The Legend: Don's first appearance was in Witchblade #10 along with his protogé, Jackie Estacado. (See The Darkness)
Don Franchetti (or Uncle Frankie, as he is known to Jackie Estacado), is the head of the Mafia Franchetti family. Frankie Franchetti raised Jackie as his own after taking Jackie from an orphanage when he was a child.
Don Franchetti revealed to Jackie that it was Sonatine who urged him to take Jackie from the orphanage, as he was told that Jackie would be able to aid the Franchetti's in the underworld power-plays of organized crime.
To this end, Don Franchetti raised Jackie to become a ruthless killer, investing time into him to make him the kind of killing machine needed to survive among the cutthroat Mafia. Even so, Don Franchetti has a loving relationship with his surrogate child, who is devoted to his Uncle Frankie.