Feb, 20 balelo also was instrumental in helping nicolas cage recover a mintcondition copy of a 1938 action comics book that was stolen from the actors storage locker. The devils rope dynamite, 2018, and red sonja dynamite, 2019. He made headlines in 2011 when he helped nicolas cage recover a rare 1938 comic book featuring superman. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading a shrouded world comic. Police are now attempting to establish how exactly the stolen comic came to be in the hands of a local collectibles expert called mark balelo. There is so much stuff crammed into this book that it was well worth it. Feb 12, 20 balelo, nicknamed rico suave, first became famous in 2011 when he helped actor nicolas cage track down a copy of the firstever superman comic book that had been stolen from him. Mark balelo was fortunate enough to find one of the ultracollectible comics in a storage shed but, in a strange twist of events, the comic was. Apr 11, 2011 balelo said the man brought the comic book to the meeting. Apr 12, 2011 balelo said he knows the man who found the comic book only as sylvester. The former owner of a chain of thrift stores, balelo had a knack for bargaining. Storage wars star mark balelo was found dead monday of an apparent suicide, tmz reports.
Mark balelo was known as rico suave on storage wars and peeked much attention from fans due to his flamboyant clothing. I own book one of this series, and like that one as well. Storage wars star mark balelo found dead of apparent. Balelo then got in touch with new yorkbased rare comic book dealer. A rare and valuable superman comic book, reported stolen 11 years ago by the actor. Sarah ferguson posts a makeup free snap before giving a very animated reading of a childrens book with the help of a toy unicorn. When contacted by the star, the man refused to give his last name. The presumed suicide of storage wars character mark balelo. He once purchased a storage unit containing a comic book valued at over a million dollars which turned out to be the stolen book of nicolas cage. Mark farmer is a multiple eagle award winning inker who got his start in the uk comics industry before becoming part of the british invasion, the wave of ukcreators that were an integral part of. Other comic book titles written by mark russell include judge dredd. Balelo owned a liquidation, wholesale and distribution company, and an auction house, and also formerly owned a gaming store called the game exchange from 20092012. He has worked on titles such as the amazing spiderman, thunderbolts, new warriors, and ultimate spider. Cage wasnt even sure when the comic books were stolen.
Feb 12, 20 the 40yearold was the owner of balelo, inc. John lewis made his mark on comiccon, leading children on a march through the san diego convention center two young fans, 9yearold valerie medina and 10yearold. Balelo was one of the deeppocketed buyers featured on the show that depicts storageunit auctions. Dotson introduced lozano to mark balelo, another auctioneer on storage wars, who said he knew the biggest comic book dealer in the u. Storage wars star mark balelo found dead after weekend. Balelo also was instrumental in helping nicolas cage recover a mintcondition copy of a 1938 action comics book that was stolen from the actors. This first issue saw the debut of superman, which is considered as the holy grail of comic books.
Jun 09, 2014 dotson introduced lozano to mark balelo, another auctioneer on storage wars, who said he knew the biggest comic book dealer in the u. Balelo said the man brought the comic book to the meeting. Balelo, nicknamed rico suave, first became famous in 2011 when he helped actor nicolas cage track down a copy of the firstever superman. New york comic book dealer stephen fishler, who originally sold the copy. Nicolas cage stars in the curious case of the purloined.
There are only about 100 copies of the first comic to introduce superman so finding one is extremely rare. It had been missing for over 10 years when balelo bought the storage locker at an auction. A native of brazil, he was a flashy, flamboyant character that was often referred to as rico suave. He came to the medias attention in april 2011 when he returned a rare copy of a 1938 action comics comic book he. Mark balelo, storage wars star, commits suicide after drug. Balelo, who knew that the comic book was valuable but not stolen. Some re spect of privacy is warranted, in my opinion. Balelo had finally become an auctioneer and was proud of his latest venture. He previously ran a gaming store called the game exchange. Storage wars star mark balelo in apparent suicide just days. Storage wars star mark balelo commits suicide after drug arrest. Lozano told dotson he found the comic book in one of those units. Dotson introduced lozano to mark balelo, another auctioneer on storage wars.
Mark balelo, a simivalley based collector who also owns and runs a. Nicolas cage stars in the curious case of the purloined comic. Balelo became well known after helping actor nicholas cage retrieve his rare copy of a 1938 action comics book that was stolen from his storage locker. Storage wars buyer mark balelo found dead at workplace.
Mark russell was born in springfield, oregon and currently lives in portland, oregon with his wife and family. He finds himself sucked into the world of red giant comics, featuring such characters as tesla and the demigods from wayward sons. Mark balelo was found dead of presumed carbon monoxide poisoning on monday morning in the parking lot of his california office garage in an apparent suicide. As a collector of fan books about jack kirby, wally wood, and ditko, this was an excellent book for a fan of comics. With the help of simi valley collectibles expert mark balelo, it was. Storage wars star mark balelo found dead after weekend drug. Rare comic taken from nicolas cage resurfaces in san. What could be one of the most valuable comic books in the world. Mark balelo died of apparent suicide in 20 in a third of a second i knew that was the stolen book, fishler says. Just last year, he returned a very valuable 1938 superman comic book to nicolas cage. Remember other celebrities weve lost this yearbalelo died from carbon monoxide poisoning in his.
Apr 12, 2011 a rare and valuable superman comic book, reported stolen 11 years ago by the actor. Not for random comic fans, but if you like matt baker this is a good book for the art. Feb 12, 20 storage wars star dead in apparent suicide mark balelo had just been arrested on drug charges. Feb 12, 20 storage wars star mark balelo was found dead monday of an apparent suicide, tmz reports. One distinguishing mark was a tiny white spot on the books blue banner, left during the original printing and unique to that copy. Balelo said he knows the man who found the comic book only as sylvester. Balelo returned the 1938 action comics edition to its former owner. Mark balelo, storage wars star, commits suicide after. Storage wars star mark balelo in apparent suicide just. Storage wars star dead in apparent suicide mark balelo had just been arrested on drug charges. His business located in a large warehouse on runway street in simi valley was the scene of his first auction in july of 2011. Apr 12, 2011 mark balelo, a collectibles expert in simi valley, calif. Mark balelo, a collectibles expert in simi valley, calif. Storage wars star mark balelo commits suicide after drug.