Swamp Thing- Following a highly-acclaimed run by others is never easy, but Rick Veitch rose to the challenge when he took over Swamp Thing from Alan Moore and Steve Bissette. He continued the fantasy and horror themes established by Moore, but eventually carried the character into history by sending him back through time. Unfortunately, controversy over a planned issue where Swamp Thing met Jesus led to Veitch's leaving the series prematurely. Despite the aborted ending, Veitch's run has continued to receive high praise and is currently being reprinted trade form.



Batman and the Outsiders- DC took a bold step in 1982, canceling the long-running Batman team-up book The Brave and the Bold and replacing it with a team book. As written by Mike W. Barr, Batman finally left the Justice League, frustrated with its adherence to rules and regulations over a dedication to justice. A mix of veteran heroes with rookies, the Outsiders quickly became an incredibly popular book, in no small part due to amazing artwork by Jim Aparo and Alan Davis.

Batman and the Outsiders. I can't go against Alan Davis and Jim Aparo.

BATO. Aparo was one of the best.

I haven't read Swamp Thing. I have read, and loved, Batman and the Outsiders.

Would've been a different story against Moore's ST.

Aparo's Outsiders win.

Monk and I agree on a comic book.

IAWTP

ST took a real nosedive in quality after Moore, nobody could top him. BATO easily wins this one for the spectacular art and for giving Black Lightning and Metamorpho a decent home after they had wandered around in back-ups and guest appearances for years.

I'm not a fan of Bats and the Outsiders at all, and love Rick Veitch's stuff, although I've never read his Swamp Thing. I voted for Swampy-Wampy.

That may be the most bizarre reasoning I've ever seen to vote for something you've never even read.

I thank you for that magnificent compliment!

Complete squash. BATO wins.

BATO. I wish they'd give Barr another shot. Aparo died, though.

And DC did nothing when Jim Aparo passed. No tribute page, nothing at all as far as I can remember.

Didn't they use some abandoned art of his from the death of Jason Todd storyline in a then-current issue, and put a recognition blurb at the end or beginning of said issue? There should have been a full-page memorial for him in every DC book, like when Jack Kirby died.

They used some of his art in the book that showed how Jason Todd was alive again, but that was about nine months after he died. More publicity stunt than tribute.

I thought it was sooner than that. I stand by my above statement all the more then.

BATO would have been my vote. Barr & Aparo was great and Barr & Davis was a great follow-up.