Insight Studios and comic creators Marc Hempel and Mark Wheatley have provided an update on an ongoing situation involving their original art that was stolen years ago. Three stolen original art pages from Jonny Quest #16 and the complete original story art from Jonny Quest #17 are being offered in online sales and through private avenues.

Created by Hempel and Wheatley, the art is original pen and ink on approximately 11” x 17” two-ply board with paste over corrections.

These pages are among a larger group of material that was stolen from Insight Studios’ warehouse years ago and was discovered in 2022. That theft included thousands of pages of original comic art, scripts, and production materials from decades of work.

“It was quite a shock to realize that almost all of Marc’s and my early works had been taken from us,” Wheatley said. “We feel betrayed. But more than that, we have a deep emotional connection to this art. Recovering it matters to us on every level.”

The Maryland State Police investigated the theft, tracing it to a person who kept the art for years before he died. Then the stolen materials were sold through his estate and has since traded hands among collectors, retailers, and auction houses. The stolen art has been listed in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Stolen Art File.

The person who currently has the Jonny Quest art listed above has been notified that the art is stolen property, however he is still attempting to sell it. Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Hempel and Wheatley have stated that legal ownership remains with the original creators and does not transfer to other individuals, even through good faith purchases. Individuals or entities that purchase, sell, broker, or facilitate the sale of the art could be subject to legal action.

A total of 3,000 pages were stolen, with the largest group coming from Hempel and Wheatley’s run on Jonny Quest that includes painted color pages, covers, painted covers, and prelim material that was never published. The stolen art also includes most of their pages from Blood of the Innocent, covers and pages from Mars, and unpublished work.

So far, Hempel and Wheatley have recovered about 800 pages that includes one complete Jonny Quest story and some other pages. The biggest return was the Be An Interplanetary Spy work that was received by one collector who returned everything to the creators.

“We are asking the original art collecting community and retailers to please help us. Many have already stepped forward, and that support has meant a great deal. But there is still a long way to go,” Hempel said.

“If there is any good that has come out of this, it is the people who have helped us. The collectors who have returned artwork have become some of our strongest allies. We are hopeful that others will do the same,” Wheatley said.

Specific pieces that have been stolen are listed in the images accompanying this article. Anyone with information regarding any of the stolen art, can contact Wheatley at insight@insightstudiosgroup.com.