; it's that freaking good. Read it now, then sleep well and dream of large women.

Benjamin Bailey is kitten memes in a bottle. Follow Benjamin on Twitter @BenHBailey , or find him on IGN