Marvel Comics is entering a new era under editor-in-chief Steve Wacker, and that means taking a hard look at how the publisher operates
Speaking with David Harper on the latest episode of the SKTCHD podcast’s Chip Chat, Zdarsky offered an inside look at Marvel’s recent creative retreat in New York. The gathering, which lasted three to four days, was Wacker’s first as editor-in-chief and apparently took a different approach from previous summits. Wacker spoke about it openly at NYCC, but now we have a new perspective.
Rather than focusing primarily on pitching the next major storyline or crossover, Zdarsky said much of the retreat centered on Marvel’s creative direction, the state of the comics industry, and how the publisher could improve.
“This retreat wasn’t about the big ideas in terms of stories, it’s about big ideas in terms of where Marvel was headed and what they want from us,” Zdarsky explained.
The writer said he initially expected to arrive with major story pitches, but those weren’t the priority. Instead, Wacker encouraged conversations about Marvel’s strengths, weaknesses, and what creators needed to produce better comics.
That included potentially uncomfortable discussions about how Marvel has operated for years.
“He was there to basically listen to grievances,” Zdarsky said, explaining that some participants offered positive feedback while others raised more critical concerns.
“A lot of it is like institutional stuff that maybe has been done forever,” he added, suggesting that some practices had continued simply because Marvel or its leadership hadn’t considered alternatives.
According to Zdarsky, the central message from Wacker was straightforward.
“The mandate was very clear in the room. Like, we are here to tell great stories.”
That meant giving creators the necessary support, including additional space or assistance when needed, to accomplish their storytelling goals.
Zdarsky also described a potentially significant change in Marvel’s relationship with its corporate leadership.
Looking back at the publisher’s evolution from bankruptcy to the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Disney’s acquisition, Zdarsky suggested that the increased attention from above had influenced Marvel Comics’ creative culture.
“I felt like a lot of Marvel’s existence for the past few years have been all about trying to predict and manage upwards,” he said.
In other words, Marvel had spent considerable energy anticipating what its corporate leadership wanted.
Now, Zdarsky believes that relationship is changing.
“I think the people above are like, just make good stuff.”
The writer confirmed that Marvel executives Brad Winderbaum and David Abdo attended the retreat, alongside additional guests he declined to identify.
According to Zdarsky, the participants shared an understanding that Marvel’s larger entertainment business ultimately depends on the comics continuing to generate compelling stories.
“This all starts with the comics,” he said.
He explained that giving comics the freedom to succeed creatively also helps produce stories that can eventually be adapted into other media.
The retreat could also signal changes to Marvel’s approach to creative planning.
Zdarsky explained that the publisher traditionally holds large retreats approximately twice a year. While those gatherings allow editors and creators to coordinate their plans, he suggested that smaller, more frequent meetings could become part of the process going forward.
The goal would be to provide more opportunities for focused creative discussions rather than waiting six months between major gatherings.
Zdarsky stressed that he couldn’t speak officially for Marvel, but said that was the impression he took away from the retreat.
He also praised Wacker for keeping the usual editorial presentations brief and focused. Rather than allowing lengthy explanations of individual books, Wacker pushed editors to communicate where characters would be and what they would be doing so other creative teams could coordinate their stories.
The writer was especially enthusiastic about Wacker’s storytelling instincts, revealing that the editor-in-chief had already provided notes on an upcoming Avengers arc that Zdarsky believed substantially improved the story. As someone who has already read Avengers #1, that’s highly compelling.
<img src="https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AVEN2026001_Cover.jpg?resize=740%2C1138&ssl=1" alt="Miracleman joins the Avengers for November 2026 relaunch”>
Avengers #1 arrives next week, on November 4th.
Credit: Marvel
While Marvel hasn’t formally announced a new creative planning structure, Zdarsky’s account suggests Wacker is interested in reconsidering established practices while giving writers and artists more opportunities to develop their ideas.
For Zdarsky, the retreat left him optimistic about what’s ahead.
“It does feel like there’s a lot of opportunity in front of us as creators to do things that maybe we weren’t able to do before.”
Always a good listen, check out the full conversation on SKTCHD’sChip Chatpodcast.
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