On the evidence of his Andre the Giant (2014), Brown is a diehard fan of pro wrestling's history, culture, and outsize personalities. Maybe that explains why this bio of comedian Andy Kaufman lavishes so much attention on his wresting "career," itself something of a performance within a performance. Brown affords almost no paper to Kaufman's time acting on the beloved TV show Taxi, and exactly zero pages on psychological insight into the development of his challenging and controversial public persona. Certainly it couldn't simply be time spent watching wrestling and Elvis Presley as a child, something Brown does spend ample time recounting. Additionally, Brown lingers on some of Kaufman's "fuck with people's reality" performances, like wrestling women for (genuine) sexual gratification and his infamous David Letterman appearance, and is always intent on portraying the performer as a secret sweetheart. Consequently, as a biography, this book doesn't have much depth. But Brown has a charming, burly black-and-white cartooning style and recreates a rollicking persona that fans of wrestling, or any alt-entertainment, are likely to enjoy.

Brown tells the story of actor and comedian Andy Kaufman in this biography. Teens may not be aware of Kaufman, who's best known for his character on the TV series Taxi, but his story makes for good reading. Inspired by the over-the-top wrestling villains he loved as a child, he created despicable characters in his comic acts to goad audiences into hating him. After appearing on Saturday Night Live and starring in Taxi, Kaufman found his way into the world of wrestling by challenging female opponents. Brown did extensive research on Kaufman's life, including several in-person interviews with those who knew him welltruly necessary to get through the layers of the actor/comedian's public personas. The black-and-white art is simple but gives life to the humor and situations. VERDICT A sympathetic tale about a challenging subject. Hand to teens interested in pro wrestling or the entertainment industry. Allison McLean, Elkhart Public Library, IN