In 2024, Marc Hempel and Mark Wheatley of Insight Studios announced that a large trove of their artwork had been stolen from their warehouse. Police discovered that person who stole the artwork died in 2015, but their estate had been selling the artwork – and lots of it. It’s been a long and winding road of recovering some of the art, with the help of collectors. But Hempel and Wheatley recently discovered that some of that stolen artwork, including a complete issue of Jonny Quest, is being sold – and they need the community’s help is stopping this. Below is a press release sent by Wheatley explaining the situation:
Insight Studios and creators Marc Hempel and Mark Wheatley are issuing an urgent public notice to the comic art collecting community: additional pieces of their stolen original artwork have resurfaced and are currently being offered for sale online and through private channels.
The specific works now being actively marketed include:
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- The complete original story artwork for JONNY QUEST #17
- Three original pages from JONNY QUEST #16
All artwork is original pen-and-ink on approximately 11″ x 17″ two-ply board, with paste-over corrections, created by Marc Hempel and Mark Wheatley during their acclaimed run on the series.
These works are part of a much larger body of material stolen years ago from Insight Studios’ secured warehouse. The theft, discovered in 2022, involved thousands of pages of original comic art, scripts, and production materials spanning 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,” said Wheatley. “We feel betrayed. But more than that, we have a deep emotional connection to this art. Recovering it matters to us on every level.”
Following an investigation by the Maryland State Police, the stolen cache was traced to an individual who had secretly retained the artwork for years before his death. The collection was subsequently sold through his estate and entered the marketplace, passing through collectors, retailers, and major auction houses.
The stolen artwork is now formally listed in the National Stolen Art File maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Despite this, newly surfaced pieces are being actively offered for sale by a current holder who has been directly notified of the artwork’s stolen status.
Notice to Collectors, Dealers, and Platforms
Hempel and Wheatley emphasize the following:
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- These works are confirmed stolen property
- Legal ownership remains with the original creators
- Title to stolen property does not transfer, regardless of any good-faith purchase
Any individual or entity who purchases, sells, brokers, or facilitates the sale of this artwork after notice of its stolen status may be subject to:
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- Civil liability, including claims for conversion
- Potential legal consequences associated with the knowing sale or transport of stolen property
Collectors are strongly advised not to purchase or handle these works.
Ongoing Recovery Efforts
While a number of collectors and retailers have acted in good faith to return stolen artwork, a significant portion remains unaccounted for and continues to circulate in the marketplace.
Marc Hempel made a direct appeal to the community:
“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.”
Wheatley added:
“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.”
Call for Information
Anyone with information regarding the current location, sale, or attempted sale of this artwork is urged to come forward.
Contact:
Mark Wheatley – insight@insightstudiosgroup.
