Cary Burkett attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a BFA degree in theatre.
Burkett's first published comic book story was titled "When You Wish Upon A Star" and appeared in House of Mystery #255 (November–December 1977).
The character's civilian secret identity of Thomas Tresser was created by Burkett in 1979 and named for an actor with whom he was rooming with in New Hampshire.
[4] The character debuted in an eight-page backup story in The Brave and the Bold #166 (September 1980) written by Burkett and drawn by Dan Spiegle.
[6] In 1983, artist Rich Buckler recruited Burkett to write the Mighty Crusaders title for Archie Comics.