 Theakston founded and operated Pure Imagination, a comic book and magazine publisher since 1975.His biographical work includes an estimated 200,000 words on Jack Kirby, his long-time friend and work associate, 250,000 words on Bettie Page, numerous pieces on great comic book artists, and pop culture figures for Pure Imagination and other publishers including, "Mad", "Penthouse" and "Playboy".His name has been given to a process called "Theakstonizing", a term coined by DC editor-in-chief, Dick Giordano, which bleaches color from old comics pages, used in the restoration for reprinting.