Jean Ferre. Monster Eiffel Tower. Fezzik. These were alter egos for the internationally acclaimed pro wrestling superstar known as Andre the Giant, who thrilled audiences worldwide with his unmatched charisma and remarkable athleticism. Despite his astonishing popularity, few really knew the man behind the curtain-the man born in the French countryside named Andre Roussimoff. Showing signs of gigantism at an early age, Andre decided to use his size to his advantage and entered the wild world of professional wrestling. From his first day in the squared circle, those close to him knew that a legend was born. This lavishly illustrated biography more
Reading this book made me that much more of a fan of Andre the Giant, and it is a shining example that the comic book medium can be used to tell any story: from fictional superheroes to the larger than life, real life legends like Andre. Read Full Review
Although Medri's skills are outstanding and his work is top " notch, the lion's share of the credit must go to Easton. This is brilliant writing. Easton was nominated for an Eisner once before; perhaps this time he will get the awards and recognition that he so obviously deserves for this. Read Full Review
It's hard to overemphasize how much I enjoyed reading Closer to Heaven. Andre the Giant is a fascinating character, mythologized by both wrestling fans and non-fans alike, but this book digs much deeper than the character to get at the soul of a man in a beautifully written, poignant way that will have you reflecting on your own mortality and pursuit of happiness. Backed up by stunning artwork, this is a can't miss. Read Full Review
This is just a brilliant book from cover to cover, and if you have even a passing interest inAndr "The Giant"Roussimoff then you owe it to yourself to buy this book. Read Full Review
With nearly 100 pages of storytelling and art this strong, what can I say other than you'd deserve the body slam coming to you for not buying this book immediately? Read Full Review
The artwork in this story does an amazing job of bringing out the heart of the piece too. It's simplistic and cartoony"but if you think about it with the life whose story they are telling the art fits the piece. It has a warmth to it which brings a smile to your face during the bright times of his life and a darkness during the sad parts. If you're not shedding a tear on the last page you may not have a soul. Read Full Review
Being a wrestling fan myself since the late 1990s, I knew little of the legend of Andre the Giant from renting Wrestling videos from the video stores or from references. This is a great introduction piece. Read Full Review
Overall, I highly recommend this book. If you even have a passing interest in wrestling, this will be a pretty fascinating read. Andre the Giant is an interesting guy and this book does him justice. I just wish we could of gotten more from it, and as they say, any book that leaves you wanting more is a good thing. Read Full Review
No matter what your prior engagement or knowledge of Andre the Giant may be, Closer to Heaven is a fantastic portrait of one of professional wrestling's most beloved and transformative figures. Read Full Review
Wrestling fans will be familiar with many of these tales, so it would be silly to assume they are who this graphic novel is primarily aimed at. Rather this book has a much broader appeal. It's a strong piece of storytelling in it's own right, which is sure to hook the casual observer, too. Read Full Review
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