From journalist to Marvel and DC icon: Peter David’s writing career remembered as he dies at 68

Peter David, a name known to fans of comics and science fiction, passed away on May 24, 2025, at the age of 68. He started his career as a journalist and went on to become a well-known writer for Marvel and DC Comics. His work changed the way many fans saw some of their favorite characters.

David was more than just a comic book writer. He wrote novels, worked in television, and created characters that are still popular today. His writing style mixed real-world problems with superhero stories, making his work stand out in both the comic and TV industries.

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How did Peter David start his writing career?

According to Newsweek, Peter David began as a journalist for the Philadelphia Bulletin. He reported news and covered stories before moving into fiction writing. This change led him to the world of comics, where he joined Marvel Comics.

At Marvel, David started in the Sales Department. He later moved to the editorial side. It was there that he began writing comic stories. His early work caught the attention of readers and editors. Soon, he became a regular writer for popular titles.

David’s journalism background helped him tell clear and strong stories. He knew how to explore human problems through characters. This skill helped him make an easy shift from news writing to fiction and comics.

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What made Peter David’s work in comics so important?

Peter David’s 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk is one of his most well-known works. In this series, he showed the Hulk and Bruce Banner as having a form of dissociative identity disorder. This idea gave more depth to the character. It changed how fans and writers viewed the Hulk.

David won an Eisner Award in 1992 for his work on the Hulk, sharing the honor with artist Dale Keown. He also co-created Spider-Man 2099, a future version of Spider-Man. This character later appeared in new animated movies. His stories became the base for future versions of these heroes.

He also worked on DC Comics titles like Young Justice, Aquaman, and Supergirl. Young Justice became a hit animated series. David’s stories reached new fans who didn’t read comics. He showed that superheroes could be used to talk about real-life topics, including identity and teamwork.

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How did fans and peers respond to his passing?

Peter David had been sick for some time. He suffered from kidney problems and had several strokes. A GoFundMe was set up to help with his medical costs and had raised over $120,000 towards a $150,000 goal. Still, he continued to write and share stories with his fans.

His wife, Kathleen O’Shea David, and friend, author Keith DeCandido, announced his death. They spoke about his strong will and his love for writing.

Kathleen O’Shea David said on Facebook:

"Since it is out there. Peter David passed away last night. We are devastated. More when I can write about it."

Todd Nauck, comic book artist and co-creator of Young Justice, wrote on his Facebook page:

"I just learned that legendary writer and my friend, Peter David, passed away last night. The world of comics (and TV, novels, and more) has lost a great and talented writer."

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Peter David’s life as a writer took him from newsrooms to comic book pages and TV screens. His stories helped shape some of the biggest characters in pop culture. From Marvel to DC, from Star Trek to Spider-Man 2099, he wrote stories that have stood the test of time.