Marvel’s Relocation to L.A. Marks a Shift in the New York City Comics Scene After 87 Years

Marvel Comics is leaving the Big Apple behind. Following the trend of many in the entertainment sector, it’s making the move to Burbank, California, just outside Los Angeles, to join Marvel Studios at Disney’s corporate hub. This shift has been anticipated for some time, especially since DC Comics made a similar transition to California back in 2015. Disney has likely been eyeing this move since acquiring Marvel; while the company will always have its roots in comic books, the realms of movies, TV, and gaming have long surpassed publishing in terms of profitability and significance. By merging the less lucrative publishing division with the rest of the company, Disney can also sidestep the steep real estate costs of Manhattan. This marks a significant turning point, not just for Marvel, but for the entire comic book industry; New York City was the birthplace of comics and once hosted numerous publishers, but now it has been completely abandoned by the industry. (Archie Comics, which left Manhattan in the ’80s, is still nearby in Westchester, likely not far from Professor Xavier’s school.) With Marvel’s departure, the last major comic publisher in NYC is gone, closing the chapter on nearly a century of comic book creation in the city that started it all.

During the Golden Age of the ’30s and ’40s, every major comic publisher was based in New York City. DC began there in 1934 as National; Marvel launched in ’39 as Timely; and Archie also debuted in ’39 as MLJ. Dell Comics, the largest player until the ’60s, was located there, along with Fawcett, known for its best-selling Captain Marvel comic, and Harvey Comics, which published Richie Rich and Casper. Essentially, every significant American comic book company was rooted in NYC until the independent boom of the ’80s. While few of these companies set their stories in the city, a New York perspective influenced the entire industry, mirroring the broader publishing and media landscapes of the 20th century. That’s no longer the case.

However, one company did set most of its stories in New York, and that was Marvel. Timely had gone through several names since its inception in ’39, adopting “Atlas” for much of the ’50s, but by 1961, it rebranded as Marvel Comics, a name it had sporadically used since 1944. The superhero surge of the early ’60s was partly fueled by the more relatable nature of Marvel’s narratives compared to DC’s, with many of its iconic characters residing in and around the five boroughs. The Fantastic Four and Thor called Manhattan home, Spider-Man swung in from Queens, Daredevil navigated Hell’s Kitchen, Iron Man had a preference for Long Island, and Dr. Strange explored the Village. The Avengers even had their base in a mansion on Fifth Avenue before moving into their own skyscraper. New York, especially Manhattan, served as the backdrop for nearly every major Marvel character, shaping both the visual style of the comics and the personalities of the characters.

Beyond the comics, Marvel emphasized its connection to the city. Stan Lee’s “Bullpen Bulletins” in the ’60s painted a lively, fictionalized picture of Marvel’s staff as a group of fun-loving city dwellers, with artists and writers frequently dropping by the midtown headquarters like sitcom neighbors. Lee even adopted New York’s state motto, “Excelsior!”, as his personal catchphrase. Marvel staff often faced off against their rivals at DC in softball games in Central Park, with photos and recaps appearing in comic letter columns. More than DC, Marvel was synonymous with New York City.

Now, Marvel is headed to Burbank. It will never replicate the essence of NYC, and it remains to be seen how much of that New York spirit can be captured outside the city. While many of Marvel’s artists and writers have long since moved away, the editorial team maintained that connection until now. They’re off to California to join the movie and TV divisions they’ve been working alongside for years. This isn’t a lament but rather an acknowledgment of the end of a significant relationship—the separation of New York City and Marvel Comics, and by extension, the comic book industry. Don’t expect a Springsteen ballad about this; New York will likely cope with the loss of this industry far better than Bethlehem and Allentown managed after losing their steel industries, or North Carolina after its textile mills closed. Still, it’s a noteworthy moment. New York City will always have Spider-Man, but it won’t profit from the creators behind his stories anymore. At least they’ll still have the Knicks.