[1][2] He began drawing when he was very young, telling one interviewer that some paintings he had done for his school were "published in the [New York] Herald-Tribune or one of those early papers.

... "[3] He also provided artwork for the Boys Club of America,[4] and attended the Art Students League of New York, studying life drawing.

[6] He wrote and drew the four-page backup feature "Lady Luck" in Will Eisner's 16-page, newspaper Sunday-supplement comic book colloquially called "The Spirit Section", from the May 18, 1941 strip through February 22, 1942.

[7] Though his Lady Luck stories were credited under the house pseudonym Ford Davis, Viscardi would subtly work in the initials "NV" somewhere into each tale.

[6] Cardy recalled of his start at Eisner & Iger that he worked alongside ... Lou Fine, George Tuska, [and] Charlie Sultan.

[9]Cardy did World War II military service from 1943 to 1945, earning two Purple Hearts for wounds suffered as a tank driver in the armored cavalry.

He began his Army career with the 66th Infantry Division, during which time he won a competition to design its patch, creating its snarling black panther logo.

As the artist tells it, the only opening was for a corporal in the motor pool, so Private Cardy was promoted and assigned to that duty.

This, he said, led in turn, upon his being shipped to the European theater, to Cardy's assignment as an assistant tank driver for the Third Armored Division, under General Courtney Hodges.

[4] Back in civilian life, Cardy begin doing advertising art as well as covers for crossword puzzle magazines and other periodicals.

[14] Cardy first drew the Teen Titans in The Brave and the Bold #60 (July 1965), wherein the superhero sidekicks Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad were joined by Wonder Woman's younger sister Wonder Girl in her first appearance.

Neal Adams was called upon to rewrite and redraw a Cardy-drawn Teen Titans story which had been written by Len Wein and Marv Wolfman.

New members of the team, psychic Lilith Clay[18] and Mal Duncan, were created by Cardy and writer Robert Kanigher.

[19] In 1968–69, Cardy drew the fondly remembered but short-lived, quirky Western series Bat Lash,[20] about an expert gunslinger who was nonetheless a dandy, and who, in a nod to the 1960s counterculture, wore a flower in his hat.

[6][21] Cardy during this time also assisted artist Al Plastino, a childhood friend, on the Batman comic strip.

In 1996, Cardy was one of the many creators who contributed to the Superman: The Wedding Album one-shot wherein the title character married Lois Lane.

[29] Viscardi also earned two Purple Hearts for wounds suffered as a tank driver while serving with the 3rd Armored Division in WWII.