Balbo was a young stage magician and the son of Valdini the Great, a famed illusionist. In his first appearance, he and his father aided El Carim, a fellow magician. Unbeknownst to them, El Carim had real magic powers thanks to a magical cloak. Balbo took over El Carim's spot in Master Comics from that point onward. He was assisted by his brother, Frankie, and his friend John Smith.