In the 80s, my holy three were Perez, Byrne and Simonson. I voted Perez. I don't think he's the best artist, but he is my favourite quintessentially 80s artist. Michael Golden is a good choice too but not a big enough body of work.

Arthur Adams was late to the game and also has a limited body of work. Alan Davis arrived in the 80s but is more of a 90s and beyond guy to me. Likewise JR Jr (even though I realize he's been around since the early 80s).

Perez. I think of Rude, JRjr, Davis, and Adams more for 90s and later work than for the 80s.

I went with Miller. All of those guys are very good, but I consider Miller one of the graet ones evah.

George Perez

I liked Byrne,Davis, Adams, Miller, etc....but Walt was always my favorite. Always.

Davis.

Perez.

Dave Sim.

Tough choices between Gibbons, Bolland, Ordway, Dave Stevens, and Mark Schultz.

And Swan and Aparo were still at the top of their games.

At the time I would have gone with Art Adams. Now, I'm not sure between him, Mazzucchelli or Miller. Probably Mazz.

One for The Dude.
But there are a lot of favorites listed.

Is there a difference between best and favourite ?

It's subjective in this context. I would say there is a difference, generally, in the two terms.

Yeah, but when it's all artists of around the same caliber, I think determining a "best" depends on one's own criteria and thus becomes one's own opinion.

There are some great artists on that list. I ultimately picked Dave Stevens because I loved his lines and his realism. I could see owning and displaying his original art in my home easily. There really aren't any on that list I dislike, although Miller and Mazzucchelli would probably be on the bottom of that particular list, because they are maybe the least like Stevens in style. Their lines are much heavier and they are far more stylistic in their rendering. I'd probably list Byrne, Perez, Windsor-Smith, Davis and Adams as my other favorites on this list.

How much of his is actually Gerhard's?

I think Gerhard did backgrounds.

I'm not sure yet.

Yeah, from issue 65 on.

Gotta go with Bill Sienkiewicz and his work on Moon Knight, Dune, New Mutants, Elektra: Assassin, Daredevil Love and War, the Shadow, Stray Toasters and all of his innovative covers.

Runner-up:

Jim Starlin (DC Comics Presents: Superman & Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Supergirl, Starman & Hawkwoman; Epic Illustrated; Death of Captain Marvel; Batman: The Cult; & his long run on Dreadstar, of course.)

^ Both great choices.