Christopher Priest (comics)

Christopher James Priest (born James Christopher Owsley June 30, 1961) is a writer of comic books who is at times credited simply as Priest. He changed his name legally circa 1993.

Career

Priest (as "Jim Owsley") broke into the comics business as a Marvel Comics intern in 1978. He made his professional debut as a writer in 1982 at the age of 21. He joined Marvel's editorial staff shortly thereafter, working as assistant editor for Larry Hama on the Conan titles. Starting in 1985, Owsley was for several years the editor of the Spider-Man comic books. Professional and personal disagreements eventually led to his removal as editor and his leaving Marvel. Marvel's editor-in-chief, Jim Shooter, later recalled, "I fired Jim Owsley because his tenure as an editor was a train wreck. When I fired Jim Owsley, he thanked me. Seriously. He said, 'Thank you.' He admitted that he just wasn’t good at the administrative stuff (i.e., schedules). P.S.—there was plenty of work for him as a writer, so it was not such a big deal. In fact, it was like giving him a raise. He ... [was] meant to be a writer, not an expediter." Owsley later edited several titles of DC Comics' Impact Comics imprint. Owsley had a run as writer of Green Lantern when the character was exclusive to the short-lived anthology series Action Comics Weekly from 1988-1989. Owsley wrote the Green Lantern serial from issues #601-607, and left part way through a story arc (with writer Peter David succeeding him in the interim), and then returning from issues #621-635. He had worked with artists Gil Kane and Tod Smith during his first run, and then upon his return, with artist M. D. Bright. Owsley would also write two Green Lantern Specials, the second issue concluding the plots left off from the end of Action Comics Weekly, with artist Bright drawing the latter issue. They would work again on the first issue of Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn limited series before Owsley departed.