Peter David Interview
January 2007

Peter David is the writer on Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man, X-Factor, and he is also the writer on the adaptation of Stephen King's Dark Tower.  He also was the writer on the Hulk for many years, and he is famous for sounding off on anything and everything in his column "But I Digress." 

Interview conducted by Christopher Hoerdemann

You broke into comics by submitting an idea to Marvel, while working at Marvel in the sales department, for the Spectacular Spider-man title. When you submitted that, did you have any idea that you would be launching yourself into the comic book industry, where you still are making waves over twenty years later?
No.

It has been noted that the Hulk movie was very much influenced by your long tenure on the title. The movie was a bit of a critical bomb. Did you enjoy the movie? What could have been done better?
I thought it had a slow beginning, a confusing ending, and a kick-ass middle. They could have improved it by ditching the endlessly confusing nanomed stuff, streamlining his origin, and refining the script.

You are fondly remembered for your work on X-Factor (which you recently relaunched). In that book you took a lot of lesser known characters, and made readers care about them. Is that something that's hard to do, or does it come naturally to you?
I like working with lesser known characters. Gives you a lot more leeway for development.

You've worked on a lot of characters throughout your career. Sometimes writers get tired of characters. In other cases, writers never get tired of some characters.  Who is that character for you?
The Fallen Angel. 

   

Which character do you want to take another stab at?
Supergirl.

You worked on the Spider-man mega event "The Other." In retrospect, what could have been done better with that event?
We could have had a more coherent vision of how it was all going to end.

Had you written the whole thing, what plot points would you have altered?
Probably would have made the changes more lasting and cataclysmic.

Since you launched FNSM, you have been kind of bogged down with the fact that your comic is tying into event, after event. Now, you're heading into "Back in Black." At what point will you be able to stretch your legs, and do something on that title without having an event banner slapped on it?
Probably never. 

   

What can you tell us about Dark Tower?
You should buy it. It's great.

How is it working with the living legend that is Stephen King?
Terrifying.

Is it scary to be adapting Stephen King? Are you ever afraid that you might do something wrong?
See above, and yes. 

   

You are known to be pretty outspoken on the comic book industry. Has there ever been a time where you might have wanted to hold your tongue?
Probably, but I'd very likely just do the same thing anyway.

Since you aren't afraid to share your opinion, let's hear what you have to say about the state of the comic book industry.
There's not enough readers. Then again, that's a problem throughout the publishing industry, because too few Americans give a crap about reading.

Do you have top secret projects coming up that you would like to give us the scoop on?
I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

Final Question: Give us a run down of what will be happening in the next couple months in your books. What should we be on the lookout for?
X-Factor: The rise of the X-Cell, a group of former mutants who believe the United States government was responsible for the loss of their powers.

FNSM: Sandman shows up for a three parter, the mystery of Uncle Ben is resolved, and we learn the secrets of Miss Arrow and what she has planned for Flash.