Some big changes at the top of Marvel today, as Brad Winderbaum has been given an expanded role overseeing Marvel TV, animation, comics, and franchises, while David Abdo has joined as General Manager, Comics and Franchises.
What does this all mean? Well, the huge shocker is that mere weeks after recent layoffs at Disney at large, Dan Buckley, the head of Comics & Franchise, and an employee at Marvel for the past 30 odd years, is departing the company. He’ll be with Marvel through mid-2027 to help with the leadership transition, but after that he’ll be passing the reins to Abdo.
Said Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios and Chief Creative Officer, Marvel, via press release, “From events like Civil War, Secret Wars, X-Men: Age of Krakoa, and the soon to be released Marvel Midnight imprint, to the expansion into video games, television, animation and more, Marvel’s influence on popular culture expanded under Dan’s leadership, bringing our characters and stories to new fans around the world. Dan has left a lasting mark on Marvel’s legacy and on the comics industry, and I’m deeply grateful to him and pleased we will have his full support through this transition.”
Abdo has worked previously as the General Manager of the Disney Music Group, and per the release, “led significant expansion in the division’s revenue, resources, and output, achieving multiple record-breaking profit years.” What is unknown (well, to me) is the extent of his experience in comics. Though this does bode good news for Dazzler and Luna Snow.
Less of a shocker is Winderbaum’s ascension, as he’s been a key force behind the TV side of the company for a while now.
“Brad’s exceptional creative leadership and David’s deep experience in operations and digital innovation will be a powerful pairing as we begin building out the next 90 years of Marvel’s comic book legacy,” Feige continued. “Brad brings a proven ability to lead creative teams and craft ongoing, episodic narratives that resonate with our fans around the world, while David offers a strong track record of operational excellence and strategic growth. I’m excited for what they’ll be able to do together.”
While Winderbaum will still be responsible for the overall direction of Marvel’s TV and animation, the big change here is that C.B. Cebulski, Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics, will now report directly to Winderbaum. If I recall correctly, he previously reported to Feige, so what this means for Marvel Comics other than reporting to a guy who doesn’t wear a hat versus a guy who does wear a hat is TBD.
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