Marvel Comics Relocates to Burbank, Appoints Stephen Wacker as Editor-in-Chief

Marvel Comics announced that its publishing division will leave its Midtown Manhattan office and move to Disney’s Burbank, California campus, joining Marvel Studios and other Marvel units. The decision was disclosed at a town-hall meeting held at the Avenue of the Americas location and will affect roughly 100 New York-based staff members, who are asked to relocate by July 2027. Simultaneously, veteran editor Stephen Wacker has been named the new Editor-in-Chief, succeeding C.B. Cebulski, who will become Editor, Asia Originals in Japan.

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Marvel’s New York lease expires next year, prompting a real-estate decision. Since Disney’s 2009 acquisition, the company has explored consolidating its businesses; the creator community is now global, with more U.S. creators based in California than in New York. The move mirrors DC Comics’ 2015 relocation to Burbank and follows a period in which Marvel’s comic-book market share fell behind DC for the first time this century.

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• Stephen Wacker – 15 years at Marvel, senior editor of “Brand New Day,” “Superior Spider-Man,” Daredevil, Hawkeye, Captain Marvel, and the introduction of Kamala Khan; co-producer of the Emmy-nominated *Rocket & Groot* (2017) and executive producer of the *Wastelanders* audio series.

Marvel Comics Names Stephen Wacker as New Editor-in-Chief

• C.B. Cebulski – Third-longest-tenured EIC (2017-2026), oversaw the Ultimate Universe relaunch, the “Krakoan Age” of X-Men, and Marvel’s manga partnership with Shonen Jump.

Steve Wacker Replaces C.B. Cebulski As Marvel Editor-In-Chief

• Kevin Feige – President of Marvel Studios, presided over the town hall.

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• Brad Winderbaum – Head of Television, Animation, Comics & Franchise; co-author of the relocation memo.

C.B. Cebulski Out As Editor-in-Chief At Marvel, Stephen Wacker Named New EIC

• David Abdo – General Manager, Comics & Franchise; co-author of the relocation memo.

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• Thursday (date unspecified) – Town-hall meeting announces relocation and leadership change.

Hollywood Reporter

• Next week – Orientation sessions for relocating employees begin.

Hollywood Reporter

• July 2027 – Target date for staff relocation to Burbank.

Forbes

• Next 12 months – Full transition period for the Comics & Franchise group.

Marvel Comics Shocker: Publisher Is Leaving New York As New Editor-In-Chief Is Revealed

• Approximately 100 New York employees will be asked to move.

Hollywood Reporter

• Internal survey shows a higher concentration of U.S. comic creators in California than in the Tri-State area.

Steve Wacker Replaces C.B. Cebulski As Marvel Editor-In-Chief

The consolidation aims to place the comics team beside Marvel’s broader creative organization, fostering cross-medium collaboration and “learning from one another,” according to internal communications. Company leadership frames the move as a long-term investment to revitalize a publishing side that has been “overshadowed” by blockbuster films and has experienced a recent sales slump.

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Marvel’s internal memo, signed by Winderbaum and Abdo, emphasized that New York “has played a huge part in who Marvel is as a company” but asserted that the relocation will “create opportunities for collaboration across both Marvel and Disney.” Kevin Feige’s presence at the town hall signaled executive endorsement of the strategy.

Hollywood Reporter

Some fan commentary, reflected in coverage of the announcement, notes that C.B. Cebulski’s tenure “hasn’t been hugely popular with fans” and that the move marks “the end of several eras” for a publisher historically tied to New York. Critics view the relocation as a symbolic departure from the city that inspired many iconic characters.

Steve Wacker Replaces C.B. Cebulski As Marvel Editor-In-Chief

Sources differ on the relocation deadline: one memo states staff must move “by July of next year,” while another specifies “by July 2027.” No further clarification has been provided.

The Wrap

• “ And in THR, as part of a memo sent to staff, Winderbaum and Abdo said, “This move will position the team beside our broader creative organization and create opportunities for collaboration across both Marvel and Disney.” — Brad Winderbaum and David Abdo

C.B. Cebulski Out As Editor-in-Chief At Marvel, Stephen Wacker Named New EIC

• “ “New York has played a huge part in who Marvel is as a company, and in the pages of our comics.” — Brad Winderbaum and David Abdo

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• “Picking up Marvel Two-in-One #50 as a kid is what made me a comics fan, so returning to Marvel as Editor-in-Chief is a full-circle moment that I'm still wrapping my head around,” — Stephen Wacker

Forbes

• “Cebulski, "I'm incredibly proud of everything we've accomplished at Marvel Comics during my time as EIC, and I'm excited for this new role the leadership team has created for me.” — C.B. Cebulski

Steve Wacker Replaces C.B. Cebulski As Marvel Editor-In-Chief

• “He is a tremendous editor, a passionate advocate for creators, and someone who deeply understands that Marvel Comics is the source code of our entire enterprise,” — Brad Winderbaum

Marvel Comics Names New Editor-in-Chief, And Their History Proves It’s the Right Move

Orientation sessions for relocating staff begin next week, and the full move is slated for completion within the next twelve months, ahead of the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con where Marvel will maintain a prominent presence.

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