 After graduating from Redford High School in 1971, Theakston worked with artist Jim Steranko at his Supergraphics publishing company in Reading, Pennsylvania.He moved with partner Carl Lundgren to upstate New York in 1972, where he began illustrating for men's magazines, including "Gent", "Dude" and "Nugget".He also inked samples of Jim Starlin's early pencils, which helped Starlin gain his first work for Marvel Comics in 1972.