Watching his father draw and write comic books in his spare time inspired the young Mike Deodato’s interest. Growing up in Brazil, he has said that Portuguese-language Uncle Scrooge comics were likely his first exposure to American comics, and that Superman and Spider-Man were his first American superheroes.

His father also introduced him to the work of such masters as Will Eisner, Hal Foster, Alex Raymond, and Burne Hogarth, and while his style is an action-filled blend of photo-realistic and more illustrative elements, those influences can be detected. After a strong roster of Brazilian comics in the 1980s, 1990 brought his first American assignment, Santa Claws.

It led to Beauty and the Beast for Innovation Publishing, and then Lost in Space, and Quantum Leap, followed by work in Turok. After attention-getting stints on Wonder Woman and Thor, he illustrated The Avengers, Incredible Hulk, Dark Avengers, New Avengers, Secret Avengers, Thunderbolts, and other titles. He also illustrated the cover to The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #43.