Sergio Asteriti was born in Venice, and studied at the Scuola di Magistero d'Arte, section Publicity. In 1952, he moved to Milan, where he was employed by the advertising agency S.P.I.N.T.A. The agency folded two years later, and Asteriti turned to comics. He made his comics debut with the 'Bingo Bongo' series at the publishing house Alpe in 1955. He soon expanded his activities and did illustration work for various publishers and magazines. Asteriti joined the art studios of Roy d'Ami in the late 1950s. There, he drew for the British Fleetway agency ('Fun in Toyland', 'Freddy Frog', etc.) and for Il Corriere dei Piccoli, where he took over the 'Formichino' series from Roberto Sgrilli.