Marvel Comics has a new Boss and he's the man behind some of Disney+ biggest Marvel hits.
Dan Buckley, longtime head of Comic & Franchise, has announced his departure after a nearly 30–year career at Marvel Comics. To support the transition, he will remain until mid of 2027. Since 2017, he served as President of Marvel Comics, a role that now will be passed on to Brad Winderbaum.
Who Is Taking the Throne of the Marvel Empire?
Brad Winderbaum will be the new Head of Marvel Television, Animation, Comics & Franchise, at the same time the new GM of Marvel Comics & Franchise will be David Abdo, former General Manager of Disney Music Group.
While Winderbaums responsibilities extend massively from the TV & series through the comic cosmos, he will oversee all the creative decisions that have to be made.
Abdo on the other hand, as new GM of Comics & Franchise will take care of business and organizational structures. Both will work in close collaboration with each other.
What You Need to Know About Brad Winderbaum
Previously, Winderbaum served as the executive producer on all Disneny+ Marvel shows and has been part of Marvel since the Iron Man Era. During his career he worked on several famous live–action and animated projects like, Agatha: All Along, Hawkeye, Loki, X–Men 97’ and Daredevil: Born Again.
Having consistently worked his way up through the Marvel Studios system, he has proven his value several times, Winderbaum has built a strong track record in episodic, character driven storytelling.
What This Means for Marvel Comics and Their Fans
Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios and CCO of Marvel Entertainment, added publishing to his portfolio in 2023. Getting Winderbaum on board is his first big structural move, a decisive one, since Marvel recently lost the #1 spot in the comics market share to DC for the first time in this century.
DC’s “Absolute Universe” publications were the biggest driver behind Marvel ceding that ground, an alarming situation for a publisher that has dominated for the last decades.
Many fans are reacting positively towards the new decision. Since Winderbaum knows how to craft compelling, episodic narratives, he could be the key to bringing new TV audiences into comic shops.
His work on X–Men 97’ for example, combining in–depth character writing with nostalgia, could, according to fans, signal a return to Marvel’s golden era.
On the other hand, the community is worried about the comics adapting further to the MCU. For many, this new possible “synergy” marks a red flag, given that comics carry over 80 years of their own history and character development.
Fans do not want the comics reduced to a marketing instrument for the new blockbuster title, they want independent storytelling, not a trailer in print form.
The transition will go on until mid 2027. What the structural shift will ultimately mean for Marvel Comics remains to be seen, for now, the community can only wait and see.
