RIP Peter David

It happens a lot lately. I’m simply surfing the socials on the toilet and I see something that makes my mouth drop in sadness. Then sometimes, I tear up instantly. Today was one of those days. My favorite writer, Peter David has went to the beyond.

I will let others out there flesh out his credits (of which there were many) but for what I can tell you, he started in journalism, then editorial and then got into writing for Marvel. That led to novel writing… including my favorite subject: STAR TREK.

Peter has wrote so many Star Trek novels and comics. He even was allowed to create and run a whole starship and crew separate line of novels, which many tried to do and weren’t allowed to. He was. So many legendary runs in the comics. And then comic journalism. His wonderful BUT I DIGRESS columns were essential reading for me when they would appear in the old rags. Luckily they are collected in a couple nice volumes (with Harlan Ellison intros).

He also wrote a tell all book a while back, which included a lot about my other favorite writer, Harlan Ellison, called Mr Sulu Grabbed My Ass. A very entertaining read if you can get it. And back to Trek, my favorite Trek novel of all time is one he wrote, Q Squared. It in involves some weaving of events and characters from the original series to the Next Generation and alternate timelines. The way he describes a non-coporial entity drifting through the nothingness of space is expert wordplay. It always has stuck with me. If I could only be a tenth as good as that.

You ever hear the phrase, “NEVER MEET YOUR HEROES?” Well, I have never had a bad experience meeting my heroes (of those I could meet). And Peter is no exception. A few years ago he came to Motor City Comic Con where I was exhibiting. I was working up the nerve to go up to him and have my comic signed. What comic, you ask? Well this one…

(and as you can see, I did get it signed!) This DC Star Trek comic is the first comic book I ever read. No joke. He did that run on those last issues of that DC run. I even own a handdrawn page from that run (Tom Sutton, Richardo Villagrin art). It hangs proudly next to my art desk. (and there is a naked girl on it too! BONUS!) The storyline involved a telepath transforming the Enterprise and her crew into a recent book he was reading… Dante’s Inferno. Quite a read and probably my first exposure to that literature.

Somehow the man was able to get my small and simple grade school brain attracted and interested in reading comics, actually reading Dante’s Inferno and pursing them as a potential career. He was the doorway. What do you say to someone that has that big of an impact on you and your life?

At that Motor City Con, I went up to his table and handed him the above issue. He smiled and said, “Wow, this is one I don’t see often!”

I said, “You know, this was actually the first comic book I ever read. And now I am here making and selling my own comics so many years later.” Peter was taken aback by that.

“Oh my God, really? That’s amazing! Wait… how old were you when this came out?” he asked.

“Well, I think I was about nine years old,” I said sheepishly. Peter’s eyes widdened and he dropped his head onto the table. Waited a beat and then jumped up with his arms out and screamed…

“WELL WHY DON’T YOU JUST SLIT MY WRISTS THEN!!!” I was like, “uh… um…” Then he signed the comic and tossed it at me. I walked on, worried that I had insulted him in some way. But in hindsight, I don’t think I did. Because the guy before me was talking to him and getting something signed. Peter was joking around with him. “Oh my ex-wife helped with this book. I shouldn’t sign it then just for that!” He was playing with people. So maybe he was just messing with me. I think. I hope.

Over the last few years I’ve been getting all his books in the hardcover versions and hoping he’d make the rounds again once his health improved so I could get them signed and maybe have another memorable interaction with him, but he never came near my area. I know he had health problems. He had a heart attack, lost a lot of weight. Then had a stroke and I suppose never recovered. I remember following his blog for a while, reading that he needed the cash to help offset healthcare costs and offered sales of his stuff, or donations to a GO FUND ME, not only for him but to help his daughter get a theater up and running to help her dream come true. I donated what I could, when I could. Least I could do for the man who shaped me in so many ways.

What I learned from all of that was that my perception of people doing exactly what I would love to be doing (writing Star Trek novels, being respected for their great body of work, a platform to speak their mind, the fearlessness of having opinions and the energy to fight back) aren’t as rich and famous as I thought it was. Here was a guy I wanted to be like, struggling to make ends meet. Surviving losses and finding love again. Having fall outs and make ups all throughout his professional life. The creative world is seldom a road to riches as many would think. But he kept going all throughout that. Peter taught me that. He spoke loud, wherever he could, with the bravery and strength of vulnerablity. Peter taught me that. It is possible to chase your dreams, tell your stories and make it a life worth living with as much happiness earned as you can. Peter taught all of us that.

I can’t believe I won’t get another Peter David comic or novel. Nor get the chance to meet him again or even know him better. But I’ve pulled the above books off the shelf and will give them another read. I got several others of his sitting on the shelf, waiting for me to dive into them again. And I just hung up my copy of DC STAR TREK #51, on my wall where it belongs. The comic that opened the door for me to do and be what I am today. Peter David did that for me. And I am eternally grateful for him and the huge body of work he leaves behind. We will never forget him. I know I won’t. Cause there literally is no me today without him being on the same timeline as I.

Rest in Peace, Peter David. And many thoughts to his dear wife, family and multitude of friends. We will carry him with us as we go on.

Thanks for reading, T