Like many older fans, I was saddened by the Death of Peter David last weekend. Newer fans might not know who he is or exactly what it means when a creator you’ve enjoyed for a long time dies. But, like myself, who’s read comics for decades, the death of any creator whose work you’ve enjoyed (and, as with David’s case, reread again and again), does register with fans like me.
News of his death occurred just as I was putting a couple of David shows together. I had some hesitation about doing anything so soon after Peter David’s death. In a way, it felt morbid and trying to gain some attention from his death. But, I decided to go ahead and pay tribute to an iconic creator whose work I enjoyed over the decades.
Over on Comics Fantastic History, Ross Aitken—my all too frequent guest from Stop! Let’s Team Up joins me to discuss David’s long-running column. His “But I Digress column, a staple of the Comics Buyer’s Guide, was a long-running platform for his sharp-witted and insightful commentary. Through it, he explored comic books, science fiction, and broader aspects of pop culture, often delving into industry trends, creative conflicts, and behind-the-scenes narratives with a blend of humor and frank analysis.
On the regular Fantastic Con Fan Podcast, I discuss some of his iconic comics, such as The Incredible Hulk and X-Factor, as well as some of his lesser-known comics that often receive the same attention, like Spyboy or the comic he was most proud of writing. For that, you’ll have to listen to the show!
With the podcast, I seldom discuss comic books negatively because there are too many fantastic comic books to talk about. And it’s not niche. But another reason most creators put a lot into their work, regardless of how fans feel about it. I understand fans like to praise and criticize comics and their creators, and there’s nothing wrong with doing so. From a personal perspective, I often think: “How would someone feel trashing one of my creations?”
Creators, even though we often treat them like rock stars, are human beings, just like all of us. And, like all of us, we never know when our time is up. Sure, there are tons of comics I don’t like, but at the same time, there are plenty of comics I never tire of reading. I’d rather pick out and spotlight fantastic comics.
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