Vankin is a graduate of Brandeis University.

He was formerly a news editor of San Jose, California's Metro newspaper and author of several books and comics. He has also written for the TV series Stairway to Heaven. His graphic novel, Tokyo Days, Bangkok Nights was published in January, 2009.

Vankin is currently a senior editor at Vertigo Comics, concentrating on original graphic novels.

• The Fifty Greatest Conspiracies of All Time: History's Biggest Mysteries, Coverups, and Cabals (with John Whalen, Citadel Press, 1994, ISBN 0806515767)
• Conspiracies, Cover-Ups and Crimes (Illuminet, 1996, ISBN 1881532097)

• The Big Book of (with various artists, Paradox Press):
• The Big Book of Scandal: Trashy but True Tales from the Tawdry World's of Celebrity, High Society, Politics, and Big Business! (1998, ISBN 1563893584)
• The Big Book of Grimm (1999, ISBN 1563895013)
• The Big Book of the 70's (2000, ISBN 1563896710)
• Vertigo Pop! Tokyo #1-4 (with artist Seth Fisher, Vertigo/DC Comics, 2002)
• Vertigo Pop! Bangkok #1-4 (with artists Giuseppe Camuncoli & Shawn Martinbrough, Vertigo/DC Comics 2003)
• Tokyo Days, Bangkok Nights trade paperback (with artists Seth Fisher, Giuseppe Camuncoli & Shawn Martinbrough, Vertigo/DC Comics, January 2009, ISBN 9781401221898)
• The 80 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time (with John Whalen, Citadel Press, 2004, ISBN 0806525312)
• The Witching #1-10 (with Leigh Gallagher, Vertigo, 2004—2005)
• Based on a True Story: Fact and Fantasy in 100 Favorite Movies (with John Whalen, Chicago Review Press, 2005, ISBN 1556525591)