Mass shakeup for Marvel comic giant after nearly 100 years in NYC

Marvel Comics is headed to the Golden State.

The Disney-owned publisher is relocating its comics and franchise division from New York City to Burbank, California — ending nearly nine decades in the Big Apple as the company seeks to bring its publishing, film and television operations under one roof.

The move, announced to employees during a Thursday town hall and outlined in a company-wide memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, will see more than 100 New York-based staff members asked to relocate to Southern California over the next year.

The overhaul also includes a leadership shakeup, with longtime Marvel editor Stephen Wacker returning to become the company’s new editor-in-chief, while current Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski transitions to a new Japan-based role overseeing Asia-originated graphic fiction and manga.

“As we look toward the future, we’ve made the decision to relocate the Comics and Franchise division to Marvel’s central headquarters in Burbank, California,” Marvel executives Brad Winderbaum and David Abdo wrote in the memo.

“This move will position the team beside our broader creative organization and create opportunities for collaboration across both Marvel and Disney. Our goal is simple: to continue to make the best comic books in the business.”

The relocation marks the end of an era for one of comics’ most iconic publishers.

Marvel traces its roots back to Timely Comics and Atlas Comics, both of which were based in Manhattan, while New York famously served as the backdrop for many of the company’s best-known heroes, including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the Avengers.

Acknowledging those ties, Winderbaum and Abdo told staff that the city would always remain central to Marvel’s identity.

“New York has played a huge part in who Marvel is as a company, and in the pages of our comics,” they 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 said it hopes affected employees will move west, adding: “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.”

The company plans to begin orientation sessions for employees and their families as it prepares for the transition, with the relocation expected to be completed by July 2027.

The reshuffle also brings a change at the top of Marvel’s publishing arm.

Wacker, who previously spent more than 15 years at Marvel before departing in the early 2020s, will return as editor-in-chief. During his previous tenure, he oversaw acclaimed runs on Spider-Man, Daredevil and Hawkeye, helped introduce Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel and also worked across Marvel’s animation and television businesses.

Meanwhile, Cebulski, who has led Marvel Comics since 2017, will relocate to Japan to oversee the company’s growing manga and Asia-focused publishing initiatives.

“This opportunity reflects both C.B.’s passion for the medium and the tremendous potential we see in that space,” Winderbaum and Abdo wrote. “We’re deeply grateful for his leadership, partnership, and stewardship of the Marvel line over the past decade.”

The relocation leaves New York without a major comic book publisher.

Rival DC Comics moved its editorial operations to Burbank in 2015 to be closer to parent company Warner Bros., consolidating its entertainment businesses in California.

Marvel’s decision follows a similar strategy of bringing creative divisions together under one corporate hub, reflecting a broader trend across the entertainment industry as media companies look to streamline operations and maximize collaboration between publishing, film, television and streaming businesses.

The move also comes as Hollywood continues to undergo significant consolidation.

This month, Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to split into two standalone publicly traded companies, separating its streaming and studio businesses from its cable television networks. Meanwhile, Paramount is in the process of merging with Skydance Media, while navigating an antitrust lawsuit led by the Golden State.

By placing comic creators alongside film, television and franchise executives in Burbank, the company hopes ideas can move more seamlessly across its entertainment empire while strengthening the comic books that inspired many of its biggest global hits.

“We know this has been a year of significant change for Marvel,” Winderbaum and Abdo told employees. “Through all of it, this team has continued to show up with creativity, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to great storytelling. That commitment is the foundation of everything we do, and it’s what will carry us into this next chapter.”