Peter David, Renowned Writer of Incredible Hulk and X-Factor, Dies

Peter David, the renowned novelist and comic writer celebrated for his work on titles like The Incredible Hulk, Young Justice, and X-Factor, has passed away at the age of 68. The sad news was shared by David's friend and colleague Keith R.A. DeCandido on Facebook.

Throughout his illustrious career spanning several decades, David made significant contributions at both Marvel and DC Comics. He is perhaps most remembered for his remarkable 12-year tenure on Marvel's The Incredible Hulk. During this period, David crafted an expansive narrative that reshaped the dynamic between Bruce Banner and the Hulk, earning him and artist Dale Keown the prestigious Eisner Award in 1992. Just as Frank Miller is considered the quintessential Daredevil writer/artist and Chris Claremont the definitive X-Men writer, Peter David is widely acknowledged as the most significant and influential writer of the Hulk.

Art by George Perez. (Image Credit: Marvel)

David's legacy also includes co-creating Spider-Man 2099 and his impactful runs on X-Factor. In his initial stint with X-Factor, he transformed the team from a reunion of the original five X-Men into a government-sanctioned mutant task force. His subsequent run saw the team evolve into a detective agency under the leadership of Madrox the Multiple Man.

At DC Comics, David made notable contributions to series such as Aquaman, Supergirl, and Young Justice. Additionally, he was a prolific writer in the Star Trek universe, with his novel Q-Squared, published in 1994, being one of his most recognized works in this genre.

Beyond comics and novels, David's talents extended to television and video games. He worked on shows like Babylon 5, Young Justice, and Ben 10: Alien Force, and contributed to video games such as Shadow Complex and Spider-Man: Edge of Time.

A Visual History of Hulk

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In recent years, David faced health challenges, beginning with a stroke in 2012. His ongoing health issues 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.