Steven Wacker is in, C.B. Cebulski is Out as Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics

Marvel is vacating its New York offices after 90 years in the Empire State.

In a move that many considered long overdue, Disney is shaking things up at Marvel Comics. It was announced that Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski will be replaced by formal Marvel and DC Comics editor Stephen Wacker. The move is expected to take conclude by July of 2027, with over 100 staffers being asked to relocate to Burbank, California between now and then.

The move was something many have been suspecting would happen for years now, ever since Disney acquired Marvel Comics back in 2009. Now, however, Marvel Comics is at its lowest point, yielding the majority share of the American comic book market to DC after dropping down to 33% while the Distinguished Competition rose to over 40%. With Marvel Studios also struggling of late, this move suggests Disney is wanting to go all-in reset Marvel on screens and the printed page.

Wacker is a name that comic book fans might recall, as he was the driving force behind DC's weekly 52 comic book series back in 2006, after which he became the editor for the Brand New Day relaunch of The Amazing Spider-Man in 2008. In the years since, Wacker became a figure at Marvel Animation, overseeing projects like Rocket & Groot, Avengers Assemble, and more. Cebulski, meanwhile, is headed to Japan, where he will be Editor, Asia Originals and "[oversee] Marvel's original graphic fiction and manga in the region." No word on whether or not this will signal the return of Cebulski's Akira Yoshida pen name (we jest, of course).

What does this mean for Marvel Comics? With a litany of failing, irrelevant comics helmed by possibly the worst crop of writers the publisher has ever had, Marvel Comics is in a rut. There are a handful of good reads surrounded by fluff, not to mention editors that are either checked out, past their prime, or simply incapable of producing entertaining stories. Wacker will need to take a long, hard look at the line and figure out who to cut, as well who to replace them with. Marvel needs a return to basics; familiar heroes in familiar roles doing heroic things, minus the nauseating social messaging and politicking.

Once Marvel vacates its offices at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, it will mark the first time in 90 years that the publisher didn't call New York home. We'll continue to update as we learn more.

Source: Marvel Comics Press Release