In an interview with CBR's Brandon Zachary, longtime DC writer Priest discussed his recent work on Black Adam and Superman Lost, but also his thoughts about possible future characters that he would like, with Power Girl being one of the main characters that he would like to write.
In fact, Priest reveals that he has been waiting to do a Power Girl series for DC for about a decade now!
Why Priest wants to write a character like Power Girl
The discussion turned to Power Girl after a fascinating part of the interview where Priest explains how he worries that his past work on Deathstroke and Black Adam might be typecasting him as a writer, noting, "I would probably not be inclined to do another dark villain/antihero character. It's just too easy to get typecast. I feel like there's a little bit of that going on now. Where it's like, 'Oh, Priest, he's the anti-hero/dark guy. What dark thing can we give him?' Marvel gave me US Agent, you know? And I'm like, 'What, was Captain America busy? Can I do Captain America?'"
He then explained that he had a difficult time on US Agent, as Marvel kept asking him to tone down how obnoxious USAgent, which Priest chalks up to Marvel having all of these different departments weighing in (especially with US Agent about to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Thunderbolts film). This led to Priest explaining how he would like to try a different type of character, namely, "I would like to -- I've been waiting for about 10 years to do my Power Girl series, which is a very different tone, much lighter in tone, and so forth. I want to be writing Bugs Bunny. You got a Bugs Bunny series? I want to do something else. I don't want people to just think, '[Priest] only the only does that one thing.' I hope [his current miniseries] Superman: Lost will demonstrate that [I] actually can write other stuff and other tonalities."
How Leah Williams' Power Girl mirrors Priest's take on the character
Interestingly, in a recent CBR interview by Sam Stone about the Power Girl Special #1, Leah Williams explained her take on Power Girl, and it was very similar to Priest's take on the character:
I definitely wanted to showcase what sets her apart from the rest of the Super-family; not only in her expertise, but how different her personality is. She's kind of a wild card comparatively because her experience and background differ so greatly [from the others]. Power Girl is also really unused to family or being close to people, and it's something she struggles with, even as accepting and open as the Super-family is towards her.She's also got a wicked sense of humor, and my editor Brittany Holzherr and I compare her to Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop. Like a sexy protagonist with a checkered past, guarded heart, and a colorful supporting cast aiding their adventures.
Priest's current series, Superman Lost, is up to issue #4, and Black Adam #12, the final issue of that run (for now) is currently on sale, as well.