NS: Peter David passes away

[cygnia]

...so, this sucks. :(

https://comicbookclublive.com/2025/05/25/peter-david-dies-age-68/

Peter David, a legendary comic book writer known for his work on The Incredible Hulk, X-Factor, Spider-Man, and more, has died at age 68. The news comes via his wife, who reported that he passed away during the night on May 24, 2025, after a lengthy illness.

David’s first work was in prose and journalism, before snagging a job in Marvel’s sales department in the 1980s. There, he managed to impress editors, and his first published comic book work was in 1985’s The Spectacular Spider-Man #103. From there, he wrote the classic “The Death of Jean DeWolff” storyline in Spectacular Spider-Man, before moving over to his signature work on The Incredible Hulk.

Comments

[deh_tommy]

I know he was sick and truth be told I was living most days wondering if this would happen, but man it still sucks. I loved his writing, I hope he’s okay now.

[onsokumaru]

Horrible news.
My thought to his family, especially his wife Kathleen who spent those last years helping Peter and fighting with medical bills and insurances

PAD wrote some of my favorite Marvel runs of all time: Hulk, X-Factor, Captain Marvel, X-Factor again. Guido, Jamie, Pietro, Monet, Marlo, Rick, Lorraine, the Pantheon... So many entertaining characters!
He also created one of Marvel's first gay characters (Hector from the Pantheon) and wrote one of Marvel's first same sex kiss (Marlo and Moondragon)

[phantomfo]

He was such a prolific writer, too. In addition to comics, he was also a frequent writer of Star Trek novels, as well as his own original series.

[dewinged]

So sad. What happened with his medical issues was awful.

His Young Justice comic run is still one of the best.

[mazway_75]

One of my fave writers. His witty style was wonderful and great work with Hulk, Young Justice and Aquaman. Plus adored his Star Trek work. RIP to a master.

[lordultimus]

May he rest in peace.

[cainofdreaming]

I know we've had our differences with the man, but I never wished for any harm towards him. Condolences for the family.

[calliopes_pen]

May he rest in peace. I had been following all the various updates over the years, since his health issues started in--I want to say it was likely 2012.

[zachbeacon]

I know he's been in really poor health for a while so it isn't a surprise but I still hate seeing another legendary talent struck down.

A lot of writers I love are people I really only associate with a few titles but he was THE GUY when it came to so many comics.

And that doesn't even take into account the prose, television, games, ect.

[iamrman]

Dang. I have enjoyed so much of his work. This community has had a complicated history with him, but I know I will miss him.

Mod Note

[icon_uk]

I read about this whilst travelling home tonight, and am pleased cygnia raised it so respectfully.

Regardless of issues this board had with Peter David in the past, I know the Mod Team past and present would join me in expressing our condolences to his family and friends on his passing.

Re: Mod Note

[cygnia]

Thank you. I was initially worried about posting this, tbh.

[metadronos]

Sad news indeed. Rest in peace, Mr. David.

[beyondthefringe]

PAD really was a supremely talented, funny writer who did groundbreaking work on a number of properties, including X-Factor, Hulk, and Supergirl. And Young Justice, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Fallen Angel, and so many more. He truly was a Writer of Stuff, with a bibliography that would be hard to sum up in a few words.

The one time I met him, I got him to sign a copy of one of his PHOTON tie-in novels, because I thought he'd appreciate someone showing up with a deep cut. I think he liked the humor of the request.

I read and enjoyed a great deal of his work, especially in the '90s.

He will be missed.

[windleopard2]

Rest in peace, Peter David. You will be missed.

[mister_terrific]

Guess I should tell my PAD story.

We'd first met on the old GEnie computer forums, then later migrated to his AOL forum. At the time I was trying to decide whether to try going pro or not, and he (as well as a lot of other kind souls) gave me a great deal of encouragement and advice. Around 1993, my wife and I drove to Kansas City to actually sit down and meet him. We found him behind his table, introduced ourselves, and the next thing we knew we were sitting with him, sharing his communal lunch, looking at upcoming pages of Incredible Hulk, and swapping baby pictures of our daughters.

Over the years he signed tons of books for me, some of which I still have. He was highly amused that I'd tracked down his PSI-MAN series, as well as his first HOWLING MAD book and KNIGHT LIFE. And he even printed one or two of my lame-ass filksongs in "But I Digress" (such as the Darth Maul lament to "Yesterday").

Sadly, we dropped out of touch over time, and the old scans_daily kerfluffle shut the door on that friendship. He did teach me a great deal about writing, finding one's style, and...sadly, the pitfalls of being a professional writer. I ended up deciding my family and I were better off in my day job, and I've never really regretted it.

The one thing he told me that I've never forgotten was "It isn't about being good enough; it's about being RELIABLE."

Man, first Peter Morwood, now PAD. Sigh.

[icon_uk]

Oh no, I'd somehow not heard about Peter Morwood. He was always fun to follow on tumblr along with his wide Diane Duane.

[mister_terrific]

That one's really hurting. They were celebrating 40 years together (as are my wife and I), and it was so sudden and unexpected. The times we'd DM'd on Tumblr were few but he was incredibly kind and funny. And my god, what he didn't know about ancient weaponry wasn't worth knowing.

GNU Peter Morwood and Peter David.

[chalicother]

May he rest in peace.

Thank you for your stories and condolences to his loves ones.