Marvel's Major Relocation
Stephen Wacker Named Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief as Publisher Moves to Burbank
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Key Points
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Marvel Comics and Franchise division will relocate from New York to Marvel’s central headquarters in Burbank, California, with a 12-month transition plan and a commitment to supporting affected employees during the move.
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Stephen Wacker will become Marvel Comics’ Editor-in-Chief and is scheduled to join Marvel in Burbank the week of July 27, spending the first week of August in New York before the full transition.
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C.B. Cebulski will move from Editor-in-Chief to Editor, Asia Originals in Japan to lead Marvel’s manga initiatives, with a nine-year tenure as EIC ending as he returns to Japan; his background includes involvement with Marvel Mangaverse.
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Marvel is shutting down its long-running New York offices and consolidating operations with Marvel Studios and Disney in Burbank, marking a historic realignment after almost 90 years in New York.
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The broader leadership shake-up includes Dan Buckley leaving the company, with David Abdo named General Manager, Comics and Franchises, and Brad Winderbaum expanding his role to oversee Marvel TV, animation, comics, and franchises from California.
Marvel Comics is leaving New York City after nearly 90 years. The company announced it will move its entire Comics and Franchise division to Burbank, California, where Marvel Studios and Disney are already based, according to AV Club. The move comes with a major leadership change: Stephen Wacker will become the new Editor-in-Chief.
C.B. Cebulski, who led Marvel Comics for nine years as Editor-in-Chief, will step down from that role. He will move to Japan to head Marvel's manga efforts as Editor, Asia Originals, according to Yahoo. The transition is expected to take 12 months, with full operations shifting to Burbank by 2027.
Stephen Wacker Steps In as Marvel's New EIC
Stephen Wacker is set to officially join Marvel in Burbank the week of July 27, according to Newsy Today. He will spend his first week of August in New York before the full move kicks in. Wacker is a longtime Marvel veteran. He is known for his editorial work on major comic runs and characters, and he even earned an Emmy nomination for his work in animation, Nerdist noted.
Wacker replacing Cebulski marks a clean break in Marvel's publishing leadership. Industry observers point to his deep history with the company as a signal that Marvel wants experienced hands guiding its comics line through a major transition period.
Cebulski's Nine-Year Run Ends With a Japan Chapter
C.B. Cebulski served as Marvel's Editor-in-Chief for nine years. His tenure saw major crossover events and a push to grow Marvel's global footprint. Now, he returns to Japan to run Marvel's manga initiatives, a fitting role given his background with projects like Marvel Mangaverse, according to Yahoo.
Cebulski's new title is Editor, Asia Originals. The role puts him in charge of building out Marvel's presence in the Japanese comics market. Marvel has long had a foothold in manga-style storytelling, and Cebulski's move signals the company wants to grow that side of the business.
Marvel Closes Nearly 90 Years of New York History
Marvel told employees about the move at a meeting in its Midtown Manhattan offices, according to Newsy Today. The company has operated out of New York for close to 90 years. The shutdown of those offices and the shift to Burbank marks one of the biggest changes in Marvel's publishing history. Marvel says it will support affected employees during the 12-month transition.
The move brings Marvel's comics arm physically in line with Marvel Studios and Disney, both based in Burbank. AV Club reported the Comics and Franchise division will fully relocate by 2027. The goal is tighter coordination between publishing, animation, and franchise efforts under one California roof.
Broader Leadership Shake-Up Reshapes Marvel's Top Ranks
The EIC change is just one part of a bigger leadership overhaul. Dan Buckley is leaving the company entirely, according to Yahoo. David Abdo has been named General Manager of Comics and Franchises. Brad Winderbaum is expanding his role to oversee Marvel TV, animation, comics, and franchises — all from California.
Together, these moves point to a Marvel that is pulling its creative and business operations closer to Disney's core. The restructuring puts comics, film, and TV under a more unified chain of command. For Marvel fans, it raises questions about how the comics line will look and feel once New York is no longer in the picture.
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