Peter David, the acclaimed writer known for his transformative work on comics such as The Incredible Hulk, Young Justice, and X-Factor, has passed away at the age of 68. His death was announced by his friend and colleague, Keith R.A. DeCandido, via a post on Facebook.
Throughout his illustrious career spanning several decades, David made significant contributions to both Marvel and DC Comics. He is perhaps most celebrated for his groundbreaking 12-year tenure on Marvel's The Incredible Hulk, where he reshaped the dynamic between Bruce Banner and his alter ego. This run, illustrated by Dale Keown, earned them an Eisner Award in 1992. Much like Frank Miller's defining influence on Daredevil and Chris Claremont's on the X-Men, David is considered the quintessential Hulk writer.
Art by George Perez. (Image Credit: Marvel)
David's creative legacy extends to co-creating Spider-Man 2099 and his notable runs on X-Factor. His first X-Factor series transformed the team into a government-backed mutant task force, while his second run reimagined them as a detective agency led by Madrox the Multiple Man.
At DC Comics, David left a lasting impact on titles like Aquaman, Supergirl, and Young Justice. Beyond comics, he contributed to the Star Trek universe through both comics and novels, with his novel Q-Squared from 1994 being particularly noteworthy.
David's talents were not limited to print; he also worked on television series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, and Ben 10: Alien Force, and contributed to video games like Shadow Complex and Spider-Man: Edge of Time.
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In recent years, David faced health challenges, including a stroke in 2012, which led family friend Graham Murphy to launch GoFundMe campaigns in 2022 and 2025 to support him.
Peter David is survived by his wife, Kathleen O'Shea David, and their four children.