After calling New York City home for nearly 90 years, Marvel Comics is heading west. The company will move its publishing operations to Burbank, California, bringing the division closer to Marvel Studios and parent company The Walt Disney Company.
Marvel executives announced the relocation during a town hall Thursday at the company’s Midtown Manhattan office. Employees learned that the publishing division will transfer its operations to Disney’s Burbank headquarters.
Stephen Wacker Named Editor-in-Chief
The move comes with a major leadership change. Veteran comics editor Stephen Wacker has been named Marvel’s new editor-in-chief.
Wacker replaces C.B. Cebulski, who has led the publishing division since 2017. Cebulski will remain with Marvel and relocate to Japan, where he will lead the company’s expansion into manga and other Asian markets as editor, Asia originals.
Wacker is a respected figure in the comics industry who has also worked in animation, television and digital media. He earned an Emmy nomination for his work on Marvel animation projects.
Marvel Looks to Reenergize Its Publishing Division
Marvel intends the leadership changes and relocation to reinvigorate its comics business. The publishing division has faced growing challenges as Marvel’s movies have gained greater prominence and the company has experienced a creative slump.
Marvel also lost its position as the comic book market share leader for the first time this century. Marvel chief Kevin Feige views the new leadership structure and the move to Burbank as a long-term investment in the stories and characters that support the larger Marvel brand.
Feige attended the town hall alongside Marvel’s head of television, animation, comics and franchise, Brad Winderbaum. David Abdo, the newly appointed general manager of comics and franchise, also participated.
“This move will position the team beside our broader creative organization and create opportunities for collaboration across both Marvel and Disney,” Winderbaum and Abdo wrote in a companywide letter obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
“Bringing our comics, film, television, and other creative teams together will help us learn from one another, collaborate, and build on the strengths that make Marvel the true House of Ideas.”
Marvel Leaves Its Historic Home
The relocation marks a major cultural shift for Marvel and the comic book industry. New York is widely considered the birthplace of American comic books and has remained central to Marvel’s identity.
The company’s earlier incarnations, Timely Comics and Atlas Comics, operated from 42nd Street. Many of Marvel’s most influential creators, including Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, also lived and worked in New York.
The city became an essential part of Marvel’s fictional universe. The Fantastic Four and the Avengers made New York their home, while Spider-Man became one of the characters most closely associated with the city.
Marvel’s departure will leave New York without a major comic book publisher. Rival DC Comics moved from the city to Warner Bros.’ Burbank headquarters in 2015.
Relocation Has Been Under Consideration for Months
Marvel spent several months evaluating the move. The lease for its current Avenue of the Americas office expires next year, forcing the company to decide whether to remain at the location or relocate.
Executives also explored the benefits of bringing Marvel’s businesses together in one city. The company has not operated that way since before Disney acquired Marvel in 2009.
Marvel’s new comics leadership began meeting with employees at the New York office after taking control in May. Those discussions focused on whether combining the company’s creative operations in Burbank would be practical.
The company also reviewed where its comic book writers and artists currently live. Most Marvel creators once lived in New York and the surrounding Tri-State area, but the industry has become increasingly international.
Marvel found that its current creative network spans the globe. Among creators based in the United States, more now live in California than in New York.
“New York has played a huge part in who Marvel is as a company, and in the pages of our comics,” Winderbaum and Abdo wrote.
“While our network of writers and artists is now an international operation, New York is still woven into our DNA and that will never change. Our colleagues in New York have helped shape generations of stories and characters, and their contributions to Marvel’s legacy cannot be overstated.”
More Than 100 Employees Asked to Relocate
Marvel wants all New York-based employees in its comics and franchise group to move to California by July 2027. The relocation affects slightly more than 100 people.
The company will begin hosting orientation sessions for employees and their families next week. Marvel plans to provide support throughout the transition.
“We sincerely hope they choose to continue that journey with us in California,” Winderbaum and Abdo wrote. “We are committed to supporting every affected employee throughout this transition, which will take place over the next 12 months.”
Wacker Returns to Marvel
Wacker will be among those joining Marvel’s Burbank headquarters. His appointment marks a return to the company after he left in the early 2020s.
Following his departure, Wacker led Jonathan Hickman’s worldbuilding project 3W3M. He later co-founded the entertainment studio Stone Kite.
Wacker previously spent more than 15 years at Marvel and developed strong relationships with writers and artists. He oversaw several major Spider-Man runs, including the bestselling “Brand New Day” and “Superior Spider-Man” eras.
He also edited Daredevil and Hawkeye when both titles won Eisner Awards. Wacker was involved in the introduction of Kamala Khan, the character who became Ms. Marvel.
His experience extends beyond comic book publishing. Wacker co-produced the Emmy-nominated Rocket & Groot animated series in 2017 and executive produced Marvel’s successful Wastelanders audio series.
Cebulski Takes on New Role in Japan
Cebulski leaves the editor-in-chief position as the third-longest-serving person to hold the job in Marvel’s nearly 90-year history. His tenure included several major publishing initiatives.
He recently oversaw the relaunch of the Ultimate Universe and played a role in the “Krakoan Age” of X-Men comics. Cebulski also used his strong connections to Japan to expand Marvel’s presence in the manga market.
He helped establish a partnership with Shonen Jump that produced titles including Deadpool Samurai and Spider-Man: Octo-Girl. His new position will allow him to continue developing original projects for Marvel across Asia.
Wacker will report to Winderbaum in his new role. Cebulski will remain part of Wacker’s global leadership team.
