For the first time since Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko forged the Marvel Universe in the heart of Manhattan, the House of Ideas is leaving the Big Apple behind.
In a historic bombshell first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Disney-owned Marvel Comics has announced it is completely shutting down its iconic Midtown Manhattan publishing headquarters. The entire division is migrating to Burbank, California, effectively integrating the comic book arm directly into the greater Marvel Studios and Disney corporate machine on the West Coast. The monumental news was delivered directly to the staff during a town hall meeting inside the New York office, followed by an internal relocation memo.
The Changing of the Guard: New Editor-in-Chief Named
The massive geographical shift isn’t the only structural shakeup hitting the publisher. As part of this comprehensive West Coast overhaul, Marvel has officially named industry veteran Stephen Wacker as the company’s new Editor-in-Chief.
Wacker is a widely respected name in the comic community, having previously overseen highly successful, critically acclaimed eras of Amazing Spider-Man and Daredevil as a senior editor before transitioning to head up Marvel’s animation and television development divisions in Los Angeles. His unique dual experience makes him the ultimate bridge between the traditional print bullpen and Hollywood multimedia production.
Visually and culturally, Marvel Comics is New York City. Peter Parker swings past the Flatiron building; Matt Murdock protects Hell’s Kitchen; the Fantastic Four live in the Baxter Building on 42nd Street. While the fictional characters will undoubtedly stay rooted in the boroughs, losing the physical, gritty East Coast bullpen fundamentally alters the industry’s culture.
By placing the editorial staff, writers, and brand managers in Burbank with Kevin Feige’s cinematic architects, Disney is streamlining its intellectual property. While this means tighter synergy between the pages and the screen, it closes the book on nearly a century of comic history on the streets of Manhattan.
Source: THR
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