Peter David Dies At 68: Iconic Comic Book Writer From NJ Mourned

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Comic book fans across the nation are mourning for Peter David, an iconic writer who grew up in New Jersey.

David died Saturday at the age of 68, his wife and fellow writer Kathleen O’Shea David said.

“We are devastated,” she wrote in a brief message on social media.

The Eisner Award winner’s work has included runs on some of the industry’s most well-known publications, such as “Spider-Man,” “Fantastic Four,” “Captain Marvel” and “Aquaman.” Many fans and critics say his work on “The Incredible Hulk” helped to redefine the character for a new generation. He was also known for authoring novels for the “Star Trek” and “Babylon 5” franchises.

Born in Maryland, the longtime comic book writer lived on Albert Terrace in Bloomfield, New Jersey for a time. He also lived in the nearby town of Verona during his teenage years – an experience that shaped the GLAAD Media Award winner’s sociopolitical views – before his family moved to Pennsylvania.

David had struggled with health issues prior to his passing, experiencing kidney disease and enduring surgeries. His fans rallied in his support after he was dropped from Medicaid, donating more than $135,000 to a GoFundMe campaign to help his family cope with rising medical expenses.

An update was posted to the campaign on Tuesday in the wake of David’s death:

“As I think you know, Peter passed away Saturday night from a cardiac event. Right now, I am arranging for his cremation. He wanted to be stuffed and put in front of his computer. I had to point out a law in New York that doesn’t allow for that. So we settled on the ashes in front of the keyboard. I haven’t gotten the bills from the hospital yet but he was in ICU the whole time he was there. I thank you all for your support and hat in hand ask if you could pass around the go fund me as income has been reduced again. More when I can think again.”

Since news of David’s passing became public, his fellow creators have been expressing their condolences and sharing memories of the beloved writer.

Todd Nauck, who helped to launch the “Young Justice” series alongside David, said he learned a lot about creating comics as an artist working with an “absolute legend.”

“I am thankful for the friends I’ve made in this industry and Peter was the one I got to work with the most,” Nauck wrote.

“I had the extreme honor to first work with him on ‘Young Justice’ at DC Comics for five years,” Nauck continued. “I had so much fun working off of his scripts. I learned so much from his writing. His unique sense of humor mixed with action and drama was a hallmark in his stories.”

“Thank you, Peter, for your friendship and support,” he added. “Rest in peace and I hope to see you again.”

Other well-known comic book creators who are mourning David’s passing include:

Kurt Busiek – “Peter I met when he was at the Marvel Direct Sales Department, and then I worked with him when he was writing Hulk and I was in the Direct Sales Department -- we cooked up the ‘Countdown’ event together (well, I suggested it as a promo thing, he did the hard work) and I gave him the kernel of a Rhino story a bit later. He was always a pleasure to hang out with and talk, which I didn't get to do anywhere near enough of, and of course his career is chock full of storied and memorable runs. My condolences to his family and friends.”

Rob Liefield – “R.I.P. Peter David. You had a run for the ages. Condolences to his family, sorry for your loss.”

Jim Lee – “Saddened to hear of the passing of the legendary Peter David. A brilliant writer whose work brought humor, heart, and a wholly original perspective to some of comics’ most iconic characters. Whether it was his groundbreaking Hulk, sharp X-Factor, wildly fun Spider-Man 2099, or his compelling runs on Supergirl, Aquaman, and Young Justice at DC Comics—Peter always found that extra dimension in a character’s psyche, twisting expectations and deepening what was possible on the page. I first met Peter in the late 1980’s when I was just starting out as an artist at Marvel—he was working in sales, clearly using any door he could to get closer to what he *really* wanted: writing comics. And wow, did he ever deliver. We never directly collaborated, but I had the privilege of sitting with him at Marvel creative summits, where his wit, his insights, and yes, his dramatic entrances (he once kicked open the double doors to the meeting room like a boss) left a lasting impression. He was one of a kind. Rest in peace, Peter—and thank you for all the stories.”

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