Peter David, the acclaimed novelist and writer behind comics such as The Incredible Hulk, Young Justice, and X-Factor, has passed away at age 68. The news was confirmed by David’s friend and colleague Keith R.A. DeCandido in a Facebook post.
David had a long and prolific career spanning decades with Marvel and DC. He is perhaps best known for his monumental 12-year run on Marvel's The Incredible Hulk, a sprawling saga that redefined the dynamic between Bruce Banner and his alter ego. This work earned David and artist Dale Keown an Eisner Award in 1992. Just as Frank Miller is considered the definitive Daredevil writer/artist and Chris Claremont the definitive X-Men writer, David is widely acknowledged as the most important and influential writer in Hulk's history.
David also co-created Spider-Man 2099 and had two distinct runs on X-Factor. His first run transformed the original five X-Men reunion team into a government-sanctioned mutant strike force. His second run reinvented the team once more, this time as a detective agency led by Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man.
At DC, David had successful and influential runs on titles including Aquaman, Supergirl, and Young Justice. He also contributed extensively to the Star Trek franchise in both comics and novels, with his most famous Trek work being the 1994 novel Q-Squared.
Beyond books and comics, David worked on TV shows such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, and Ben 10: Alien Force. He also wrote for video games like Shadow Complex and Spider-Man: Edge of Time.
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David faced significant health challenges in recent years, beginning with a stroke in 2012. In 2022 and again in 2025, family friend Graham Murphy organized GoFundMe campaigns to support him during these difficulties.
David is survived by his wife, Kathleen O'Shea David, and his four children.
