Marvel has named Stephen Wacker its new editor-in-chief, bringing the longtime editor back to the company as C.B. Cebulski steps into a newly created role overseeing Marvel’s publishing efforts in Asia.
The announcement marks another major leadership change for Marvel’s publishing division following the leadership change announced in May. At that time, Marvel announced that longtime executive Dan Buckley would depart after nearly 30 years with the company, while Brad Winderbaum expanded his responsibilities from television and animation to oversee comics and franchise. Disney executive David Abdo also joined Marvel as general manager of comics and franchise.
Now, Wacker will take over as editor-in-chief, reporting to Winderbaum, while Cebulski relocates to Japan as editor of Asia Originals, where he will oversee Marvel’s original graphic fiction and manga initiatives in the region. Which is an interesting choice, to say the least, given that Cebulski once cosplayed as a Japanese man.
“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,” said Brad Winderbaum, Head of Marvel Television, Animation, Comics & Franchise. “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 previously spent more than 15 years at Marvel, including seven as a senior editor. During that time he oversaw some of the publisher’s most beloved modern runs, including Amazing Spider-Man‘s “Brand New Day” and Superior Spider-Man, as well as acclaimed series such as Daredevil, Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye and the relaunch of Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel.
Beyond publishing, Wacker also worked across Marvel’s animation and television divisions, serving as a co-executive producer on series including Ultimate Spider-Man, Avengers Assemble and Guardians of the Galaxy, while also executive producing the Marvel’s Wastelanders audio dramas. Since leaving Marvel, he served as editor-in-chief of Jonathan Hickman’s 3W3M project and most recently co-founded the entertainment studio Stone Kite.
“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,” said Wacker. “I’m proud to join Kevin, Brad, David and this incredible staff and amazing array of talent to build on the work started by Stan, Jack, Steve, Flo, John 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.”
Cebulski has served as Marvel’s editor-in-chief since 2017, overseeing nearly a decade of publishing that included the Krakoan Age of the X-Men and the relaunch of the Ultimate Universe, among other project.
“I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve accomplished at Marvel Comics during my time as EIC, and I’m excited for this new role the leadership team has created for me,” Cebulski said.
Also announced today, the company will leave their digs in New York and relocate to California. The Hollywood Reporter reports that Marvel told staff about the relocation at a town hall today at Marvel’s office in Midtown, where employees were informed that its publishing division will move to Burbank, California, the current headquarters of Marvel Studios.
It follows DC’s move from New York in 2015, meaning that the two major players in comics, both born in the 1900s in the Empire State, will leave the birthplace of comics behind. Marvel is now seeking to have all of the New York based employees of the comics and franchise group, just over 100 people, relocate to California by July 2027.