Javier Mariscal studied philosophy at university in Valencia from 1967 until 1970 before immatriculating at the Escuela de Grafismo Elisava in Barcelona, where he studied graphic design. In 1973 Javier Mariscal and friends of his drew the first underground comic in Spain, "El Rrollo Enmascarado". Javier Mariscal has worked mainly as a graphic designer but has also been active as a painter. Until 1975 Javier Mariscal lived on Ibiza, where he drew other comics and produced his first designs for seat furniture. From 1976 Javier Mariscal again lived in Barcelona, where he freelanced as a graphic artist and designer. In 1979 Javier Mariscal came up with the lettering BAR-CEL-ONA, which you look through like a window onto scenes behind the silhouetted letters. For the Dúplex Bar in Valencia, Javier Mariscal designed "Dúplex", a crooked barstool standing at a slant on three skinny legs, none of which matched (1980). In 1981 Galerie Vincon mounted the exhibition "Muebles amorales" showing Mariscal's Postmodern designs. As a result, Ettore Sottsass invited Javier Mariscal to participate in the "Memphis International Style" show, which was held in Milan in 1981. Javier Mariscal showed the "Hilton trolley" and the "Colón" table there. In 1988 Javier Mariscal designed "Olé", a vase wearing a hat, and the "Garriri" armchair sporting big Mickey-Mouse ears on the back and comic-book shoes on the chair legs. Always witty, Javier Mariscal's designs often reference figures from comic books. The comics style also pervades his commercial art designs. In 1987 Javier Mariscal invented Cobi, an appealing figure with which he won the competition for designing the mascot for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. With the architect Alfredo Arribas, Javier Mariscal designed Gambrinus, a trendy restaurant in Barcelona (1988).