Marvel Comics to leave New York for Hollywood after nearly 90 years

After nearly 90 years in New York City, Marvel Comics is relocating to Hollywood.

The move was announced to employees during a town hall yesterday (16 July) at Marvel's Midtown office, where staff were told the publishing division will relocate to Burbank, California, home to Marvel Studios and parent company The Walt Disney Company.

The relocation comes alongside a leadership change, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Stephen Wacker, a veteran comics editor and Emmy-nominated producer for Marvel's animation projects, has been appointed editor-in-chief, replacing CB Cebulski, who has led the division since 2017.

Cebulski will remain with Marvel, relocating to Japan as editor, Asia originals, where he will oversee the company's expansion into manga and other regional projects.

The changes are aimed at revitalising Marvel's comics division, which has in recent years been overshadowed by the success of its films and has lost its long-held position as the industry's market-share leader.

Marvel Chief Kevin Feige's decision to install new leadership and move the comics division to Disney's Burbank headquarters reflects a long-term investment in the source material behind Marvel's storytelling.

The town hall was led by Feige, along with Marvel's head of television, animation, comics, and franchise, Brad Winderbaum, and David Abdo, the newly appointed general manager, comics and franchise.

"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."

The move marks a major shift for the company. New York City is widely regarded as the birthplace of the comic book industry, and Marvel's predecessors, Timely Comics and Atlas Comics, were headquartered on 42nd Street. 

The city was home to many of Marvel's legendary creators, including Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko, and served as the setting for many of its iconic heroes, from the Fantastic Four and the Avengers to Spider-Man.

The departure also leaves New York without a major comic book publisher after rival DC relocated to Warner Bros' Burbank headquarters in 2015.

The decision had been under consideration for months. Marvel's lease at its Avenue of the Americas office expires next year, prompting the company to reassess its location. 

It also explored consolidating its businesses in one city for the first time since Disney acquired Marvel in 2009.

After taking over in May, the new comics leadership met with New York staff to assess the feasibility of the move and reviewed where comic creators are now based.

While most creators once lived in the Tri-State area, Marvel found that today's talent network has become global, with more US-based creators now living 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."

Marvel plans to relocate more than 100 New York-based employees from its comics and franchise group to California by July 2027. Orientation sessions for employees and their families will begin next week.

"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 will also relocate to Burbank, returning to Marvel after leaving in the early 2020s to lead Jonathan Hickman's world-building project 3W3M before co-founding entertainment studio Stone Kite.

During more than 15 years at Marvel, Wacker oversaw acclaimed Spider-Man storylines, including Brand New Day and Superior Spider-Man. He also edited Daredevil and Hawkeye during their Eisner Award-winning runs and helped introduce Kamala Khan, better known as Ms Marvel.

Beyond comics, Wacker has worked across Marvel's animation, television and digital media divisions, co-producing the Emmy-nominated Rocket & Groot animated series in 2017 and executive producing the Wastelanders audio series.

Cebulski steps down as Marvel's third-longest-serving editor-in-chief. During his tenure, he oversaw the relaunch of the Ultimate Universe and the "Krakoan Age" of the X-Men, while also leading partnerships in Japan that produced manga titles such as Deadpool Samurai and Spider-Man: Octo-Girl.

Wacker will report to Winderbaum, while Cebulski will serve on Wacker's global leadership team.