Acclaimed Hulk and X-Factor Writer Peter David Dies

Acclaimed novelist and comic book writer Peter David, known for his work on The Incredible Hulk, Young Justice, and X-Factor, has passed away at the age of 68. The announcement was made by his friend and colleague Keith R.A. DeCandido on Facebook.

David built a prolific, decades-long career at both Marvel and DC. He is perhaps best known for his twelve-year tenure writing Marvel's The Incredible Hulk, an expansive saga that reshaped the dynamic between Bruce Banner and his monstrous alter ego. This run earned David and artist Dale Keown an Eisner Award in 1992. Much as Frank Miller is synonymous with Daredevil and Chris Claremont with the X-Men, David is widely considered the most definitive and influential writer in the Hulk's history.

David also co-created the popular character Spider-Man 2099 and helmed two distinct eras of X-Factor. His first run transformed the original X-Men reunion team into a government-backed mutant strike force. His later return reimagined the group as a detective agency led by Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man.

At DC, David left a significant mark with celebrated runs on titles like Aquaman, Supergirl, and Young Justice. He was also a frequent contributor to the Star Trek franchise in both comics and novels, with his 1994 book Q-Squared standing as a fan-favorite work.

Beyond comics and prose, David contributed to television series including Babylon 5, Young Justice, and Ben 10: Alien Force, and penned storylines for video games such as 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. These ongoing issues led family friend Graham Murphy to organize GoFundMe campaigns in 2022 and 2025 to help cover medical expenses.

David is survived by his wife, Kathleen O'Shea David, and their four children.