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• Marvel layoffs hit around 7% of staff, impacting movies, TV, and comics amid broader Disney cuts
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• One of Marvel Comics' most influential behind-the-scenes leaders, David Gabriel, leaves as 2026 Disney layoffs begin to unfold

One of the pillars of modern Marvel Comics has been laid off as a part of broader cuts within the Disney empire. According to four sources familiar with the situation, Marvel Entertainment's senior VP of sales & marketing, David Gabriel, was let go this week after nearly 23 years with the company. 

Gabriel was one of the key power players inside Marvel Comics for the past 20 years as its senior VP of sales and marketing. As part of that, he managed not only the marketing and sales but also the company's publication schedule, its global licensing of comics, and had a hand in developing new lines outside of its core superhero universe. I've been told of a number of core Marvel publishing initiatives he's had a silent-but-steady hand in. Additionally, sources indicated that he had a strong voice inside Marvel when it came to greenlighting certain key projects.

Related: Marvel Comics is recruiting its next recruiter of top writers, artists, and more

Gabriel's departure comes as part of a larger wave of Disney layoffs this month, one of several that have occurred in the past six years. As history can attest, Disney employees at virtually all levels could be affected; in previous years, Disney has laid off a Marvel Comics publisher with John Nee in 2020, and even the then-Marvel Entertainment CEO, Isaac 'Ike' Perlmutter, in 2023.

Gabriel is one of several layoffs (and a departure) at Marvel Comics and its parent company, Marvel Studios (and Disney as a whole), with more details to come in the coming days and weeks.

 Check out all the major job openings in the comics industry here, from Marvel to DC and more.