Peter David, the celebrated comic book writer known for reshaping iconic characters like Spider-Man, Aquaman, and the Incredible Hulk, has died at the age of 68. While the exact cause of death has not been disclosed, David had been battling multiple health issues in recent years, including kidney disease and strokes.
The news of his passing was confirmed by longtime friend and fellow author Keith DeCandido, who paid tribute on Facebook: “Just got the news that Peter David finally lost his rather lengthy battle with his failing physical form last night. Over the last three-and-a-half decades, he has been a respected creator, a good friend, a valued colleague, and a generally wonderful person.”
David’s contributions to the comic book industry spanned more than three decades, leaving an indelible mark on both Marvel and DC Comics. His 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk redefined the character, exploring themes of psychological trauma and dissociative identity disorder. He introduced original characters such as the Riot Squad and the Pantheon, bringing emotional depth and nuance to the Hulk mythos.
His creative legacy extended beyond the Hulk. David penned influential runs on X-Factor, Spider-Man 2099, Aquaman, Young Justice, Supergirl, and Captain Marvel, earning widespread acclaim for his storytelling, character development, and wit.
In recent years, David’s declining health prompted a GoFundMe campaign to help manage his rising medical expenses. The fundraiser, launched by a family friend, shed light on his ongoing health struggles, revealing that he had been in recovery for three years. Despite some improvement, he faced mounting costs after Medicaid discontinued coverage of his long-term disability care. The campaign raised more than $117,000 from fans and well-wishers. Peter David is survived by his wife, Kathleen O’Shea David, and his daughters Ariel, Shana, Gwen, and Caroline.
“RIP Legend”
The internet swiftly reacted to his death. A user said, “Peter David wrote so many of my favorite comics in the late 90s and early 2000s. This is brutal. But he left behind a brilliant body of work that’s still worth revisiting. RIP.” Another wrote, His work on Hulk and X-Factor was pretty iconic. Much of the modern Hulk character is derived from the years of work he put into the character.” Echoing the sentiment, a user claimed, “Rest in Peace to a legend. His work on Aquaman is unparalleled.” “Damn. His X-Factor is one of the best pieces of character work in all of Marvel. One of the constants in his work was the ability to look at characters with interesting powers, see the implications, and mine them for both drama and comedy,” noted another. “Peter David is why Multiple Man / Madrox is my favorite Marvel character,” wrote a user.