Christopher Priest, who launched Deathstroke as part of DC’s Rebirth initiative, will take over the writing duties on Justice League when Bryan Hitch leaves the title later this year, the publisher announced today.
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Priest, a major comics star in the ’80s and ’90s, had appeared to be largely retired before returning to script Q2: The Return of Quantum and Woody, which picked up threads from the title he co-created with M.D. Bright at Valiant decades ago. When he came on as writer on Deathstroke not long after, it was his first time at DC Comics in more than 15 years.
“In my initial Deathstroke conversation with Geoff [Johns], I suggested that, since we were reimagining Slade Wilson’s adventures, why not shape the new book more like what a Deathstroke feature or TV series might look like?” Priest said in a statement. “It is my intent to bring that same sensibility to Justice League, taking a hard ‘what if these characters actually existed in the real world?’ look and working in an area of the series premise that is less frequently tapped.”
To that end, Priest’s first storyline — which will feature Pete Woods on art — will center on a crisis that pops up after a sleep-deprived Batman makes an error in judgment. Titled “Lost,” the story begins in Justice League #34.
“I am really excited and very intimidated by the opportunity to step onto DC’s largest stage—the Festival of Big Gun Characters Priest Has Never Before Been Invited To Write,” Priest said. “It is my goal to mine a bit of new ore from this 50+ year old franchise by taking the tack Geoff Johns and I developed for Deathstroke: a ‘real world’ approach and exploring the characters’ humanity introspectively.”
In 1994, Priest took over the struggling Justice League Task Force and wrote that series for about 20 issues. During that time, the lineup featured characters like Martian Manhunter, The Ray, Gypsy, Damage, and Despero.
(Yeah, Despero was a good guy for a while. Comics are weird sometimes.)
“I cannot express enough how excited I am to be working with Christopher on the Justice League,” Woods said. “The story we’ve got in store is something I think is a unique take. We want to give readers a different angle on the characters, their relationships, and just what it means to be a member of the Justice League.”
You can check out the official solicitation text for Justice League #34 and #35 below, along with preview pages from the “Lost” story in the attached gallery.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #34
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art and cover by PETE WOODS
Variant cover by NICK BRADSHAW
“LOST” part one! When the Justice League is confronted by three concurrent threats, a sleep-deprived Batman makes a crucial error that causes an unthinkable—and potentially unforgivable—tragedy. Legendary Eisner Award-nominated writer Christopher Priest (Deathstroke) is joined by artist Pete Woods for a brand-new must-read Justice League story like you’ve never seen before!
On sale DECEMBER 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
JUSTICE LEAGUE #35
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art and cover by PETE WOODS
Variant cover by NICK BRADSHAW
“LOST” part two! Still greatly affected by the shocking events of the previous issue, the Justice League attempts to regain its balance when an alien infestation threatens the Earth. But nothing can prepare them for an attack closer to home…one that will reveal devastating truths about the League itself!
On sale DECEMBER 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
