Gaines was a major pioneer in the creation of the modern comic book.

• In 1933, he devised the first four-color, saddle-stitched newsprint pamphlet, a precursor to the color-comic format that became standard for American comic books.

• After Gaines’ death, his comic business, “Educational Comics”, was taken over by his son Bill Gaines, who transformed the company into a pioneer of horror, science fiction, and satire.