CBR News has confirmed that Bob Wayne will leave his position as senior vice president of sales at DC Comics prior to the scheduled move of the company's editorial operations from New York City to Burbank in April 2015. Wayne will remain with the company up until that point, including attendance of this year's Comic-Con International in July.
Wayne's departure from DC is widely being referred to throughout the industry as a retirement. He joined DC Comics as Retail Promotions Manager in 1987 following a career as a retailer in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and became Vice President, Direct Sales in 1999. Wayne has held multiple executive positions at DC, moving from vice president of sales and marketing to senior vice president of sales in 2010. Long a fixture at comic cons, Wayne moderated much of DC's convention panels for years. In 1990, he co-wrote the eight-issue "Time Masters" miniseries for DC.
Wayne has been credited with many of DC's well-received marketing and sales moves over the years, including popular giveaways like "V for Vendetta" masks at conventions and Green Lantern rings at comic book stores, and making much of The New 52 launch titles in 2011 returnable to retailers. Shortly after word of Wayne's retirement began to circulate on Thursday, industry professionals began to pay tribute to his time at the company.
Bob Wayne and I started one week apart at DC back in '87. I know how tired I am now, and he's WAY older, so GODSPEED, my friend. REST!- Mark Waid (@MarkWaid) May 22, 2014
And seriously: if you don't think Bob Wayne retiring is a HUGE loss to DC and to comics, you're nuts.- Mark Waid (@MarkWaid) May 22, 2014
Regarding Bob Wayne's retirement from DC comics, he was a warrior for the cause & deserves nothing but total and complete respect. Regards.- robertliefeld (@robertliefeld) May 22, 2014
Sorry to see Bob Wayne retiring from DC,I guess the West Coast didn't appeal.I always enjoyed Bobs company and his dry wit-all the best Bob!- john mccrea (@mccreaman) May 22, 2014
Bob Wayne was a genuine warrior for good comics @DCComics Huge huge loss for the company, but, that guy deserves the rest.- Joshua Hale Fialkov (@JoshFialkov) May 22, 2014
Bob Wayne is retiring from DC Comics after many years. A fine fellow always, and most of the good ideas for Fables projects were his.- Bill Willingham (@BillWillingham) May 22, 2014