Well, the big shake-up we’ve all been expecting is here. Marvel is officially moving to Burbank, and the long, 100 year history of comics publishing in New York City is coming to an end.
Also coming to an end: CB Cebulski’s tenure as editor in chief. He will be replaced by veteran editor Steve Wacker. Cebulski will continue at the company as Editor, Asia Originals, overseeing manga and other Asian titles featuring their characters.
The change in EIC was announced via PR, but the move to Burbank came via Borys Kit inThe Hollywood Reporter, who obtained the memo sent out following an all hands town hall held at Marvel this morning.
The move was pretty obvious to all observers given that overseeing corporate relocations was a specialty of the new head of operations, David Abdo.
Stephen Wacker (left) and CB Cebulski. Photos courtesy of Marvel.Per the Reporter, Brad Winderbaum, the recently appointed Head of Marvel Television, Animation, Comics & Franchise, David Abdo, the general manager of comics and franchise, said in the letter, “This move will position the team beside our broader creative organization and create opportunities for collaboration across both Marvel and Disney. 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.”
They acknowledge, “New York has played a huge part in who Marvel is as a company, and in the pages of our comics. 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. We sincerely hope they choose to continue that journey with us in California. We are committed to supporting every affected employee throughout this transition, which will take place over the next 12 months.”
Marvel is purportedly planning to have its New York-based employees, which number around 100 people, relocate to California by July 2027. It will begin holding orientation sessions for those employees and their families next week.
As for Wacker and Cebulski, Winderbaum states, “Few editors have had as long and accomplished a career as C.B. I’m grateful for his partnership over the past decade and thrilled that he’ll be on the ground in Japan, connecting with local artists and overseeing Marvel’s original graphic fiction and manga in the region. At the same time, I’m excited to welcome Stephen Wacker back to Marvel. 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, with a publishing resume that includes some of our most beloved modern runs.”
Wacker worked at Marvel as an editor from 2006 to 2022, in various divisions, including publishing, media and digital. He had a previous run at DC editing such projects as the weekly 52 book. He left Marvel in 2022 to help oversee Jonathan Hickman et al.’s Substack project Three Worlds/Three Moons. He said, “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. I’m proud to join Kevin [Feige], Brad, David, and this incredible staff and amazing array of talent to build on the work started by Stan [Lee], Jack [Kirby], Steve [Ditko], Flo [Steinberg], John [Romita], and so many more. I truly believe the best Marvel comics have yet to be written and drawn, and I can’t wait to get to work adding some new floors to the House of Ideas.”
Doubtless this news will leave many with mixed emotions about Marvel being uprooted from its longtime home, just as DC Comics was relocated from New York to Burbank in 2015. However, some will be just as pleased to hear about Cebulski stepping down, given he admitted to posing as Japanese writer “Akira Yoshida” in the early 00’s shortly after he was appointed editor-in-chief in 2017. However, his continued presence elsewhere in the company means it’s unlikely individuals like Steven S. DeKnight, who vowed to never write for Marvel again after finding out about Cebulski’s past, will be impressed.
The Beat will have more reaction and analysis of this huge move as the day goes on.
— Reporting by Christopher Chiu-Tabet and Heidi MacDonald
