After a brilliant run at the head of Marvel's online content division, Ira Rubenstein will be leaving for Fox Studios. This is certainly a tragedy for the House of Ideas. In his short reign as king, Rubenstein led the charge for the creation of deeper online content, dragging Marvel's back catalogue from the shadows of history and into the forefront of a new marketplace.
Rubenstein was a pioneer for Marvel. He introduced the House of Ideas to the concept of online media. With a great mass of online users favoring pirating over purchasing, Rubenstein showed Marvel the error of their ways by making Digital Comics user and consumer friendly.
This new vacancy could only be filled by someone who shares the same forethought. Marvel doesn't want to hire a relic from the past, a dinosaur who will only slow down their progress. They need someone who will completely immerse their characters, creators, and products in the growing online world.
Recent reports have indicated Ron Perazza as a possible replacement. Admittedly, no one really wants this DC wolf in the proverbial Marvel hen house, but he does have some promising ideas (and a free schedule). Marvel will make their decision soon, and hopefully nab the right guy for the job.
