Sam Grainger's first known credited comic book work was at the Derby, Connecticut-based publisher Charlton Comics. His seven-page backup story, " Behold...The Sentinels", which he both penciled and inked in Peter Cannon... Thunderbolt #54 , also marked the first superhero story by prominent 1960s comic-book writer Gary Friedrich. Grainger continued on the "Sentinels" feature through issue #59. character Astral Man Afterward, he drew the cover and writer Howard Keltner's eight-page story "The Adder", starring the superhero Astral Man, in the fanzineStar-Studded Comics #14. Another issue's adaptation of the Gardner FoxnovelWarrior of Llarn by writer Roy Thomas and artist Grainger was reprinted in the book The Best of Star-Studded Comics. Grainger additionally drew and colored some covers for 1969 issues of the Edgar Rice Burroughs fanzine ERB-dom, and interior art beginning 1965.
Marvel Comics
Grainger made his Marvel Comics debut inking a backup story in X-Men #55, over penciler Werner Roth. He went on to ink further X-Men backups as well as covers and interior stories in The Avengers ; the satirical comic Not Brand Echh; The Incredible Hulk and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. ; and the feature "Ka-Zar" in Astonishing Tales, over industry legend Jack Kirby. Among his considerable amount of 1970s work, Grainger inked penciler Dave Cockrum on several issues of X-Men, a title whose revival in that decade led to its becoming one of comics' most popular series. Cockrum's successor, John Byrne, later stated that he had requested that Grainger be kept on as inker for his run so as to "soften the blow" of Cockrum's departure, but that this idea was rejected by editorial staff.
Later career
In the 1970s, Grainger inked for both Marvel and DC Comics, including on the latter's Ghosts, Unknown Soldier and House of Mystery. He also inked two issues of the independent comics seriesSouthern Knights, from publisher The Guild, and various issues of and backup stories in Grimjack and Dreadstar, from First Comics. Grainger moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, sometime before spring 1969. There he freelanced for the role-playing games company TSR, Inc.; his work there includes interior art for the "Endless Quest" series of gamebooks, including the Dungeons & Dragons book Under Dragon's Wing, the Hyborian Age book Conan and the Prophecy, the Star Frontiers book Captive Planet, and, with Jim Holloway, the Dungeons & Dragons book Knight of Illusion. Fantasy artistClyde Caldwell described Grainger's later career, and his mentorship: Grainger made guest appearances at the Charlotte comic book conventionHeroes Convention. Before he succumbed to diabetes-related medical issues, Heroes Con in 1987 held a benefit auction for his medical expenses. Grainger's last work was penciling and inking the posthumously published, eight-page Volstagg story "The Thief of Asgard" in Marvel Comics Presents #66.
